PRDF 2016
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. It 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.
The 2016/17 Partnership & Research Development Fund received 16 applications, of which 9 projects are being funded. The main area of focus for the 2017 programs is in food and nutrition security.
| Name of Project | Principal Investigator(s) | AAUN Partners | Non-AAUN Partners |
Objectives & Outcomes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Food Security and Antibiotic Resistance in the Chicken Processing Industry in Australia and Africa | Dr Ranil Coorey, Nutrition Dietetics and Food Technology, Curtin University | A/Prof Gary Dykes, A/Prof Stuart Johnson, A/Prof Dean Bertolatti (Curtin University); Prof Elna Buys & Prof Riette de Kock (University of Pretoria); Dr Angela Parry-Hanson (University of Ghana) Dr Ivan Muzira Mukisa (Makerere University) Dr Patrick Njage (University of Nairobi) |
To develop a robust, user friendly food safety determination system for chicken at various consumption situations/points, such as retail, restaurant and the home. |
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| Mobile based Information System for Nutrition driven Agriculture | Prof Athula Ginige (Western Sydney University) | Dr Folake O. Samuel, (University of Ibadan); Prof Willis Oluoch Kosura (University of Nairobi); Prof Sheryl Hendriks, (University of Pretoria) | To minimise ‘hidden hunger’ through timely access to context-specific information to grow suitable local nutritional crop varieties, making use of rapidly growing mobile connectivity. |
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| New plant breeding methods for sustainable use of genetic resources and security of food production | Prof Wallace Cowling (University of Western Australia) | Prof Sunita Facknath (University of Mauritius); Prof Karl Kunert (University of Pretoria); Prof Peter Sharp (University of Sydney) |
Dr Aaron Murphy (University of New England); Dr Marco Ferroni and Dr Vivienne Anthony (University of Basel) |
To critically evaluate new crop breeding methods arising from animal breeding. |
| Food composition data for animal-source foods in sub-Saharan Africa | Prof Hettie Schonfeldt (University of Pretoria) | Dr Beulah Pretorius (University of Pretoria); Prof Robyn Alders, Dr Julia de Bruyn (University of Sydney);Prof Eric Mitema (University of Nairobi) |
To provide a platform to populate existing food composition data of animal-source foods to develop a single open-access reference source. | |
| Urbanisation and its Impact on Peri-urban Water and Food Security in Africa: Developing Research Collaboration and Capacity Building | Prof Basant Maheshwari (Western Sydney University) |
Dr Dharma Hagare & Dr Maria Varua (Western Sydney University) A/Prof Willem Vervoort & A/Prof Inakwu Odeh (University of Sydney) Prof Elly Sabiiti (Makerere University); Prof Nancy Karanja (University of Nairobi) |
Prof Ashantha Goonetilleke (Queensland University of Technology) | To bring together Australian and African partners to understand complex issues of changing land use patterns from the view point of community, policy and physical environment and identify the knowledge gap for collaborative research and teaching to improve water and food security and liveability in African cities. |
| Minimizing waste through value addition and preservation of fresh produce in Nigeria and Kenya | Prof Robyn McConchie (University of Sydney) | Prof Kolawole Falade, University of Ibadan; Dr Kim-Yen Phan-Thien, University of Sydney | Ms Zione Kalumikazaz, Lecturer in Food Science, Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources; Dr Olaide R. Aderibigbe, National Horticultural Research Institute Ibadan; Mr Andrew A. Wanga, Agricultural Finance Corporation Ms Asenath Koech, KEPHIS; Mr George Mandoh, National Biosecurity Authority |
This project will establish two pilot Innovation Platforms (IPs), in Nigeria and Kenya, to create stakeholder-based solutions to reduce postharvest losses. |
| Future Legumes – Linking climate change and nutritional needs to agriculture | Prof Richard Harper, Murdoch | Prof Michael Jones, Murdoch; Mr David Doepel, Murdoch; Prof John Howieson, Murdoch; Prof Janet F Bornman, Curtin; A/Prof Muthama Muasya, Cape Town; Dr Samson Chimphango, Cape Town; Dr Peter Johnston, Cape Town; Prof Mark New, Cape Town; A/Prof Rachel Wynberg, Cape Town |
Prof Carl-Otto Ottosen, Aarhus University, Denmark A/Prof Eva Rosenqvist, University of Copenhagen,Denmark |
To purposely embed a research training program within a larger international research project addressing climate change and nutrition in the world’s legumes. |
| Education Leadership for Knowledge Society Development |
A/Prof Mohammad Santally, Mauritius | Prof Moses Tenywa, Makerere; Prof Vanessa Chang, Curtin; Kevin Sungkur, Mauritius; Yousra Rajabalee, Mauritius |
N/A | To conduct a series of capacity-building workshops with educators in Mauritius to equip them with relevant leadership skills |
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Development of Millet-based Functional Food Products for the Prevention and Management of Obesity and Diabetes
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Dr Adjei Maame Yaakwah, Ghana; Dr Keiron Audain, Zambia;Prof Kolawole Falade, Ibadan | Dr Femi Fasanmade, Lagos University; Dr Oluwatosin Ijaba Adeniyi,Durban University of Technology,
Dr Oluwatoyin Oluwole, Federal Institute of Industrial Research, Nigeria |
A dietary approach of preventing and managing chronic diseases such as obesity and diabetes |