IDIFA
INITIATIVE
FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF
INDIGENOUS
FOOD-PLANTS OF AFRICA
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY FOR CAIRO WORKSHOP
2006 Click
here
A model for research
collaboration aimed at the advancement
of indigenous and traditional food-plants
of Africa
The Cape to Cairo Safari Conference was
one of thirteen pre-congress satellite
conferences of the 18th International
Congress of Nutrition held at the International
Conference Centre in Durban, South Africa
from 19 - 23 September 2005. The Safari,
scheduled for 17 & 18 September 2005,
focused on the dietary safety, nutritional
value and health-pertaining benefits of
edible indigenous food plants and traditional
crops of Africa.
The compelling reason for the Initiative
for the Development of Indigenous Food-plants
of Africa (IDIFA) is the need to reduce
hunger and improve health in poor rural
subsistence communities in sub-Saharan
Africa at an economically sustainable
level by advancing the utilisation of
indigenous food-plants and traditional
crops in such settings. In view of the
IDIFA Mission Statement, objectives for
the workshop were to interactively structure
IDIFA as "a model for research collaboration
and interaction to optimize scientific
expertise and research capacity in Africa".
This "model" would imply a workable
strategy for the systematic development
of centers of research expertise and building
of research capacity aimed at establishing
a database on health-related risks and
benefits of indigenous food-plants and
traditional crops of Africa and to develop
low-cost microbiological technologies
for rural subsistence cultivation thereof.
The overall objective of IDIFA research
would be to revitalize awareness of Africa's
natural food resources and advance their
utilization in rural communities of sub-Saharan
Africa to combat hunger and disease on
the continent. The workshop also considered
web-based data management and avenues
for information distribution.
The joint research program, the Initiative
for the Development of Indigenous Food
of Africa (IDIFA), is in the process of
being launched to provide the opportunity
for research collaboration amongst African
scientists in research concerning the
dietary safety, nutritional value and
health pertaining benefits of food plants
indigenous to different parts of the African
continent. Scientific knowledge of crops
that traditionally represent a significant
component of the staple diet of rural
communities has become important in view
of chronic diseases ravaging Africa. These
vegetables could constitute a natural
ally in health protection and increased
resistance to disease provided they are
microbiologically stable and safe for
human consumption. Through research interaction
and sharing of expertise and capacity,
countries participating in IDIFA aim at
generating a scientific database pertaining
to health risks and dietary benefits associated
with traditional uses of indigenous African
food crops of different geographical regions
of the continent. Such information could
be used to increased crop diversity in
certain regions and to empower rural communities
with knowledge and skills for improved
cultivation of dietary safe, nutritious
and health-protecting traditional African
vegetable crops employing low-cost natural
fertilising and pest-control systems.
Data generated by IDIFA would also find
useful application in wider settings.
IDIFA Mission Statement
A model for research collaboration and
interaction, IDIFA strives to optimize
scientific expertise and research capacity
in Africa and develop a database on indigenous
food-plants and traditional crops of Africa,
many of which are neglected and/or underutilized.
Scientific information generated through
IDIFA research should support the development
of strategies and implementation of programs
in rural sub-Saharan Africa aimed at:
(i) the restoration of Africa's crop biodiversity
and advancement thereof in sustainable
subsistence farming; (ii) employment of
low-cost microbiological technologies
for improved crop quality and yield, (iii)
increased dietary diversity through enhanced
utilisation of traditional African vegetables;
(iv) reduction of diet-related microbiological
health risks through advancement of safe
cultivation and storage practices of home-grown
foods and (iv) the development of novel
urban food markets for traditional African
vegetables.
The Morogo Research Program (MRP)
at the North-West University was hosting
the Cape to Cairo Safari Conference in
Potchefstroom, South Africa as one of
thirteen pre-congress satellite conferences
of the 18th International Congress of
Nutrition of the International Union of
Nutritional Scientists (IUNS) - http://www.puk.ac.za/iuns.
The symposium session was aimed at communication
of all aspects of available expertise
within the group of collaborators and
international partners, while the workshop
was a facilitated "round table"
meeting of collaborators and international
partners to develop an organisational
structure and strategic plan for IDIFA
research, data management and information
distribution.
Coordinator
of IDIFA to whom correspondence should
be directed:
Retha van der Walt
Microbiology Group
School for Environmental Sciences and
Development
North-West University (Potchefstroom Campus)
Private bag X6001
Potchefstroom 2520
South Africa
Fax: +27(18)299-2330
E-mail: mkbamvdw@puknet.puk.ac.za
