Why the African food basket should be full of beans and other pulses

Posted on July 27, 2016

In an article published on The Conversation Africa, Dr Nokuthula Vilakati from the Institute of Food, Nutrition and Well-being at UP, explained why the African food basket should be full of beans and other pulses.

Muscle-building shakes don't always have as much protein as they claim to

Posted on July 13, 2016

A recent study by researchers at the University of Pretoria has found that when it comes to protein shakes, what is in the tub is not always what meets the eye.

Muscle-building shakes don’t always have as much protein as they claim to

Posted on July 07, 2016

People need protein, and it's central in building muscles. This makes it attractive for body building and fitness products. But Hettie Schönfeldt, Beulah Pretorius and Nicolette Hall, Associates of the University of Pretoria's Institute for Food, Nutrition and Well-being, warn that not all...

Why the African food basket should be full of beans and other pulses

Posted on July 05, 2016

Pulses -- or grain legumes such as dried beans, chickpeas and lentils -- are indigenous foods that can play a massive role in tackling food security on the African continent says Nokuthula Vilakati, a Post Doctoral Researcher with the University of Pretoria's Institute for Food, Nutrition and...

University of Pretoria tackles food insecurity

Posted on July 04, 2016

The Institute for Food, Nutrition and Well-being is featured in the Corporate Profile of the Leadership Magazine's July 2016 edition.

Focus on disease prevention rather than cure

Posted on July 01, 2016

KABANDA CHULU published this article in the Zambia Daily Mail following his participation in a recent training workshop for media on food security policy change conducted by the University of Pretoria's Institute for Food, Nutrition and Well-being in partnership with Michigan State University and...

Launch of the 2016 Global Nutrition Report

Posted on June 12, 2016

The 2016 Global Nutrition Report will be released on Monday 14 June. The SADC launch takes place in Johannesburg. IFNuW's Prof Sheryl Hendriks will facilitate the discussion. For more information about the launch visit...

Limited food options take their toll on the health of South Africa’s rural poor

Posted on May 27, 2016

In the past 20 years, researchers have linked the increase of obesity and chronic diseases like diabetes and hypertension in low- and middle-income countries to urbanisation, changing diets and less active lives.

Why a diverse diet is crucial for rural South Africans

Posted on May 27, 2016

Starvation and extreme under-nutrition are rare in South Africa’s poorest communities. The experience of hunger is related to many different forms of deprivation. There is widespread “hidden hunger,” in the form of micronutrient deficiencies, increasing rates of over-weight and...

Uniting researchers and journalists to bring about positive change

Posted on May 19, 2016

UP's Institute for Food, Nutrition and Well-being is involved in an international programme working towards bridging the gap between academia and the media by bringing them together to drive policy change in food security.

New Food Law initiative launched

Posted on May 12, 2016

In a seminar held to launch a new focus of the University's Institutional Research Theme (IRT) on Food, Nutrition and Well-being, Ms Anjanette Haller-Barker, lead researcher for this new research area, presented a theoretical framework for food law.

Indigenous, instant superfood for rural children

Posted on April 19, 2016

For her PhD research, Dr Nokuthula Vilakazi chose to investigate the possibility of using locally produced grains to develop a nutritious, ready-to-eat meal comparable to some of the so-called superfoods sold in shops.

It is possible to reduce all forms of malnutrition by 2030, says report

Posted on October 19, 2015

Lawrence Haddad had the rare opportunity to share a global nutrition report, hot off the press, with an eager-to-engage multi-sectoral audience when he presented an overview of the Global Nutrition Report at the Indaba Hotel in Johannesburg on Friday, 2 October 2015.

Healthy diet unaffordable for most South Africans

Posted on September 03, 2015

The food system impacts on the ability of consumers to choose healthy diets. Despite marginalised consumers (LSM 1-4) spending up to 35% of their budget on food, a healthy diet remains unaffordable for these consumers.

How to eat healthily on a tight budget

Posted on August 28, 2015

For the next three years researchers will be looking at what is on the plates of poor South Africans. What they learn will help improve the national diet.

Finding answers to herbicide resistance

Posted on August 13, 2015

The research component of the Monsanto/BE at UP Collaborative Research Programme aims to monitor whether glyphosate-resistance in weeds is developing and to assess the plant mechanisms involved.

Green revolution has not had the anticipated impact on nutrition in South Asia

Posted on August 06, 2015

South Asia’s ‘green revolution’ saw the roll out of high-yield crops, improved technology and agricultural resources, but proper nutrition is still out of reach for many. It’s a situation that has seen an alarming rise in numbers of children with stunted growth, leading to...

The ethics of meat production

Posted on August 05, 2015

Prof Edward Webb has conducted years of intensive research in animal science to find acceptable ways of improving farming methods to enhance the well-being of animals, which, in turn, will result in better quality animal produce.

Prof Johann Kirsten appointed as editor of Agrekon

Posted on July 10, 2015

Prof Johann Kirsten, Head of the Department of Agricultural Economics, Extension and Rural Development was recently appointed as the Editor of Agrekon, published by Taylor and Francis and indexed by Scopus and Web of Science. He succeeds Prof André Jooste who was Agrekon editor since 2010.

Saving our planet through research and scholarship

Posted on June 10, 2015

The various faculties at UP are making waves in their efforts in the field of conservation and are committed to promoting practices that make more sustainable use of the Earth’s natural resources.