PRDF 2013

2013 PRDF PROJECTS

The Partnership & Research Development Fund (PRDF) offers grants of an average of $10,000 AUD to foster partnership within the network and support planning workshops and research collaborations that address distinct mutual challenges. The PRDF provides one year of catalytic seed funding which may cover the costs of exploratory research initiatives, targeted workshops, faculty exchanges and the formation of collaborative networks, among other activities.

Name of Project Principal Investigator(s) AAUN Partners Non-AAUN Partners Objectives and Outcomes
Evaluating effectiveness of photosensitization in controlling aflatoxins accumulation in maize Professor Shelia Okoth, University of Nairobi University of Queensland; Murdoch University University of Georgia; University of Cape-Coast To use photosensitization technology to treat maize contaminated with Aspergillus flavus, which is known to produce aflatoxins that can cause acute, potentially fatal, illness and chronic diseases.
Improved Productivity, Postharvest Handling, Safety and Biosecurity of Cowpeas/ Bambara groundnuts: A Value Chain Analysis in Eastern, Western and Southern Africa Dr Casper Madakadze, University of Pretoria & Dr Amin Mugera, University of Western Australia University of Cape Town; Murdoch University; University of Ibadan; University of Pretoria; Makerere University International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Nigeria To increase productivity in the production and post-harvest handling of cowpeas and Bambara groundnuts, which are an inexpensive source of protein grown in Southern, Eastern and Western Africa.
Harnessing the benefits of agro-biodiversity for sustained food security in the context of climate change and variability Dr Peter Johnston, University of Cape Town University of Malawi; Curtin University; University of Pretoria; University of Ibadan; University of Melbourne; University of Western Australia University of Stellenbosch; South African National Biodiversity Institute To emphasise the merits of agrobiodiversity and provide pathways for implementation to improve access to nutritious food and reduce climatic risk in Africa.
Value chain analysis: Improved nutrition and health of children under 5 years and pregnant and lactating mothers through the production of high quality extruded foods supplemented with leaf and legume proteins Associate Professor Kolawale Falade, University of Ibadan University of Pretoria; Curtin University Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology To alleviate Protein-Energy Malnutrition (PEM) through high-quality extruded foods from locally available grains supplemented with leaf and legume proteins.
Building an AAUN coalition to support improved nutrition and health of children under 5 years, pregnant and lactating mothers Associate Professor Robyn Alders, University of Sydney and Professor A Oelofse, University of Cape Town, Prof Mavis Mulaudzi, University of Pretoria University of Nairobi; University of Queensland; University of Wollongong; Makerere University; Griffith University; University of Melbourne; University of Western Australia; University of Ibadan; Curtin University Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources/ CARD; RUFORUM; Medical Research Council, South Africa To understand the interactions between food production, distribution, access and processing, in order to address chronic under-nutrition due to food shortages and chronic obesity due to imbalanced consumption of energy-dense foods with poor nutrient content in Africa.
Reducing hypertension in sub-Saharan Africa through salt reduction strategies Associate Professor Karen Charlton, University of Wollongong University of Ghana; University of Newcastle Human Sciences Research Council, South Africa; World Health Organization To reduce the risk of hypertension in sub-Saharan Africa through the development of population-wide saltreduction strategies.
Integrating HIV and genderrelated issues into environmental assessments for Australian mining companies operating in Africa Associate Professor Angus MorrisonSaunders, Murdoch University University of Pretoria; Makerere University The Southern African Institute for Environmental Assessment; AustraliaAfrica Mining Industry Group (AAMIG); Kheth’Impilo To reduce the risk of HIV transmission near large-scale development projects through enhanced Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) policy.