FoodAfrica at the AAIN and the RUFORUM conferences: Turning Research into Opportunities for Agribusiness

In October, FoodAfrica II will participate in two important large-scale events in Africa:African Agribusiness Incubators Network (AAIN) Conference in Accra, Ghana, and the Biennial Conference and Science Week of RUFORUM in Cape Town. In both conferences, FoodAfrica II is organizing a side event training session on linking research and business. The training builds on both theory and experiences of the Häme University of Applied Sciences (HAMK) in linking research projects to the business …

How to prevent the hidden food poison – FoodAfrica Programme strives to control aflatoxins

In food-scarce conditions, is bad food still better than no food at all? FoodAfrica research programme partner, ILRI researcher Johanna Lindahl says that it might be true, although with aflatoxin-contaminated food the judgement could be difficult. When some molds grow on crops, they produce toxic substances that are known carcinogens and harmful to human and animal health. For example in Kenya, where the FoodAfrica research programme has run for four years, …

FoodAfrica at the Africa Food Security Conference

Programme Coordinator Mila Sell will participate in the Africa Food Security Conference on 12th – 13th October in Nairobi, Kenya, and speak in a session committed to agricultural extension and sustaining practices. The session will apply scientific research and new knowledge to agricultural practices through farmer’s education and rural development programs on environmental health, economic profitability, and social and economic equity. Key discussion points are: Rethinking agriculture to improve sustainability- participatory research, extension …

Sustainable and profitable milk production in Senegal – see the Food Africa programme’s video!

Food Africa programme produces videos to support advisory services in the agricultural field. In Senegal, Western Africa, the first monitoring study of its kind on milk yield was been carried out, seeking to shed light on the effect of different cattle breeds and husbandry methods on milk production. Join a Senegalese veterinarian to visit dairy farms! Video footage and editing: Peter Kuria/HAMK. The video was produced by ILRI and HAMK …

Doubling the income of milk producers puts food on the table of many African families

Depending on their cattle breeds and husbandry methods, the income difference between Senegalese dairy farming families can be as high as eight-fold. Under the FoodAfrica programme, coordinated by Luke, a unique yield monitoring programme was conducted,and is now being expanded to dairy farms in collaboration with a local counselling organisation. Mame Diarra, Senegalese veterinarian, jumps down from a horse-drawn wagon in a manner which attests long experience, walking to greet …

Safe food in a sustainable and profitable manner – FoodAfrica research programme will help farmers to improve food safety in sub-Saharan Africa

How are soil micronutrients, safe milk and maize, and child nutrition interrelated? In sub-Saharan Africa, these issues are intertwined. Finnish and international researchers have been seeking solutions to improving food safety as part of the FoodAfrica research programme coordinated by the Natural Resources Institute Finland. The results of the FoodAfrica research programme, which brings together research expertise from West Africa, East Africa and Finland, will help African smallholder farmers to …

Climate change workshops in Senegal informed about FoodAfrica results

FoodAfrica work package 3 has organized a series of events during the winter to disseminate both technical and empirical information on climate change to stakeholders in Senegal. At the end of February ISRA, IFPRI and Luke team organized a Mardi du BAME policy conference “L’Agriculture sénégalaise à l’épreuve du Changement climatique” which was aimed at francophone audience. It was an opportunity to discuss the resilience of Senegalese agriculture in the …

Luke’s Executive Vice President Johanna Buchert visited FoodAfrica partners in Kenya

Luke’s recently appointed Executive Vice President, Dr. Johanna Buchert visited Kenya in early November 2015 in order to acquaint herself with the FoodAfrica Programme and the related Safe Food-Safe Dairy project. She was accompanied by FoodAfrica Director Professor Hannu Korhonen and Dr. Vesa Joutsjoki from Luke. Luke plans on taking a more active role in international cooperation, not only in Europe but also globally. Partnerships built in FoodAfrica and other …