THEMATIC LEAD UPDATEFOOD SECURITY

AAUN PRDF PROJECTS

A A U N I N T E R N A T I O N A L A F R I C A F O R U M

M A Y 1 1 T H 2 0 1 5

I N D A B A H O T E L , J O H A N N E S B U R G

PROJECTS STARTING 2013

1. Evaluating the effectiveness of photosentisization in controlling aflatoxin accumulation in maize

2. Improved productivity, post-harvest handling, safety and biosecurity of cowpeas/bambara groundnuts: A value chain analyses in Eastern, Western and Southern Africa

3. Assessing the benefits of agro-biodiversity in the context of climate variability and change

4. Integrated design of highly palatable extruded and other foods for nutrition, health and well-being using selected sustainable grains and legume fractions

PROJECTS STARTING 2014

5. Surveillance and monitoring of food security for Africa

6. Where does your food come from? Food supply in the context of trade, agriculture and nutrition

7. Development of sweet potato postharvest handling technologies for improved safety and quality of fresh and processed forms

8. Enhancing community based farming systems through integrated and efficient soil-water-nutrient management regimes in Sub-Saharan Africa: From research to farm business enterprises

PROJECT 1:EVALUATING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF PHOTOSENTISIZATION IN CONTROLLING AFLATOXIN

ACCUMULATION IN MAIZE

Partners:University of Nairobi (Kenya)University of Queensland (Australia)Murdoch University (Australia)University of Georgia (USA)University of Cape Coast (Ghana)

KEY ACHIEVEMENTS AND OUTPUTS

Knowledge transfer to Prof Sheila Okoth (University of Nairobi) to enable further training and experimentation in Africa

Grant request to AGIAR submittedMobility between University of Nairobi and University of Queensland

PROJECT 2:IMPROVED PRODUCTIVITY, POST-HARVEST HANDLING, SAFETY AND BIOSECURITY OF

COWPEAS/BAMBARA GROUNDNUTS: A VALUE CHAIN ANALYSES IN EASTERN, WESTERN AND SOUTHERN AFRICA

Partners:University of Pretoria (South Africa)University of Cape Town (South Africa)University of Western Australia (Australia)University of Ibadan (Nigeria)Makerere University (Uganda)

KEY ACHIEVEMENTS AND OUTPUTSBuilding up a multi-disciplinary team (Agronomics, Genetics, Food Science, Economics)

Workshop at UP in 2014 that produced a conceptual framework to guide the proposal development with a focus on:1. Addressing the low productivity and constraints to

post-harvest handling (Agronomic and socio-economic)

2. Modernising Bambara/Cowpea systems and value chain

3. Enhancing food, nutrition, health and food safety

CHALLENGES

Commitment from a large and diverse team Opportunity cost of time high Geographical divide Initial geographical scope too wide for a start up project (South Africa, West Africa, East Africa)

Lack of contact with channel captains (researchers, policy makers, entrepreneurs )

FUTURE OPPORTUNITIES: Joint proposalFuture plans to be discussed at this meeting

PROJECT 3:ASSESSING THE BENEFITS OF AGRO-BIODIVERSITY IN THE CONTEXT OF CLIMATE VARIABILITY AND CHANGE

Partners:University of Cape Town (South Africa)Curtin University (Australia)University of Western Australia (Australia)University of Ibadan (Nigeria)

KEY ACHIEVEMENTS AND OUTPUTS

Project concept that was developed at previous workshops and follow-ups

Currently focussing on development of a funder-directed proposal

CHALLENGESChallenge to work effectively in geographically disparate teamsSerious problems in meeting in person or even by skypeSpending focused time together productive

High travelling costs especially between Australia and South Africa

Lack of finances

FUTURE OPPORTUNITIES

Hope to obtain funding for a significant research project (4-5 yrs duration) to fund post-graduate studies, encourage more research and produce more than a few research papers

PROJECT 4:INTEGRATED DESIGN OF HIGHLY PALATABLE EXTRUDED AND OTHER FOODS FOR

NUTRITION, HEALTH AND WELL-BEING USING SELECTED SUSTAINABLE GRAINS AND LEGUME FRACTIONS

Partners:University of Ibadan (Nigeria)University of Pretoria (South Africa)Curtin University (Australia)Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture (Kenya)

KEY ACHIEVEMENTS AND OUTPUTSMoU: University of Pretoria and Curtin University

Development of Research Collaboration in the Field of Food Security

Four research concept notes developed during first workshop held in Pretoria , January 2014

2013/2014 Two research, training and planning visits between UP and Curtin UniversityCurtin University Hadyn Williams Fellowship – Prof JRN Taylor (2013/2014)

Curtin University PhD International Scholarship (2015-2017) for Ms KAP Dovi (UP MSc graduate)

