● Considering that 40% of the population in Latin America and more than 35% in Mexico face food security challenges, the flagship project in Food Security and Nutrition is developing high-impact initiatives in specific communities in the states of Puebla, Querétaro, and Nuevo León. Experts expect that the findings can be replicated at the national and regional levels.
● This Symposium brings together academia, industry, and the public sector to achieve a systemic and measurable transformation of food systems.
● The Symposium promotes science- and technology-based solutions to achieve sustainable production, reduce and valorize loss and waste, improve nutrition, apply AI-driven developments, and contribute public policy proposals.
Monterrey — In a context in which, according to recent official estimates, around 35% of the population in Mexico, and 40% in LATAM, faces some degree of food insecurity, the Tecnológico de Monterrey held the Second International Symposium on Food Security and Nutrition, an academic forum that brought together specialists to analyze science- and innovation-based solutions.
The event, held on February 23 and 24 at the Monterrey Campus, gathered researchers from institutions such as KTH Royal Institute of Technology (Sweden), Universidad de los Andes (Colombia), Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Technical University of Munich (TUM), and Nanyang Technological University (Singapore), in addition to faculty members, graduate students, and representatives from the productive sector.
Organized by the School of Engineering and Sciences of Tecnológico de Monterrey, the Symposium presented the progress of the Flagship Project on Food Security and Nutrition. This interdisciplinary initiative brings together nearly 50 researchers from different campuses of the institution who, in 2025 alone, produced around 300 scientific publications, most of them published in high-impact international journals.
During the sessions, research aimed at strengthening sustainable production and improving food availability and quality was shared. Among the highlighted examples were studies to reduce agricultural losses — such as the impact of the cucumber mosaic virus, which in certain production contexts can cause up to a 38% reduction in crops such as tomato — as well as projects focused on the valorization of agro-industrial byproducts, optimization of preservation processes, and the application of data analytics and artificial intelligence in agri-food supply chains.
The program also included the presentation of more than 50 scientific posters (a format commonly used at academic conferences to communicate research findings in a visual and concise manner) developed by faculty members and graduate students, as well as working sessions aimed at strengthening interinstitutional collaboration and international academic exchange.
“Food security is a complex challenge that requires a comprehensive vision. It is not only about producing more food, but about ensuring nutritional quality, environmental sustainability, and equitable access,” said Dr. Cristina Chuck, Leader of the Health Research Hub at the School of Engineering and Sciences.
Dr. Jorge Welti Chanes, Leader of the Flagship Project on Food Security and Nutrition, emphasized that the meeting made it possible to align efforts across disciplines and sectors.
“The magnitude of the challenge requires integrating scientific knowledge, technological innovation, and social commitment. Forums such as this Symposium allow us to share evidence, generate new collaborations, and move forward toward solutions that have a real impact on communities,” he stated.
During the sessions, progress was presented in:
● Agro-industrial optimization with a reduced environmental footprint
● Innovation in processing, preservation, and packaging development
● Redesign of value chains to decrease losses and waste
● Application of artificial intelligence in the modeling of complex systems
● Design of evidence-based public policies
As part of the program, a working session was also held with international universities to explore collaboration frameworks in research and talent development, with the aim of strengthening academic networks around food systems.
One of the most significant outcomes of the meeting was the organization of in-person working groups to advance the creation of a new International Alliance on Food Security and Nutrition. This initiative will seek to articulate scientific research, technological innovation, and public policy design to transform food systems toward more sustainable, healthy, and equitable models. The initiative aims to generate synergy among the efforts of several international institutions, working from a united front on food security solutions.
With this second edition, the Symposium on Food Security and Nutrition consolidates a space for scientific dialogue and international cooperation to analyze regional challenges in production, nutrition, and sustainability, and to promote interdisciplinary projects aimed at generating evidence- and engineering-based solutions with real impact.
“The purpose is for the interventions that emerge from this alliance to deliver concrete results in communities. We aspire to contribute to significant reductions in food insecurity indicators where comprehensive, science-based strategies are implemented,” said Dr. Welti.
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