FoF was formally announced in a press release by the International Development Research Centre (IRDC) on June 20, 2012. You can view the full text here:
www.idrc.ca/EN/Media/Pages/CIFSRF-june-release.aspx
We’re thrilled to be one of the 6 projects chosen this year to receive funding from the Canadian International Food Security Research Fund (CIFSRF), a $62 million fund established with the goal of improving food security in developing countries and providing research opportunities for Canadian scientists.
The Vancouver Sun gave an excellent overview of our project. Some of the key points include:
- The magnitude of our project – it will cover 900 households randomly divided into three groups: a homestead food production (HFP) group that will grow nutritious fruits and vegetables, an aquaculture group that will raise fish to consume and sell (in addition to HFP), and a control group.
- Our commitment to ending hidden hunger – nutrient deficiencies that aren’t obvious to the naked eye. In rural Cambodia, these nutrients are essential fatty acids, protein, Iron, Vitamin A, and Zinc. When these are lacking in sufficient quantities in the diet, pregnancy is risky to both the mother and the fetus, and children face several challenges as they grow.
- The gender element – many of these households are run by women, and helping them grow diverse, nutrient-rich plants and animals should improve their health and economic situation, which will also benefit the entire household.
- The biggest expense – transporting blood samples for analysis to see if our interventions have had an impact on the nutritional status of the households we are studying. Measuring changes in nutrient levels in the blood before and after the project will provide concrete evidence that our interventions are worth investing in for future development.
You can find the full article here:
www.vancouversun.com/health/researchers+tackle+hidden+hunger+rural+Cambodia/6838343/story.html