BASF calls for production of quality food items

World largest chemical producing company, BASF, has called for the production of quality food and maintenance food security through application of global technologies and solutions through collaboration by stakeholders in the food industry.

The company stated this during its food innovation cluster workshop in Lagos at an event attended by several manufacturing companies, the academic and food regulatory bodies.

It stated that the workshop was aimed at creating a viable platform for improved food value chain and partnerships to improve business sustainability and improve global food security.

BASF also used the opportunity to introduce its new products to the market, which its management believes will help achieve the colloquium.

Speaking at the event, Head, BASF West Africa, Jean Marc Ricca, said there has been a gradual decline in quality and safety of food items in Nigeria over the last few years.

This, he noted, was as a result of crooked attitude of manufacturers, high cost of chemicals, low purchasing power and environmental pollution.

“It is sad that most of our food items have become hazardous to our health and have become of less quality due to some negative factors. This is why we are gathered here today to proffer solutions to the breach of quality in the food value chain,” Ricca said.

Giving a breakdown of the workshop’s objectives, Dr. Andreas Bluethner stated that it was aimed at curbing losses resulting from inadequate food processing and storage facilities, as well as improving food production and nutritional benefits for humans and animals.

Bluethner further stated that the event was designed to serve as a meeting point for businesses in the food industry and their social responsibility, adding this was very crucial in achieving quality and security of food items.

Giving his keynote speech on the current status of the Nigerian food value chain, Chairman, Best Foods, Emmanuel Ijewere, said it the country was not yet in the desired position, but was in the right direction.

“What I have noticed is that the past three years have witnessed some form of progress in the food industry. There have been lots of feasible postulations on how to ensure quality in the chain. Although not all suggestions are solutions, they are indicative of the direction we should take.

“Value chain starts from the farmer and ends with the consumer. It is of no value if you produce the best product in the world and it does not get to the table of the consumer due to low quality or hazardous elements contained in them,” he stated.

Ijewere further charged governments, public and private stakeholders and regulatory agencies to discuss ways to improve quality of food in Nigeria through the enactment of laws to check compromise of food production processes.