CHALLENGES

Challenge to work effectively in geographically disparate teams

Lack of finances

WAY FORWARD

Continue with preparation of manuscript on “Potential role of combinations of some underutilised crops on food and nutrition security in Africa”

Continue with extrusion cooking and related research projects at different universities2014: 1 Nigerian PhD student and 3 MSc students (UP)2015: 1 new Ghanaian PhD student and 1 new MSc student (UP); Joint PhD student (Curtin University and UP)

Focus on development of joint international project proposals for funding intended research

PROJECT 5:SURVEILLANCE AND MONITORING OF FOOD SECURITY FOR AFRICA

Partners:Curtin University (Australia)University of Ghana (Ghana)University of Pretoria (South Africa)University of Nairobi (Kenya)

First formal meeting for team at this forum

CURRENT ACTIVITIES RELATED TO THE NEW PROJECT

2 MSc students from University of Curtin on project Project 1: Started with comparative study of the food safety legislation between Australia and selected African countries

Project 2: Changes in and implementation of microbiological flora from farm to retail of free range chicken

FUTURE PLANS: Publish findings from both projects, including literature reviews Review paper on food safety aspects of chicken processing from farm level in developing countries

Focus on development of joint international project proposals for funding intended research

PROJECT 6:WHERE DOES YOUR FOOD COME FROM?

FOOD SUPPLY IN THE CONTEXT OF TRADE, AGRICULTURE AND NUTRITION

Partners:University of Sydney (Australia)University of Pretoria (South Africa)Makerere University (Uganda)

KEY ACHIEVEMENTS AND OUTPUTS

Multi-skype calls between investigatorsDocument review and extraction (UP and Makere)

Funds used to involve research students in data extraction and summary

Initial tables on food consumption and location of food purchasing available

CHALLENGES

Distance is a challenge

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AND FUTURE OPPORTUNITIES

Expansion of links with PhD student from the University of Sydney visiting University of Pretoria and working with UP team on salt policy analysis

Initial discussions about evaluation of trans-fate legislation in South Africa leveraging experience from University of Sydney investigators

Aiming for 3 publications and looking out for future funding opportunities

Envisioning at least 3 papers Food supply issues in South Africa Food supply issues in Uganda Commentary piece on the importance of examining food supply as a methodology to understanding nutrition challenges

PROJECT 7:DEVELOPMENT OF SWEET POTATO POSTHARVEST HANDLING TECHNOLOGIES

FOR IMPROVED SAFETY AND QUALITY OF FRESH AND PROCESSED FORMS

Partners:University of Nairobi (Kenya)University of Queensland (Australia)Makerere University (Uganda)

ACHIEVEMENTS

Collaborating teams in close contact – worked on other new calls

Desk top situation analyses completedSampling of roots for analyses - ongoing.

CHALLENGES

Limited/lack of face to face meetings due to geographical locationsCollaborators from Uganda and Australia only engaged online

Limited budget

FUTURE OPPORTUNITIES

Not less than two quality publications from current funding by the end of the year

Respond to future calls to enhance current work

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PROJECT 8: ENHANCING COMMUNITY-BASED FARMING SYSTEMS BY INTEGRATED AND EFFICIENT SOIL-WATER-NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT REGIMES IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA: FROM RESEARCH TO

FARM BUSINESS ENTERPRISES

Partners:University of Sydney (Australia)University of Ghana (Ghana)University of Ibadan (Nigeria)University of Nairobi (Kenya)

PROGRESS SO FAR AND FUTURE PLANS

Successful workshop held in Nairobi (23-24 Feb 2015) Consortium for Innovative Agricultural Research and Enterprises in Africa (CIAREA) established

Focussing on: How the stakeholders’ needs could be tailored in each farming community as dictated by the land holding systems in different regions of Africa

How to inspire youth participation in agricultural and associated agro-business in Africa

Two review papers

FUTURE PLANS: Concept notes for grant proposal will be developed in the coming months

CHALLENGES Challenges in working effectively in geographically disparate teams: Difficulties with communications Regional differences in biophysical, socio-economic and cultural characteristics across the SSA

Related to cultural differences is the divergent agricultural production systems linked to variable land holding systems, different staple crops and associated farming systems

Finding enough funds to support a consortium of this nature will require development of a variety of projects covering the divergent regions of Africa

Other challenges related to publication goal: Different work-related attitudes Core business of participants interfering with timely completion of allocate tasks

Lack of support resources such as relevant publications, internet access and other auxiliary resources

Challenges

1. Communication

2. Contact

3. Competing demands for time

4. Finance

SUMMARY – CHALLENGES & OPPORTUNITIES

Opportunities

1. Working teams

2. Funding

3. Capacity building

4. Publications

DYNAMICS OF COLLABORATION

Forming

Storming

NormingPerforming

Adjourning