Dr. Richard Magwanga, Head of Extension and Outreach at JOOUST, together with Dr. Bramwel Wanjala, Senior Researcher at KALRO, and their international collaborator, Prof. Gabriel Burks, Associate Professor of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at the University of Notre Dame, Indiana, USA, successfully secured the Food Equity and Agriculture through Sustainable Technologies (ND-FEAST) grant. This milestone enabled the team to organize the inaugural Food Equity and Agriculture through Sustainable Technologies Symposium (ND-FEAST) at Strathmore University, which brought together industry players, researchers, and farmers to explore innovative approaches for advancing sustainable agriculture.
During the symposium, Dr. Richard Magwanga presented “From Lab to Farm: Bridging Academic Innovation and Smallholder Adaptation in the Climate Era,” highlighting the importance of translating research into practical solutions for smallholder resilience. Dr. Bramwel Wanjala spoke on “Exploring Opportunities for Collaboration in Agriculture and Livestock Development,” emphasizing the role of partnerships in agricultural transformation, while Prof. Gabriel Burks delivered an insightful talk on “Sustainable and Responsible Polymer Technologies in Agriculture,” demonstrating how polymer science can be harnessed to address agricultural and environmental challenges.
Following the symposium, Prof. Burks paid a courtesy call to JOOUST, where he was received by Prof. Denis Ochuodho, Acting Deputy Vice Chancellor for Academics, Student Affairs, and Research (ASAR). Prof. Ochuodho welcomed the prospect of deepening collaborations with researchers from the United States and assured him of the university’s full support. Prof. Burks, in turn, expressed appreciation for the warm reception and praised his productive collaboration with Dr. Magwanga, which resulted in their first joint grant. He further committed to connecting additional JOOUST researchers with colleagues from the University of Notre Dame to expand international research partnerships and opportunities.
