In April and May, we arranged travel plans and programs for five lab technologists and university staff members to visit the University of Helsinki. They will learn how to use and validate the gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS) machine in June. Dr. Benard Aliwa, Catherine Ngunju, and Grace Werikhe from the University of Nairobi, along with Dr. Acácio Salamandane and Isac Presse from Universidade Lúrio, will participate in this visit. This machine will be installed at both universities to enhance their research infrastructure for analyzing toxins in food samples. In May, the procurement process for Universidade Lúrio’s GC-MS machine proceeded, and the contract was signed.
We have finalized a version of the food hazard literature review data for the Dietary and Food Safety Assessment (DASAT) tool, which has been further developed. The DASAT will integrate both the food composition database and food hazard data, enabling hazard exposure calculations based on consumption. Additionally, we selected various topics and learning materials to be added to the DigiCampus platform. This is part of the project's goal to create a digital platform that includes learning materials related to the enhanced research infrastructure and food system-level thinking, and to foster interaction between lecturers and students from the different partner universities.
The study protocol's ethical review feedback has also been addressed. As part of the FoodLeader project and practical training, we are investigating school feeding programs in Nairobi, Kenya, and the Nampula District in Mozambique. We will investigate the children’s food consumption and toxins in the school food. Data collection from the primary schools is scheduled for September and October this year.
Furthermore, the annual report for 2024 was approved, and we successfully held a one-day FoodLeader project meeting online in mid-May, where we reviewed the progress of the project at its midway point.