The launch event took place on the Rhein-Waal University of Applied Sciences campus, attended by project partners from Kenya, Sudan, the UK and Germany.
The baobab (Adansonia digitata L.), also known as the monkey-bread tree, is a striking tree species native to large parts of Africa. The fruit, leaves and other parts of the tree can be used as food and are characterised, for example, by a high content of vitamins, trace elements and antioxidants. A few weeks ago, the project partners from Kenya, Sudan, the UK and Germany gathered at the Kleve campus of Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences for a kick-off event. The main aim of the workshop was to draw up detailed plans for the research activities due to take place in Kenya and Sudan over the coming months. These include, for example, initial field studies to map and survey baobab trees, as well as taking samples of fruit and leaves to analyse their nutrient content in the laboratory.
Furthermore, preparations were made for studies analysing dietary habits and preferences regarding baobab products, as well as the current market situation. Excursions to Amsterdam to visit local projects in the field of sustainable food production and to the flavouring manufacturer Silesia Gerhard Hanke GmbH & Co. KG rounded off the workshop.
The BAOFOOD project is being carried out under the leadership of Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences and is funded by the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL). The Federal Office for Agriculture and Food (BLE) acts as the project managing body. Total funding amounts to 988,576 euros for the period from 2016 to 2019.
| Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences | Prof. Dietrich Darr |
| Prof. Dr. habil. Jens Gebauer | |
| Prof. Dr Florian Kugler | |
| Prof. Dr Dagmar Mithöfer | |
| Dr Katja Kehlenbeck | |
| Kathrin Meinhold | |
| Martin Hommels | |
| Justus Liebig University of Giessen | Prof. (ret.) Dr Michael Krawinkel |
| Dr Tsige-Yohannes Habte | |
| Esther Evang | |
| ttz Bremerhaven | Martin Schüring |
| Baobab Social Business gGmbH | Andreas Triebel |
| Phytotrate (UK) | Arthur Stevens |
| Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (Kenya) | Prof. Willis O. Owino |
| Prof. Fredah Karambu Rimberia Wanzala | |
| Prof. Kavoi Muendo Mutuku | |
| Nyori Jeremiah Mbugua | |
| Wild Living Resources (Kenya) | Anthony Maina |
| University of Khartoum (Sudan) | Prof. Yahia Omar Adam Gumaa |
| Prof. Elamin Sanjak | |
| University of Kordofan (Sudan) | Prof. Tarig Elsheikh Mahmoud |
| Muneer Elyas Siddig Eltahir | |
| Katavi Botanicals; Bio-Innovation | Gus Le Breton |
