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Drying of different foods SolCoolDry system II Drying of different foods at the launch of the SolCoolDry system II Source: Matthias Fischer, Innotech Ingenieursgesellschaft mbH

World Food Day 2024: Right to food for a better life and a better future  

Despite the fact that enough food is produced around the world, one in 11 people worldwide and even one in five in Africa are affected by hunger. More than a third of the world’s population cannot afford healthy nutritious food. Agricultural research is key for a successful transformation of agricultural and food systems as well as for the implementation of the human right to food.

The simultaneous occurrence of malnutrition, undernourishment and overnutrition has serious negative impacts on health, wellbeing, and the economic development of individuals and societies. Current production methods and consumption norms are vulnerable to shocks and crises and contribute to environmental pollution, biodiversity loss, increased greenhouse gas emissions, soil degradation and over-exploitation of water for irrigation purposes. This further exacerbates hunger and poor nutrition. Agricultural and food systems therefore urgently need to be reformed in order to help mitigate climate change and promote a good life for all.

BMEL research cooperation for global food security

Healthy nutrition for all requires a great deal of variety in our fields, fishing nets, markets, and on our tables. Worldwide, agricultural and food systems must be transformed to become more sustainable and resilient. Food is a basic human need and implementing the human right to adequate nutrition is the guiding principle of the international activity portfolio of the German Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL).

The BMEL regularly publishes announcements and calls for international research cooperation opportunities regarding global food security. With a particular focus on Sub-Saharan Africa as well as South and Southeast Asia, the objective is to use participatory, practice- and application-oriented, and inter- and transdisciplinary research approaches to design need-based solutions for sustainable agricultural and food systems. Since 2013, this funding instrument of BMEL has supported research on the topics of agricultural diversification, food processing and the reduction of food waste, designing healthy food environments, and innovative and sustainable production systems.

Just recently, a call for submission of project ideas for research into the potential of agroecology for territorial markets and value chains ended. The overwhelming response and the variety of the submitted proposals confirm the high level of interest in and the importance of endeavours aimed at improving the global food system.

Operating on behalf of the BMEL, the BLE as the project executing agency, is responsible for the administrative and subject-related management of the international research projects.

The SolCoolDry project: Reducing post-catch fish losses in Kenya while increasing local value creation using resource-friendly and locally adapted technologies

The lack of options for preserving foods, especially cooling, often leads to large quantities of food spoiling before they reach the consumer. The situation regarding locally caught fish in Kenya is particularly dire.

In order to address this problem, the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems (ISE) worked together with Kenyan partners to carry out the SolCoolDry project. They developed a 100% solar-powered, grid-independent, and container-based refrigeration-drying system for fish and other perishable foods such as fruit and vegetables.

The system provides ice for refrigerating fresh fish between catch and consumer. It also allows for drying of foods for preservation. By refrigerating and drying perishable foods, producers have more product for sale at the market and they become less dependent on the harvest season. Consumers benefit from more consistent access to high-quality and healthy foods.

In combination with intensive training and further education measures, opportunities for local value creation were opened up and a contribution was made to reducing post-catch losses and improving the food system.

Two solar powered drying/cooling systems were established, jointly tested and finally handed over to local communities in Mwazaro in southern Kenya and in Muhuru Bay at Lake Victoria. In Mwazaro, the Beach Management Unit, an association of fisherpeople, mangrove cultivators, farmers, bee-keepers, and seaweed farmers, is now responsible for operation and management of the system. They receive continued support from the Kenya Industrial Research and Development Institute (KIRDI).

In future, the maintenance of the unit should be covered by charging users a fee for the use of the dryer and the freezer.   The Kenyan social enterprise WeTu took over the operation of the system at Lake Victoria, thereby ensuring long-term access. ISE will continue to monitor and evaluate operational data from the system to optimise the system in cooperation with KIRDI and the other stakeholders.