UC-IUC 2022 (Phase 1) - Institutional University Cooperation with Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT)

KE2022IUC037A101 01/09/2022 - 31/08/2027 Food and nutrition insecurity has continued to be a major concern in Kenya and the situation has been exacerbated by climate change and the covid19 pandemic outbreak. While under-nutrition has been the key focus for government, recent data indicates increasing health problems due to over-nutrition particularly in urban areas. It is for this reason that the government of Kenya has declared food and nutrition security a key priority for economic growth and development, with agriculture expected to contribute to 10% economic growth. Over the last 5 years (2017-2022), the Legume Centre of Excellence for Food and Nutrition Security (LCEFoNS) was established at JKUAT to spearhead multi-disciplinary research in legumes from farm to fork. Phase II (2022-2027) of this project will be and extension of Phase I with 100% transition of all the subprojects (4) in Phase I but reorganized to capture the 6 domains proposed by VLIR-UOS. In research, new research lines have been developed (new breeding technologies, drying for convenient foods, control of Non Communicable Diseases, and Artificial Intelligence, among other). ll the previous research efforts will be scaled up including development of new methods for research (see subprojects). Two MSc programs will be established, an international MSc in Food Science and Technology and a local MSc in Clinical nutrition. A total of 7 postdocs, 11 PhD and 16 MSc trainees will be engaged in phase II. Outreach and valorization activities will be enhanced in the project, tapping on JKUAT organized events and other channels. An annual Stakeholder Platform meeting will become the external soundboard to the project, providing feedback on progress. Existing policies in education and research will be reviewed to create an enabling environment at JKUAT, including domestication of sharepoint and proposal writing at University level. Local, Regional and international partnerships and networks for sustainable higher education and research will be developed and strengthened. It is hoped that this will result in an equitable and vibrant legume value chain that is sustained in Kenya.