UNIMA Philosophy Society visits LUANAR

On 5th April 2025, University of Malawi Philosophy Society students visited Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (LUANAR) for an educational visit whose aim was to foster academic collaboration, intellectual engagement, networking, and knowledge exchange.

During the event, UNIMA and LUANAR students engaged in a debate which tackled pressing issues at the intersection of food security, scientific innovation, ethics, and socio-economic inequality.

The debate, which was between philosophy students from UNIMA and the hosts, was based on the topic “Do technological innovations in agriculture, such as Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) and precision farming, represent a form of control over nature or a harmonious relationship with it?”

LUANAR students argued in favour of the topic, contending that technological innovation represents a harmonious corporation with nature that leads to the maximisation of food production, sustainability, and the reduction of poverty.

On the other hand, while acknowledging the advantages of technological innovation in agriculture, the UNIMA philosophy students raised concerns about the ethical and socio-economic risks associated with such innovations. These concerns included biodiversity loss, health and safety threats, environmental harm, and economic inequalities. As such, the team emphasised that technological innovation should be guided by ethical considerations for it to fully actualise its potential.

After the debate, Mr Prince Bwinga of the Department of Philosophy made a presentation on food security and social justice which highlighted the importance of fair distribution of resources towards food security and poverty reduction in Malawi.

The event concluded with social interactions among students and members of staff from both universities.