We are pleased to announce two FAO Special Sessions in the framework of the upcoming International Water Resources Association (IWRA)’s Online Conference on “One Water, One Health: Water, Food and Public Health in a Changing World” organized by IWRA in collaboration with FAO from 7 to 9 June 2021:

“Bugs & Superbugs: Water quality and food safety and preventing environmental AMR”

7 June 2021, 15:00-16:15 CEST

“Applying water tenure approaches to achieve the SDGs”

9 June 2021, 15:00-16:00 CEST

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Bugs & Superbugs: Water quality and food safety and preventing environmental AMR

7 June 2021, 15:00-16:15 CEST

This webinar aims to examine the critical inter-linkages between water, food and public health. Effective measures in protecting the health of consumers enhances the value of food with higher economic returns for both domestic and international trade networks. Especially as global water scarcity pushes towards the use of poor-quality water sources, and AMR continues to develop and spread, better understanding of the connections between water quality, food safety and the environmental dimensions of AMR is needed to improve global health and sustainable agricultural and environmental outcomes.

Agenda

15:00-15:05    Introduction and welcome remarks

Sasha Koo-Oshima, Deputy Director, Land and Water Division, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)

15:05-15:15    Keynote Presentation 

“The environmental surveillance of agricultural water using WGS and its impact on food safety”

Steve Musser, Deputy Director, U.S. Food and Drug Administration (USFDA)

15:15-15:25    “Food safety and AMR and experiences and lessons learned”

Jaap Wagenaar, Food Safety Expert, Utrecht University

15:25-15:35    “Microbiological hazards and safety and quality of water used in food production”

Kang Zhou, Food Safety and Quality Officer, FAO

15:35-16:10    Panel Discussion

Eric Stevens, moderator, USFDA

Carmen Bullon, Legal Officer, Legal Division, FAO

Sarah Cahill, Codex Alimentarius, Senior Food Standards Officer, FAO

Kate Medlicott, Team Lead, Sanitation and Wastewater, World Health Organization (WHO)

Pernille Nilsson, SEQAFRICA Project Manager, Technical University of Denmark

16:10-16:15    Closing remarks

Eric Stevens, USFDA

Applying water tenure approaches to achieve the SDGs

9 June 2021, 15:00-16:00 CEST

Water tenure is a recent concept. A working definition of water tenure is “The relationship, whether legally or customarily defined, between people, as individuals or groups, with respect to water resources”. The concept of water tenure embraces and interconnects various sustainable development goals, in particular through the inclusion of the most vulnerable through enhancing equitable access to water, increasing water security and improving climate resilience. FAO has been continuously working to define the concept in line with the Voluntary Guidelines on the Responsible Governance of Tenure, unpack its core elements and explore its practical implications. During this special session of the IWRA’Conference, we will explore linkages of water tenure to various SDGs and exchange perspectives to apply the water tenure concept in strategies to achieve the Agenda 2030.

Agenda

15:00-15:05    Introduction

Benjamin Kiersch, Coordinator, Project “Knowing water better: towards fairer and more sustainable access to natural resources - KnoWat”, Land and Water Division, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)

15:05-15:10    Welcome remarks

Sasha Koo-Oshima, Deputy Director, Land and Water Division, FAO

15:10-15:20    Keynote Presentation “Applying the water tenure concept for improved water security: SDG 6”

Stefano Burchi, President, International Association of Water Law

15:20-15:25    “SDG 13 Water tenure and climate change”

Rojina Manandhar, Programme Officer, Adaptation Division, UNFCCC

15:25-15:30    “SDG 5 Water tenure and gender equity”

Jessica Troell, Director, International Water and Africa Programs, Environmental Law Institute

15:30-15:35    “SDG 15 Life on land – Land and water tenure linkages”

Jean Maurice Durand, Senior Land Tenure Officer, FAO

15:35-15:40    SDG 14 Live below water – A fisheries and ecosystem perspective

Rebecca Metzner, Chief, Policy, Economics and Institutions Branch, Fisheries & Aquaculture Department, FAO

15:40-15:55    “Applying water tenure to achieve the SDGs: Perspectives from the audience”

Facilitated discussion among panel and audience

15:55-16:00    Closing remarks

For more information about theIWRA’s Online Conference, visit the dedicated website >>>