Alumni Hidden Hunger
"Hidden Hunger"
Germany
DAAD - 2017
On behalf of the DAAD, the CICD of the University of Siegen, in close cooperation with the Center for Development and Environmental Research (ZEU) and the Institute of Food Science and the Department of Agricultural and Environmental Policy at the Justus-Liebig University in Giessen, conducted the international alumni expert seminar "Hidden Hunger" from March 12-19, 2017. It served as preparation for the International Congress "Hidden Hunger" in Stuttgart. 25 alumni from 22 countries participated in this seminar.
The main objective was to identify opportunities for improvement in addressing the problem of food - water - rural development. Coping strategies on hunger and hidden hunger existing worldwide were compared, analyzed and further developed on the basis of sustainable resource management. Each alumni gave a short presentation on hidden hunger in their country. Regional groups worked together to create posters for visualization, which were later presented at the congress.
Presentations on food safety and food security mechanisms and challenges of malnutrition as well as on nutrition in prevention and therapy by the JLU brought the alumni up to date with the latest knowledge. GIZ presented project work on nutrition as an important topic of German development cooperation.
Alumni were invited to the Friedelhausen farm community, a Demeter-certified farm with a social therapeutic community. During a guided tour, they were able to visit various areas of the facility and then enjoy homemade products.
They also visited the Justus Liebig Museum in Giessen and attended a historical experimental lecture demonstrating the life and work of the great researcher.
Two days were spent together with participants of another alumni seminar at the University of Hohenheim. The goals were to present the group work in the two seminars, to increase networking between the two alumni groups, and to discuss a common position in preparation for the upcoming congress. All alumni continued the discussion on strategies to address hidden hunger with group work focusing on gender, communication, implementation, indicators and differentiation between rural and urban areas.
A joint excursion to BASF Ludwigshafen with a guided tour of the production facilities and a cultural trip to Ulm with a visit to the Museum für Brotkultur were further highlights of the seminar.
At the congress, alumni actively used the opportunity to engage congress speakers in discussions and formulated their views and perspectives developed during the seminars in the form of comments on the presentations. During the breaks, several impromptu side events were organized with experts to engage in in-depth discussions and further networking. Following the congress, alumni had the opportunity to publish their poster contributions in a book published by the congress organizers.