Events of the international conference at Mansoura University: The role of veterinary medicine in confronting global crises and climate change considering Egypt’s future vision 2030

On September 17, 2023, the events of the International Conference on the Role of Veterinary Medicine in Confronting Global Crises and Climate Change considering Egypt’s Future Vision 2030, organized by the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine at Mansoura University, was launched during the period from September 17-20, 2023, under the patronage of Prof. Ayman Ashour - Minister of Higher Education and scientific research. In the presence of Prof. Cherif Youssef Khater - President of Mansoura University, Prof. Maha El Ashmawy, Dean of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Prof. Mohamed Rabie Nasser - Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Delta University, Deans, Vice Deans and Faculty Members, Members of the parliament, the Senate, The Armed Forces, veterinary experts at Egyptian, Arab and foreign universities, research centers and major livestock and poultry producers.

Prof. Cherif Khater said that climate change is considered an important issue for which nations and societies have moved, as it is one of the biggest challenges facing the world these days, especially from a health standpoint, given the harmful effects it causes on humans in terms of air pollution and the emergence of diseases and epidemics and volatile weather phenomena have led to a shortage of livestock.

In line with the vision of the political leadership and implementation of Egypt’s strategy for sustainable development 2030, the university was keen to carry out its research and academic role in addressing important issues of concern to the local and international community.

Emphasizing that the Egyptian state, led by President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, President of Egypt, attaches great importance to the environmental issue and places it on the list of priorities, especially the issue of climate change, because of its great importance globally due to its impact on all countries and aspects of life. Pointing out that Mansoura University, as one of the institutions of the Egyptian state, pays great attention to the issue of sustainable development by organizing many conferences, studies, and activities that aim to communicate the university with society, spread environmental awareness, and reduce pressure on health institutions by preserving the public health of citizens.

He also praised the role of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine in scientific research and fruitful cooperation with major international universities and research centers inside and outside Egypt to work on exchanging experiences and knowledge to reduce the effects of climate change that affect human and animal health, ensure a better future, and build the new republic.

Prof. Maha El-Ashmawy, said that the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine started out as a distinguished university, and the faculty occupies a distinguished ranking according to the Shanghai ranking . It is an accredited faculty by the National Authority for Quality Assurance of Accreditation and Education, and it is the only faculty in the top 10 places nationwide in the Government Excellence Award. She pointed out that the importance of veterinary medicine and its impact is not only on animal health, but its role goes beyond protecting humans from the danger of common diseases, many of which are transmitted to humans through food of animal origin. In this conference, scientists and experts compete to propose the best practical and scientific solutions to the problems facing society, especially with the issue of climate changes that affect the entire world.

Major General Hesham Al-Hosary, Chairman of the Agriculture and Food Security Committee, said that the Egyptian state is one of the first countries to pay attention to livestock and food of animal origin, as the issues of agricultural development, food security and livestock are at the forefront of the concerns of the Egyptian leadership considering the economic changes at the regional and international levels and contemporary environmental changes. Therefore, efforts are directed to address all the challenges facing the development process in this sector in line with the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals in the field of livestock, which are represented in three priorities: improving productivity and raising the level of food security in food commodities, especially strategic ones, in addition to the sustainable and optimal use of available resources, with a focus on modern technology and adaptation to climate change and other modern challenges.

Prof. Hussein Khodair, Undersecretary of the Health Committee in the Senate, said that climate changes have had an effective impact on the lives of humans and animals, and the various effects have had direct and indirect effects on the local and global economy. Therefore, after the climate summit in Sharm El-Sheikh, the Egyptian state reached important results. The most important of which is the establishment of a Loss and Damage Fund, which requires confronting climate change and potential environmental disasters. Therefore, the Egyptian state paid attention to animal production projects and the necessary production components.

Prof. Khaled Selim, head of the Veterinarians Syndicate in Egypt, said that rapid climate change has exacerbated environmental problems and created many risks to various ecosystems in the world, such as food, health, and water, although the southern Mediterranean countries are more affected due to the limited systematic plans to avoid the dangers of climate change. Egypt launched the National Climate Change Strategy 2030, which aims to manage and plan the climate and support the achievement of sustainability goals and the goals of Egypt’s Vision 2030 to address the repercussions of climate change in a way that contributes to improving the quality of life for the Egyptian citizen and sustainable economic improvement.