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Tropentag, September 17 - 19, 2018 in Ghent

"Global food security and food safety: The role of universities"


Panel discussion: Does Diversified Agricultural Production Automatically Lead to Improved Nutrition? Research projects supported by the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture, BMEL

Silvia Dietz

Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL), Head of Division Research and Innovation, Germany


Abstract


The Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL) established the funding instrument 'Research Cooperation for Global Food Security and Nutrition' to strengthen Germany's contribution to agricultural and nutritional research. The funding instrument is applied to develop efficient food systems in partner countries, while building long-term partnerships between agricultural and nutritional research institutions in Germany, Africa and Southeast Asia.

Two calls for proposals have been published in 2013 and 2016. The first call focused on diversified agriculture for improved and nutrition-sensitive diets. A total of eight international research consortia, each with a duration of 3 years, were launched between 2014 and 2016. Subject of the second call was the improved processing of local food to reduce seasonal food insecurity as well as food and nutrient losses. In this context, seven research consortia will be funded by the end of 2018.

Funding agency is the Federal Office for Agriculture and Food (BLE).

The BMEL-Session at the Tropentag 2018 presents a panel discussion on the question: „Does diversified agricultural production automatically lead to improved nutrition?“ The panel consists of members from different project consortia in the nutrition context funded by BMEL:

  1. Prof. Dr. Matin Qaim (keynote), Georg-August-University of Göttingen – Project leader: „Agriculture and Dietary Diversity in Africa (ADDA)”

  2. Dr. Harry Hoffmann, Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF) – Project leader: “Scaling-up Nutrition - Application of nutritionally sensitive and diversified agriculture for improved food security (Scale-N)”

  3. Dr. Irmgard Jordan, Justus-Liebig-University of Gießen – Project leader: “Crops for Healthy Diets - Linking Agriculture and Nutrition (HealthyLAND)”

  4. Dr. Gudrun Keding, Center for Development Research (ZEF), University of Bonn – Senior Scientist: “Diversifying agriculture for balanced nutrition through fruits and vegetables in multi-storey cropping systems (NutriHAF)”


Keywords: Diversification, nutrition-sensitive agriculture, research cooperation, sub-Saharan Africa


Contact Address: Helen Laqua, Federal Office for Agriculture and Food, Unit 323, International Cooperation and Global Food Security, Deichmanns Aue 29, 53179 Bonn, Germany, e-mail: helen.laqua@ble.de


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