We sat with the team at the Innovation Lab for Policy Leadership in Agriculture and Food Security (PiLAF UI) on the Importance and Role of Policy for Sustainable Food Security.The Innovation Lab seeks to positively influence agri-food systems through policy, research, capacity building, and partnerships.As we sat with PiLAF’s Administrative Project Manager, Mr. Iredele Ogunbayo, one important deliberation had was the unsafe foods challenge and the policy and Lab’s roles in addressing this. This was important with the widespread unhealthy food practices and dangerous foods, which presented health risks to Nigerians.Mr. Iredele emphasized the gap between policy formulation and execution, citing policy is not the problem that there are brilliant policies, that what is lacking is execution. He called for more actions. Mr. Ogubayo also highlighted the education and training gaps on appropriate food production, handling and preservation methods, regulatory lapses, policy and research failure to drive solutions, and a lack of stakeholder linkages to enforce traceability across supply chains and at last miles.He called for holistic intervention encompassing producers and consumers education, and every other actors playing conscious role to ensure wholesome food delivery and availability, policy consistencies and effectiveness that sustain research results, promote investments and innovative solutions, and that bridge research-extension-policy-farmer gaps.Mr. Iredele Ogunbayo encouraged people to grow their own foods. He sees this as a good means to not only promote food access but also access to safe and nutritious foods.Some other issues were discussed as well, which covered general agricultural challenges in the nation and the need for food systems thinking, also value chain opportunities, especially for youth, with pursuing strong policy and investment drive.Mr. Iredele Ogunbayo informed about the works of PiLAF in these areas to bring about changes, and the growing of foods within their premises, leading by example and promoting growing one's foods at home to help ensure help ensure immediate household food security.Listen to the full conversation get know the challenges with ensuring wholesome food at the table and what true solutions could entail. You can also watch the full video on our YouTube Channel @TheLasgidiFarmerPodcast. Follow link below to watch.

https://youtu.be/BDrWTT2qNU8?si=zPaQbq7HuTtGqixq

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