Keynote, Zero Hunger (SDG 2), Good Health & Well-being (SDG 3)
Bridging zero hunger and good health: a chemistry-driven approach to sustainable healthcare and food security in Africa and beyond Lawrence Sheringham Borquaye Department of Chemistry, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi - Ghana. E-mail: lsborquaye.sci@knust.edu.gh Achieving Zero Hunger (SDG 2) and Good Health & Well-being (SDG 3) requires an interdisciplinary approach addressing food security, sustainable agriculture, and access to safe medicines. Chemistry plays a vital role, particularly in healthcare, veterinary medicine, and mitigating environmental contamination affecting human and animal well-being. Africa faces challenges such as antimicrobial resistance, contamination of food and water sources with pharmaceutical residues and heavy metals, and limited access to effective therapeutics. However, significant progress is being made through scientific advancements, policy frameworks, and community-driven solutions. My research integrates biomolecular computations and natural product-based drug discovery to develop new compounds for human and veterinary medicine. Additionally, I investigate pharmaceutical residues and heavy metals in environmental matrices, assessing their implications for food safety, ecosystem health, and disease burden. This keynote will explore chemistry-driven innovations addressing these challenges, with a focus on novel therapeutics, environmental contamination assessment, and policy interventions. It will also highlight the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration between researchers, policymakers, and industry stakeholders in driving scalable solutions. By leveraging chemistry’s transformative potential, we can bridge SDG 2 and SDG 3, fostering a healthier, more food-secure future through innovation and sustainability. Key words: Biomolecular computations, Natural Products, Sustainable agriculture, Environmental Contamination
© The Author(s), 2025
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