The International Association for Agricultural Sustainability (IAAS), a trailblazer in sustainable development and environmental preservation, announced the successful completion of a highly anticipated webinar on the topic: Innovation Strategy for Green Development and Carbon Sink
The webinar, held on 8 May 2023, brought together nearly 150 scholars and industry professionals and featured four distinguished experts in the field, including Julie A. Howe, professor of Soil Chemistry and Fertility at Texas A&M University; Scott Chang, professor in the Department of Renewable Resources at the University of Alberta; Ming-Jer Tsai and Bonnet Chiang from the Experimental Forest, College of Bioresources and Agriculture at National Taiwan University; and Ville Isoherranen, director of the School of Engineering and Natural Resources at Oulu University of Applied Sciences.
During the event, Howe presented the Texas Climate Smart Initiative, which aims to incentivise the adoption of climate-smart practices and develop farm-specific management plans based on existing frameworks. Scott Chang highlighted the crucial role of afforestation in mitigating climate change and provided scientific data on carbon sequestration rates across different land uses. Tsai along with Chiang shed light on Taiwan’s forest carbon sink and its contribution to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Finally, Isoherranen discussed various research, development, and innovation (RDI) actions and programmes that can be implemented in the agriculture sector to achieve carbon neutrality.
Following the insightful presentations, a panel discussion took place, allowing the speakers to address questions raised by the engaged audience. Cheng-I Wei, IAAS founding chairman and professor at the Department of Nutrition & Food Science, University of Maryland, skillfully moderated the discussion, leading to a deeper exploration of the topics shared by the speakers.
The webinar emphasised the pressing need to address climate change and the significant role that sustainable agriculture practices play in achieving carbon neutrality and mitigating its effects. It served as a timely and informative event, offering practical solutions for building a more sustainable future.
