Gaps and opportunities in research on food systems; a micro-institutional analysis of the University of Nairobi
Research conducted on food systems by higher institutions can contribute to sustainable food security and nutrition at a local level and reduce the impact of societal challenges such as malnutrition. Unfortunately, malnutrition itself manifests as hidden hunger causing unintended consequences such a...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2023-10-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fsufs.2023.1125094/full |
| _version_ | 1797648554677764096 |
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| author | Sussy Munialo Sussy Munialo Cecilia Moraa Onyango Cecilia Moraa Onyango Jane Ambuko Lukachi Jane Ambuko Lukachi Oliver Vivian Wasonga Oliver Vivian Wasonga Joyce Gichuku Maina Joyce Gichuku Maina Jonathan Makau Nzuma Jonathan Makau Nzuma Abeda Dawood Lindiwe Majele Sibanda |
| author_facet | Sussy Munialo Sussy Munialo Cecilia Moraa Onyango Cecilia Moraa Onyango Jane Ambuko Lukachi Jane Ambuko Lukachi Oliver Vivian Wasonga Oliver Vivian Wasonga Joyce Gichuku Maina Joyce Gichuku Maina Jonathan Makau Nzuma Jonathan Makau Nzuma Abeda Dawood Lindiwe Majele Sibanda |
| author_sort | Sussy Munialo |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Research conducted on food systems by higher institutions can contribute to sustainable food security and nutrition at a local level and reduce the impact of societal challenges such as malnutrition. Unfortunately, malnutrition itself manifests as hidden hunger causing unintended consequences such as illness negatively affecting economic progress. Traditionally, research in agriculture has not taken a food systems approach which is looking at challenges of food systems from farm to fork (all stages from production to consumption). Therefore, as we embrace the compelling call to transition from agriculture to food systems research approaches, mapping studies at a local level are needed. However, studies on food systems have been carried out at a macro (global or regional level), a micro-perspective investigation is needed to inform future research. A systematic review on existing literature (journals and thesis) was conducted to identify gaps and opportunities in research on food systems undertaken by researchers at the University of Nairobi. Information collected included; 1. institutions (faculties and department at the university, national policy, and international institutions collaborating with university of Nairobi), 2. crop types (cereals, legumes, vegetables, roots and tubers, and nuts), 3. food systems activities (production, postharvest, processing, and preservation, value addition and branding, consuming foods, input and output markets, obtaining nutrients as well as logistics and distribution) driving research on food systems. The contribution of each of the components (institutions, food systems activity and crop type) was also investigated through citation scores. The findings show that low research outputs on food systems were generated by the university of Nairobi compared to selected universities in Africa and across the globe. Research was focused on carbohydrate rich crops (maize, sorghum, cassava, irish potato, sweet potato, and rice) as compared to protective bioactive vitamin crops (vegetables, mango, and beans). This demonstrated low crop diversity and dietary quality. Research priority was given mainly to maize compared to traditional crops such as sorghum, African Leafy Vegetables, cassava and millets. Faculties such as health, science and technology, engineering, and humanities were involved in research in food systems in addition to agriculture, a potential indication of transdisciplinary research. Additionally, there was more collaborative research between university of Nairobi with institutions at a global level than with local institutions. The involvement of policy institutions in research was low, mainly restricted to the discipline of agriculture, production food system activity and in a few crops such as maize, cassava, and medicinal plants. Disparities in research existed along the food systems activities as more attention was focused on production activities. Other food system activities such as harvesting, processing and preservation, consumption, value addition and branding, input and output markets, as well as logistics and distribution activities, received low research priority. Each component (food system activity, crop type and institution) demonstrated contribution to sustainable food security as shown by citation scores. The findings demonstrate skewed focus in food systems research at the university of Nairobi. Agricultural research investment within institutions of higher learning will need to consider all food systems activities, under-researched crops and collaborations that advance transdisciplinary studies to promote inclusive contribution of food systems to food security at a local level. Further studies can focus on developing frameworks to advance transdisciplinary research. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T15:33:48Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-1d91e1a926484ca4aafdb6c57b3115a1 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2571-581X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T15:33:48Z |
| publishDate | 2023-10-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems |
| spelling | doaj.art-1d91e1a926484ca4aafdb6c57b3115a12023-10-26T23:53:36ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems2571-581X2023-10-01710.3389/fsufs.2023.11250941125094Gaps and opportunities in research on food systems; a micro-institutional analysis of the University of NairobiSussy Munialo0Sussy Munialo1Cecilia Moraa Onyango2Cecilia Moraa Onyango3Jane Ambuko Lukachi4Jane Ambuko Lukachi5Oliver Vivian Wasonga6Oliver Vivian Wasonga7Joyce Gichuku Maina8Joyce Gichuku Maina9Jonathan Makau Nzuma10Jonathan Makau Nzuma11Abeda Dawood12Lindiwe Majele Sibanda13African Research Universities Alliance Centre of Excellence in Sustainable Food Systems, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South AfricaDepartment of Plant and Soil Science, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South AfricaAfrican Research Universities Alliance Centre of Excellence in Sustainable Food Systems, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South AfricaDepartment of Plant Science and Crop Protection, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, KenyaAfrican Research Universities Alliance Centre of Excellence in Sustainable Food