Effective and Efficient Use of Agricultural Science, Technology, Research as Tools for Development in Africa

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Using Nutrition Science to Promote Sustainable
Development in Africa

• Effective and Efficient Use of Agricultural
  Science, Technology, Research as Tools for
  Development in Africa
• The Foundation for Democracy in Africa
• September 17, 2004

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Overview

• Beans for Health Alliance
• Malnutrition and HIV/AIDS Continues to Threaten
  Sustainable Development
• BHA Background and Major Initiatives
• Ways we can work together

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Malnutrition and HIV/AIDS Continues to Threaten
Sustainable Development

• More than 18 million people in Sub-Saharan Africa
  have died from AIDS
• An orphan crisis has developed because parents
  die from AIDS or because HIV babies are
  abandoned
• A century of progress in Sub-Saharan Africa is
  being wiped out due to AIDS

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Devastating Cascade of Events Needs to be Stopped
Food Insufficiency
Malnutrition
HIV/AIDS
Unemployment
Poverty
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Its a vicious cycle Malnutrition and HIV
Source Semba and Tang 1999.
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Devastating Cascade of Events Needs to be Stopped
Food Insufficiency
x
Malnutrition
HIV/AIDS
Unemployment
Poverty
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Beans for Health Alliance

• USAID Grant - 1.5 million, match required
• Public/private partnership
• Partners represent growers, shippers, dealers,
  manufacturers, research scientists and non
  profit organizations in nutrition and hunger

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BHA belief

• Communicating the health benefits of beans will
  promote increased consumption and will address
  global health concerns in an economical and
  sustainable manner

BHA mission
Fund bean research and promote their health
benefits around the world
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Beans for Health Alliance Vision
Phase I Demonstrate that regular consumption of
beans can improve nutrition status and impact
disease

Phase II Develop educational/promotional
programs that promote health benefits of these
staple crops
Increase production, which would result in more
income for farmers and processors
Increase consumer demand for these staple crops
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Planned BHA Initiatives

• Fund research to discover the unique attributes
  of beans in relation to nutrition and health and
  disease prevention
• Educate public health officials around the world
  about the health benefits of beans
• Participate in key conferences
• Sponsor an international conference to bring
  together world bean nutrition experts
• Establish a website that serves as the primary
  resource for bean-related research at
  www.beansforhealth.org

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BHA recently awarded 4 research grants

• Michigan State University, Sokoine University
  Evaluating beans ability to improve nutrition and
  immune status of African children and women,
  Drs. Maurice Bennink and Lorraine Weatherspooon,
  Dr. Theobold Mosha
• Arizona State University - Impact of Pinto and
  Cowpea Consumption on Heart Disease and Type-2
  Diabetes, Drs. Donna Winham, Carol Johnston and
  Andrea Hutchins
• USDA/ARS Human Nutrition Research Center Impact
  of Pinto Bean Consumption on Colon Health in
  Humans, Drs. John Finley and Philip Reeves
  
• Colorado State University Understanding unique
  nutritional attributes of different bean market
  classes, Drs. Mark Brick and Henry Thompson,

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Planned BHA Initiatives

• Fund research to discover the unique attributes
  of beans in relation to nutrition and health and
  disease prevention
• Establish a website that serves as the primary
  resource for bean-related research at
  www.beansforhealth.org
• Educate public health officials around the world
  about the health benefits of beans
• Participate in key conferences
• Sponsor an international conference to bring
  together world bean nutrition experts

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BHA Website Established www.beansforhealth.org
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Planned BHA Initiatives

• Fund research to discover the unique attributes
  of beans in relation to nutrition and health and
  disease prevention
• Establish a website that serves as the primary
  resource for bean-related research at
  www.beansforhealth.org
• Educate public health officials around the world
  about the health benefits of beans
• Participate in key conferences
• Sponsor an international conference to bring
  together world bean nutrition experts

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International Conference

• In conjunction with the International Congress of
  Nutrition
• Durban, South Africa September 19-24, 2005
• Symposium
• Workshop
• Poster session

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BHA Ambition

• Increase worldwide bean consumption
• Achieve a demand economy for beans
• Reduce chronic disease
• Reduce malnutrition cost effectively
• Allow HIV positive populations to live healthier,
  longer lives
• Promote sustainable development in sub-Saharan
  Africa

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Ways we can work together

• Partner to influence influencers (public health
  officials)
• Partner to conduct more research in improving
  nutrition status using bean-based foods
• Join the BHA!

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• This presentation was made possible through
  support provided by the Office of Agriculture,
  Bureau for Economic Growth Agriculture Trade,
  U.S. Agency for International Development, under
  the terms of Award No. REE-A-00-03-00094-00. The
  opinions expressed herein are those of the
  author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the
  views of the U.S. Agency for International
  Development

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Contact Us

• Stacey A Zawel, PhD
• Executive Director
• Beans for Health Alliance
• P.O. Box 127
• Accord, MA 02018-0127 U.S.A.
• Phone [phone]
• Fax [phone]
• Email stacey_at_beansforhealth.org
• Web www.beansforhealth.org