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Food affordability symposium: from diagnosis to intervention

Read the article on Day 1 of the “Symposium on Food Prices and Affordability in South Africa” here. Photo Madelene…

Advancing a food affordability policy agenda in South Africa

A/Prof Marc Wegerif, CoE-FS principal investigator, served as facilitator for the symposium. Photo Madelene Cronje/CoE-FS. Rising food prices, deepening food…

Call for applications: NRF postgraduate funding for 2027

Photo RDNE Stock project/Pexels. Prospective new applicants (Honours, Master’s and Doctoral) are advised that the Department of Science, Technology and…

Two CoE-FS programme leads are finalists in South Africa’s prestigious ‘Science Oscars’

Two CoE-FS PIs, Prof Rina Swart and Prof Naushad Emmambux, and two CoE-FS affiliated researchers, Prof Mary Scholes and Prof…

Advancing food security through traditional diets and science

Traditional and indigenous African foods must be repositioned within contemporary food systems challenges. These foods include fermented sorghum products, sorghum-based…

EXTENDED CALL: Postdoc opportunity to explore role of participatory gastronomic experiences in social change

POSTDOCTORAL RESEARCH ASSOCIATE (PDRA) OPPORTUNITY Exploring the role of participatory gastronomic experiences in social change: Engaging with Cape Floristic Region…

Waste as a resource, not a problem: insights from the Breede Valley

For her master’s research, Nolutando Didiza looked at two case studies in the Breede River Municipality: a bioenergy plant that…

Inspiring the next generation of scientists in Grabouw

CoE-FS principal investigator and UKUDLA project co-lead A/Prof Clement Nyirenda participated as a panellist in the discussion about science, education…

Advancing food security through global partnerships: CoE-FS, UKUDLA hosts German Federal Minister at UWC

Minister Alois Rainer, head of Germany’s Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Regional Identity, undertook a high-level courtesy and working…

coe-fs news

US war on Iran could deepen Africa’s food insecurity and instability

Prof Julian May, CoE-FS director, appointed as ASSAf Council Treasurer

South African cities face hunger and food insecurity as cost of living soars

#WomenOfUP: Prof Lise Korsten, the first female president of the African Academy of Sciences in the organisation’s 37-year history

Originally published by the University of Pretoria. UP’s Professor Lise Korsten has hit the ground running as the new and first female president of the African Academy of Sciences. The pan-African body, established in 1985 with the primary goal of promoting science, technology, and innovation on the African continent, has a new governance line-up headed by Prof Korsten, who won the hotly contested election for the presidential post. “I must be honest, I did not think I was going to get elected,” said Prof Korsten, who is a Professor in Plant Pathology and Co-Director of the DSI-NRF Centre of Excellence in Food Security. “This is a very challenging position that will require extensive networking building relations with various stakeholders and creating new partnerships. To champion change I will need to, as a priority, realign, re-focus, recharge, and redeploy people and committees, and redesign structures and systems that will take us into a very new, exciting, but different future.” She said she is honoured at being handed such a big responsibility. “It is about the African continent, and it is all about timing. The time is now for Africa to rise, and the opportunities are enormous if we are ready to explore these. The Governing Council will have to accelerate our pace of transformation and adjustment to catch the waves of opportunity, otherwise, Africa will miss the boat and not rise to the occasion. We should not be left behind and should lead the way because the next century will bring significant changes and opportunities. The Academy will need to grow, invest in, and nurture our youth and particularly our female scientists because it is our biggest asset.” Read the article, in full, here.

Power cuts and food safety: how to avoid illness during loadshedding

UP Drama celebrates World Food Day in a special way

Collaboration is key to enabling food security in Africa

The normalisation of hunger in South Africa

Malnutrition and hunger take hold in SA – a land of plenty where political will is lacking

comment & opinion

What would an anti-hunger budget have looked like?

Dr Busiso Moyo is a postdoctoral researcher with Union Against Hunger (UAH) founder-member, the DSTI-NRF Centre of Excellence in Food…

Israel’s genocidal use of starvation as a weapon of war

COP28’s commitment to transforming farming and food systems is an insult to Africans

COP28’s commitment to transforming farming and food systems is an insult to Africans Florian Kroll, University of the Western Cape Globally,…

Food price hikes: Save money, support your local street trader

Fruit vendor in Church street, Johannesburg, South Africa. Photo: Ossewa/Wikimedia Commons. When Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) released the consumer…

A personal reflection on the ‘2023 Lancet Series on Breastfeeding’

Dr Nazeeia Sayed and her daughter on a work trip. Photo Supplied. By Dr Nazeeia Sayed, Researcher, School of Public…

The normalisation of hunger in South Africa

A message from residents in Touwsrivier to local government. Photo: Ashraf Hendricks/CoE-FS. This article was originally published by the Institute…

The right to food: activism and litigation are shifting the dial in South Africa

The right to food: activism and litigation are shifting the dial in South Africa A recent court case forced the Department…

Food security ‘experts’ don’t have all the answers: community knowledge is key

Food security ‘experts’ don’t have all the answers: community knowledge is key Professor Julian May examining food supplies in the home…

Ramadan: a dietitian offers tips for healthy fasting

Ramadan: a dietitian offers tips for healthy fasting Ramadan is centred on prayer, the Qur’an, deep mindfulness and spiritual reflection. Sudipta…