Seun Oladipo is an environmental, climate, and food security advocate with a B.Tech. in Forestry and Wood Technology. Under the Erasmus Mundus Scholarship Programme: Island and Sustainability Joint Masters Degree, he bagged a research Master’s in Spatial Science from the University of Groningen (The Netherlands) and a Master of Sustainability Management of Fishing Resources from the University of Las Palmas Gran Canaria (Spain). In this interview by KINGSLEY ALUMONA, he speaks about his work, the Nigerian food security, among other issues.
How would you describe your academic transition from agricultural technology (B.Agric.Tech. in Forestry and Wood Technology) to MSc in Spatial Science (Island and Sustainability)? What necessitated this change in course and career path?
My academic path from a B.Tech. in Forestry and Wood Technology to an MSc in Spatial Science represents a continuous progression rather than a change in direction. My undergraduate training exposed me to forest ecosystems, land degradation, and introductory remote sensing and Geographic Information System (GIS) in forest applications. As I engaged more deeply with issues like habitat fragmentation, climate stress, and land-use pressures, it became clear that effective solutions required spatially explicit data and analytical methods.
The MSc in Spatial Science, with a thematic specialisation in Islands and Sustainability, became a logical extension of my interests, enabling me to scale my understanding from stand-level forest dynamics to broader landscape and regional systems. Through GIS, remote sensing, and spatial modelling, I strengthened my ability to assess ecosystem services, evaluate environmental risks, and support evidence-based decision-making. This step expanded my capacity to address sustainability challenges in more integrated and impactful ways.
What is ‘Island and Sustainability’, and how does it apply to your course? What do you do now with your degree and skills in spatial science?
Island and Sustainability studies how island environments function and how communities can responsibly manage natural resources. It examines climate risks, ecosystem health, cultural values, and how human activities influence island landscapes. Additionally, the course provides a foundation for understanding how island systems respond to change and how spatial tools can support better planning and conservation decisions.
With my spatial science training, I analyse geographic data to examine land-use patterns, environmental change, and ecosystem services. I utilise tools such as GIS, remote sensing, and spatial modelling to support research, mapping, and informed decision-making. My skills allow me to assess suitability for conservation or development projects, visualise complex environmental information, and contribute to studies that guide sustainable land management and adaptation planning.
What is your MSc project work about, and what are its major findings and societal relevance?
My MSc project, titled ‘Methodology for selecting potential CO2 sinks in Macaronesia: The case of Gran Canaria’, focused on identifying the most suitable areas in Gran Canaria for future CO2 sink initiatives such as afforestation and reforestation. The work developed a spatial methodology that combines environmental, climatic, and land use factors to highlight places where new forest cover can thrive and deliver long-term carbon storage.
Using GIS-based multi-criteria analysis, I evaluated variables such as slope, soil type, moisture conditions, land cover, and protected areas. The model produced a suitability map showing high, moderate, and low potential zones for CO2 sink development across the island. The results revealed that with the coastal areas mainly being urbanised, mid-elevation zones with stable soils and existing natural vegetation offered the strongest potential for effective carbon sequestration.
The project is socially relevant because it supports climate action planning in Macaronesia, guides land managers in targeting restoration efforts, and helps communities and policymakers invest in nature-based solutions that strengthen resilience and improve ecosystem health.
What are the major causes of global food insecurity, and why should the world pay attention to them?
Global food insecurity is a complex problem influenced by several natural and human pressures. Climate change disrupts rainfall patterns, increases heat stress, and raises the frequency of floods and droughts, thereby reducing crop yields and threatening livestock systems. Conflicts and political instability limit food production, block supply chains, and displace farming communities. Economic inequality makes nutritious food unaffordable for millions, even when it is available. Population growth increases demand, while land degradation, deforestation, and water scarcity reduce the capacity of ecosystems to supply food. Market shocks, rising input prices, and weak infrastructure further intensify the problem.
The world must pay attention because food insecurity undermines health, fuels conflict, drives migration, and destabilises economies. It hinders educational outcomes, increases poverty, and widens global inequality. Addressing these causes is essential for building resilient food systems, protecting vulnerable populations, and ensuring long-term social and environmental stability.
From the current global political trend and economic realities, do you think food insecurity is achievable, especially in developing countries and for the poor?
