Speakers at a conference here have stressed the need for conducting more research on crop diversity to ensure food security. Speaking at different sessions of the concluding day of the three-day conference on Thursday, they called for effective strategies in this regard. The 6th Annual Scientific Conference was organised jointly by Chittagong Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (CVASU) and One World, One Health - Bangladesh Initiative at a local hotel. The British Council, DFID and Danida were the cosponsors of the conference where nine papers were presented on different aspects of food security and food safety. Former director general of Livestock Services Dr Kazi Abdul Fattah and Prof AKM Saifuddin of CVASU were the chairman and co-chairman of the first session. Chairman of the Centre for Agri-Research and Sustainable Environment and Entr-epreneurship Development Prof Zahurul Karim, Assistant Professor of Brac University Aparna Islam, CVASU Professor GC Chanda and Dr Meerjady Sabrina Flora of Bangladesh Paribesh Andolon presented different papers. Dr Zahurul in his paper on 'Status of Food Security in the Region' said integrated approach is needed to focus on different issues like upgrading the biological potential of wasteland and introduction of ecologically sound practices in agriculture and fisheries for sustainable food production and consumption. Terming the current progress in food security in South Asian countries 'too low', he called for some strategies like stable supply of food, increased purchasing power and access to food. Prof Leon Brimer of Copenhagen University, Mohammad A Jabbar of International Livestock Research Institute, Md Shahadat Hossain and Nani Gopal Das of Chittagong University and Goutam Kumar Debnath of CVASU presented their papers at the second session.While presenting his paper on 'Chemical feed and food safety in a globalised world: Example of industrialised cassava products', Prof Leon laid emphasis on finding out diversity of crops in different regions to ensure food security.