Marketing, Processing and Utilization Community of Practice meeting in Blantyre, Malawi

Theme: Orange-fleshed Sweetpotato (OFSP) Value Chains for Sustainable Food Systems in Sub-Saharan Africa. A model for Root and Tuber Crops and Banana

In sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) the benefits of food-based, nutrition-sensitive approaches based on orange-fleshed sweetpotato (OFSP) have been successfully demonstrated. Now more work is being done in bringing diversified use of OFSP and opening new market opportunities for farmers through development of new markets for processed products, such as bread, biscuits, and juice to penetrate urban centers as well as improved marketing of fresh roots.  With the African continent being the fastest urbanizing continent in the world, reaching urban consumers with fresh roots using improved storage and transport systems and processed products is critical. This calls for new approaches in a food system context. A food system is the path that food travels from field to fork and it is important to have a sustainable food systems for OFSP in Africa. The functioning of OFSP value chains is crucial for the availability and accessibility of food. Stimulating access to healthy food is central to nutrition-sensitive interventions; the functioning of value chains is essential for nutrition sensitive interventions to succeed. This community of practice (CoP) meeting will examine potential contributions of the organization, functioning and governance of OFSP food value chains to the sustainability of food systems, with particular attention paid to environmental issues, including resource use efficiency (including potential use of co-products and by-products) and biodiversity, economic and social issues, including gender. It will also consider how the very organization of food value chains can improve sustainability as well as employment and income generation opportunities in rural areas, particularly for women. It will consider the technologies and tools as well as the institutional and organizational settings, including legal instruments such as contracts that can improve environmental, economic and social impacts.  Implications for other root and tuber crops will be explored.

Abstract submission:

Thematic areas

1. Food Science and Processing Activities
2. Breeding, Seed Systems and Post-Harvest Management as it relates to value chains
3. Community Nutrition, Advocacy and Nutrition Sensitive Behavior Change Communication (BCC)
4. Food Systems, Gender and Youth

Abstract Submission Guidelines

All abstracts must be submitted electronically. Please review these Instructions carefully before submitting an abstract.

• Authors are not permitted to submit an abstract on work that has previously been published. Exception: if additional data/research is added to a previously published abstract the abstract may be accepted.
• Prepare your abstract in a Microsoft Word document or Plain Text.
• Have the names and institutions for all your co-authors. 

Abstract Title and Body:

• Enter the title of your abstract in Title Case (i.e. cap the first letter of each word, except prepositions). Do not put a period at the end of the abstract title.
• Include the full name of the authors and their affiliations and email addresses.
• Capitalize initial letters of trade names.
• Use standard abbreviations for units of measure.
• Other abbreviations should be spelled out in full at first mention, followed by the abbreviation in parentheses.
• Include the source of research support
• Use Calibri Font 12
• The body of the abstract should not exceed 500 words.

Send abstracts to t.kariuki@cgiar.org. Abstract submission deadline is March 1, 2018 at 11:59pm East African time. 

This is limited funding support to cover transport, meals and accommodation only to qualifying good quality abstracts. Students and women researchers are encouraged to apply.  There will be cash prizes for the best oral presentation, poster presentation and best student presentation.

USAID EVENT 

After the Cop meeting, USAID will be hosting an OFSP investment summit on the 25th, April 2018.  We encourage serious private sector partners engaged or willing to work on OFSP to participate.