On 29 August 2024, a FoodLAND Dissemination Workshop was organised by our Ugandan partners at the Makerere University in Kampala. The principal investigator of FoodLAND at the Makerere University, John Muyonga, offered a general overview of the work carried out by the FoodLAND partners in Uganda: VEDCO does farmer mobilization to consume research output, Nutreal commercializes technological innovations while NARO and MAK do research and dissemination of results. The activities carried out during the project in Uganda include surveys to consumers and producers, the development and validation of agro-ecological intensification technologies, fertigation technology, aquaculture systems, bio-based packaging, a rodent control system for grain storage and fish preservation and value addition among others.

During the workshop, they were congratulated by the representative of the principal of the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CAES) at Makerere University, as well as the university’s Vice Chancellor for their impressive work with the project to provide applicable solutions to everyday challenges.

Members of the different working groups explained the work carried out both in the development of the technologies and their dissemination; they reported, for example, that these technologies have been disseminated to over 9 districts and that several farmers have visited the demonstration site.

Regarding the novel food products delivered, Prof Nakimbugwe presented the developed products, including sweet potato noodles, composite flours, and snacks/daddies. These products are highly acceptable hence they would open up new markets and contribute to higher dietary intake of protein and micronutrients such as zinc and iron.

The workshop also included testimonies by farmers, who shared their experience of implementing some of the innovations developed in FoodLAND, as well as by a representative of the Ministry of Health, who emphasized the importance of testing and general body checkups.

The workshop was closed by Steven Tibyejuka, representative of the Minister of Agriculture who stressed that FoodLAND activities are in line with agro-industrialization for job and wealth creation for Ugandans.

  • Prof. John Muyonga
  • Dr Julia Kigozi representing the Principal of CAES
  • Dr Kikoma Julius representing the Vice Chancellor of Makerere University
  • Prof. Johnny Mugisha – economics component of the project
  • Diana Mukuru – engineering team
  • Doroty Nakimbugwe – novel foods and value addition
  • Dr. Cassius Aruho – integrated aquaculture and bio-based packaging
  • Dr. Sadik Kassim the Deputy Director General of NARO
  • Mr. Steven Tibyejuka representative of the Minister of Agriculture
  • FoodLAND Food Science team
  • FoodLAND Economics team
  • FoodLAND Engineering team
  • Meeting participant taking their blood pressure reading during the pop-up clinical screening of markers for good health
  • Participant having their height measured to calculate body mass index
  • Novel products produced under the projects including Nutritionally enhanced daddies, composite flour and dried eggplants
  • NARO team showcases snacks made from fish bone
  • Dissemination materials including posters, reflector jackets and brochures given out at the workshop
  • Some participants wearing the reflector jackets with information on nutritional recommendations