FoodLeader Newsletter December 2024

Read the summary of the FoodLeader project updates for December 2024, written by the project coordinators.
FoodLeader Project in December

In December, we continued to meet frequently with the supplier to finalize the purchase of the Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) laboratory equipment for Lúrio University. Additionally, several internal project meetings were held, including the project coordinator's meeting, the project board meeting, and various working group meetings. These meetings focused on developing learning materials and advancing GC-MS method development and validation. For example, a key highlight was the planning of how the upcoming learning materials will be integrated into the teaching at each institution.

December 2024 marked the completion of the first year of the FoodLeader project, which will continue until August 2026. At the end of the month, the team took a well-deserved break for the Christmas holidays.

Summary of the FoodLeader Project in 2024

January to April: During the inception phase from January to April, our main achievements included signing the partnership agreements, kick-off meeting in Nairobi, and finalizing the project plan, including the project activities and milestones. During the kick-off meeting at the University of Nairobi in March, we visited two primary schools which will be collaborating with us in the project.   

May to August: From May to August, we developed a study protocol related to the practical learning part of the project. This protocol describes how dietary intake and food samples are going to be collected from collaborating primary schools. We also reviewed the literature on pesticides and mycotoxins in food to advise us on which of these chemical food hazards should be selected for practical learning. Moreover, we decided the laboratory equipment to be purchased and further worked with the procurement process in Kenya and Mozambique. In addition, we developed project websites and social media accounts.  

September to December: In September to December, the main achievements included a project meeting in Lúrio University for planning the installment of the laboratory equipment and visiting two primary schools which had been selected to collaborate with FoodLeader project. In October, we selected the digital platform DigiCampus as the main platform to be used in our teaching between the three institutions. In November, the annual monitoring surveys were conducted, and lastly the University of Nairobi purchased the laboratory equipment. 

Looking Ahead to 2025

After the Christmas holidays, we are excited to return with renewed energy to continue our work to improve capacity of future experts in estimating food safety and nutrition security as a part of communities’ sustainable development.