Anything and everything is possible if there is willingness and commitment. However, eliminating food insecurity in the near term is unlikely under current global political and economic conditions, but meaningful progress is still possible. Several trends work against full food security — climate impacts are intensifying faster than adaptation efforts, conflicts continue to disrupt food systems, global food prices remain volatile, and many developing countries face debt burdens that limit investment in agriculture, infrastructure, and social protection. These pressures fall hardest on low-income households, making the poorest the most vulnerable.
However, food insecurity is not an unchangeable reality. Countries that strengthen social safety nets, invest in climate-resilient agriculture, improve storage and transportation networks, and support smallholder farmers consistently show better outcomes. Regional cooperation, early warning systems, and targeted subsidies also help buffer shocks.
So while complete food security may not be immediately achievable for all, steady improvement is both realistic and necessary. Focused policy choices, resilient farming practices, and equitable economic support can significantly reduce hunger even in challenging conditions.
Do you think the agricultural sector and food economy of Nigeria are doing well? What unique change would you like to see in these sectors?
Nigeria’s agricultural sector has strong potential, but it is not performing at the level needed to meet national food demand or support a stable food economy. The sector is hindered by low productivity, a heavy dependence on rain-fed farming, limited access to credit and inputs, inadequate rural infrastructure, weak storage systems, and persistent insecurity in major food-producing regions. Post-harvest losses remain high, and the value chain is still dominated by informal markets, which reduces efficiency and limits farmers’ earnings. As a result, food prices fluctuate sharply and households remain vulnerable.
A change I would like to see is a shift toward a more professional, technology-driven, and climate-resilient agricultural system. This includes expanding irrigation, improving extension services, strengthening cooperatives, and investing in processing and storage facilities, enabling farmers to move beyond subsistence production. With a stronger value chain from farm to market, Nigeria can increase productivity, reduce food costs, and enhance livelihoods across the country.
What is the role of Nigerian citizens in achieving food security in the country? What do you want President Bola Tinubu’s government to do in this regard?
Nigerian citizens have an important role in strengthening food security. Farmers can adopt improved practices, use quality seeds, and participate in cooperatives that help them access credit and markets. Communities can support local food production, reduce food waste, and take part in programs that protect soil and water. Citizens can also hold leaders accountable by demanding policies that make food more available, affordable, and safe.
For the current government, a strong first step is to invest in irrigation, rural roads, storage centres, and processing facilities so that farmers can produce more and lose less. The government should improve access to credit, stabilise input prices, strengthen research and extension services, and ensure security in major food-producing areas. Clear support for small and medium farmers, coupled with attention to climate-smart practices, would help build a system that is productive, resilient, and capable of feeding the country.
Apart from food issues, if you were to solve two unique agricultural problems in Nigeria, what would they be and why?
Two pressing agricultural problems I would focus on are weak rural infrastructure and very low access to agricultural finance.
First, rural infrastructure is too poor to support a modern farm economy. Many farming areas lack good roads, reliable electricity, storage centres, and small-scale processing units. This slows the movement of produce, increases post-harvest losses, and reduces the value farmers can earn. Improving these systems would reduce waste, attract agribusiness investment, and connect producers to more favourable markets.
Second, access to finance remains very limited for small and medium farmers. Many individuals are unable to obtain credit for inputs, machinery, or irrigation due to stringent loan conditions and limited collateral. Without access to affordable finance, farmers remain trapped in low-productivity systems. Expanding flexible credit schemes, crop insurance, and cooperative-based lending would help farmers scale up, utilise improved technologies, and manage climate risks more effectively.
Addressing these two issues would raise productivity, reduce losses, and strengthen the agricultural economy nationwide.
If you were to go for a PhD, what course and university would you prefer, and why? And where do you see yourself and your career in five years?
Pursuing a PhD represents the culmination of years of academic preparation, practical experience, and intellectual curiosity. For me, a doctoral programme in environmental sciences, geography, or geospatial analytics aligns closely with my educational background and research interests. These fields provide the tools to understand complex ecological systems, quantify human impacts on ecosystems, and develop actionable strategies for sustainable resource management.
A PhD in these disciplines would allow me to deepen my expertise, expand my research skills, and contribute to solutions for pressing global challenges such as climate change, biodiversity loss, and environmental degradation. While I do not have a specific country preference, I would prioritise universities that offer strong interdisciplinary programmes, robust research infrastructure, and access to fieldwork opportunities and collaborations with international environmental research networks.
While the future may be uncertain, five years from now, I envision myself at a stage where my PhD research is nearing completion or has just been completed. Another possibility is pivoting into my career as an environmental scientist and consultant, working together with organisations, governments, and communities to address environmental challenges.
Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (Syndigate.info).
