(Bahir Dar, Ethiopia, 30 January 2026)- The School of Veterinary Medicine at Bahir Dar University recently hosted its latest Friday Seminar, featuring an insightful presentation by Dr. Muhaba Yimana. The seminar, titled “Addressing Food Safety in the Context of Global Health and Sustainable Development,” addressed the critical intersection of food safety, global health, and sustainable development. Dr. Muhaba opened the discussion by tracing the evolution of food security over the decades, noting its shift from mere availability in the 1970s to its current emphasis on sustainability in the 2020s. Despite this evolution, the global food system faces mounting challenges

The presentation highlighted the multifaceted challenges facing modern food systems, including rapid urbanization, climate change, and the diversion of edible crops for animal feed. Dr. Muhaba emphasized that food safety is an integral part of the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly as unsafe food creates a significant public health and economic burden. This burden is most acutely felt in Africa, which remains the most vulnerable continent regarding foodborne disease. In low- and middle-income countries, these issues are often exacerbated by fragmented policies and heterogeneous market systems that complicate the implementation of consistent safety standards.

To combat these threats, the seminar detailed a global strategy for food safety centered on strengthening national food control systems and improving the use of food chain information. Dr. Muhaba advocated for enhanced stakeholder engagement and risk communication to assure that safety becomes an essential component of the entire food life cycle. By identifying and responding to these challenges, nations can better protect life expectancy and promote overall economic stability.

The event concluded with a targeted discussion on the Ethiopian context, specifically addressing the safety of Animal Source Foods (ASF). Participants explored practical steps for the future, such as adapting national policies to improve food source traceability and addressing non-infectious causes of food safety challenges. This seminar serves as a call to action for the academic and veterinary community to prioritize food safety as a pillar of both national health and global development.

By: Dr. Dagmawi Yitbarek, SVM Website Administrator