Systems, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South AfricaDepartment of Plant Science and Crop Protection, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, KenyaAfrican Research Universities Alliance Centre of Excellence in Sustainable Food Systems, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South AfricaDepartment of Land Resource Management and Agricultural Technology, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, KenyaAfrican Research Universities Alliance Centre of Excellence in Sustainable Food Systems, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South AfricaDepartment of Animal Science, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, KenyaAfrican Research Universities Alliance Centre of Excellence in Sustainable Food Systems, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South AfricaDepartment of Agricultural Economics, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, KenyaOffice of the Sustainable Food Systems Research Chair, Future Africa, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South AfricaDepartment of Animal Science, Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South AfricaResearch conducted on food systems by higher institutions can contribute to sustainable food security and nutrition at a local level and reduce the impact of societal challenges such as malnutrition. Unfortunately, malnutrition itself manifests as hidden hunger causing unintended consequences such as illness negatively affecting economic progress. Traditionally, research in agriculture has not taken a food systems approach which is looking at challenges of food systems from farm to fork (all stages from production to consumption). Therefore, as we embrace the compelling call to transition from agriculture to food systems research approaches, mapping studies at a local level are needed. However, studies on food systems have been carried out at a macro (global or regional level), a micro-perspective investigation is needed to inform future research. A systematic review on existing literature (journals and thesis) was conducted to identify gaps and opportunities in research on food systems undertaken by researchers at the University of Nairobi. Information collected included; 1. institutions (faculties and department at the university, national policy, and international institutions collaborating with university of Nairobi), 2. crop types (cereals, legumes, vegetables, roots and tubers, and nuts), 3. food systems activities (production, postharvest, processing, and preservation, value addition and branding, consuming foods, input and output markets, obtaining nutrients as well as logistics and distribution) driving research on food systems. The contribution of each of the components (institutions, food systems activity and crop type) was also investigated through citation scores. The findings show that low research outputs on food systems were generated by the university of Nairobi compared to selected universities in Africa and across the globe. Research was focused on carbohydrate rich crops (maize, sorghum, cassava, irish potato, sweet potato, and rice) as compared to protective bioactive vitamin crops (vegetables, mango, and beans). This demonstrated low crop diversity and dietary quality. Research priority was given mainly to maize compared to traditional crops such as sorghum, African Leafy Vegetables, cassava and millets. Faculties such as health, science and technology, engineering, and humanities were involved in research in food systems in addition to agriculture, a potential indication of transdisciplinary research. Additionally, there was more collaborative research between university of Nairobi with institutions at a global level than with local institutions. The involvement of policy institutions in research was low, mainly restricted to the discipline of agriculture, production food system activity and in a few crops such as maize, cassava, and medicinal plants. Disparities in research existed along the food systems activities as more attention was focused on production activities. Other food system activities such as harvesting, processing and preservation, consumption, value addition and branding, input and output markets, as well as logistics and distribution activities, received low research priority. Each component (food system activity, crop type and institution) demonstrated contribution to sustainable food security as shown by citation scores. The findings demonstrate skewed focus in food systems research at the university of Nairobi. Agricultural research investment within institutions of higher learning will need to consider all food systems activities, under-researched crops and collaborations that advance transdisciplinary studies to promote inclusive contribution of food systems to food security at a local level. Further studies can focus on developing frameworks to advance transdisciplinary research.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fsufs.2023.1125094/fullmicro-institutionalfood systemscropstransdisciplinary researchtraditional crops |
| spellingShingle | Sussy Munialo Sussy Munialo Cecilia Moraa Onyango Cecilia Moraa Onyango Jane Ambuko Lukachi Jane Ambuko Lukachi Oliver Vivian Wasonga Oliver Vivian Wasonga Joyce Gichuku Maina Joyce Gichuku Maina Jonathan Makau Nzuma Jonathan Makau Nzuma Abeda Dawood Lindiwe Majele Sibanda Gaps and opportunities in research on food systems; a micro-institutional analysis of the University of Nairobi Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems micro-institutional food systems crops transdisciplinary research traditional crops |
| title | Gaps and opportunities in research on food systems; a micro-institutional analysis of the University of Nairobi |
| title_full | Gaps and opportunities in research on food systems; a micro-institutional analysis of the University of Nairobi |
| title_fullStr | Gaps and opportunities in research on food systems; a micro-institutional analysis of the University of Nairobi |
| title_full_unstemmed | Gaps and opportunities in research on food systems; a micro-institutional analysis of the University of Nairobi |
| title_short | Gaps and opportunities in research on food systems; a micro-institutional analysis of the University of Nairobi |
| title_sort | gaps and opportunities in research on food systems a micro institutional analysis of the university of nairobi |
| topic | micro-institutional food systems crops transdisciplinary research traditional crops |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fsufs.2023.1125094/full |
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