Prof Yolanda Jordaan visited Michigan State University in the USA from 8-12 April 2024 as a home mentor for Dr Rejoice Mamina-Tobias who is currently spending 11 months at MSU as part of the African Futures Research Leadership programme at MSU.

 

The purpose of the visit was mainly to connect with the MSU research mentor, Dr David Ortega, as part of the research team between UP and MSU. The research team involves a UP researcher (Dr Tobias-Mamina) and two mentors – one from MSU (Dr Ortega) and one from UP (Prof Jordaan).

 

Dr Ortega is an Associate Professor at MSU in the Department of Agricultural, Food, and Resource Economics. His research focuses on understanding consumer, producer, and agribusiness decision-making to better inform food policies and marketing strategies. This three-team research project between UP and MSU involves an interdisciplinary study on the effects of naming conventions and information on South African consumer preferences for meat alternatives. The research aims to assess consumer preferences for meat alternatives such as insect-based, plant-based, and cultured meat.

 

During the visit, Prof Jordaan had the opportunity to attend a graduate course in Food Policy where students shared their insights into meat alternatives. She also had several meetings with faculty from the Department of Agricultural, Food, and Resource Economics (AFRE), including Dr Chad Cotti (Department Chair) and Dr Nicole Mason (Associate Chair and AFRE graduate programme director). Prof Jordaan also met with Prof Forrest Morgeson, Associate Professor and Co-Director of the Doctoral Program in the Eli Broad College of Business where various marketing-related topics were discussed. Another meeting was held with Dr Jerry Urguhart from the Department of Fisheries and Wildlife where possible collaborative research with the Tourism Management researchers at UP was discussed, since wildlife relate to people who live in those areas, such as the nature parks in South Africa.

 

An African Futures Mentor lunch with AAP (Alliance for African Partnership) was held where the home mentors from countries such as Botswana, Tanzania, Senegal, Kenya and South Africa met. The AAP is an initiative at MSU that develops a collaborative and cross-disciplinary platform for addressing today's global challenges.

On the last day of the visit, Prof Jordaan attended the University Undergraduate Research and Arts Forum (UURAF) at the Breslin Center where undergraduate students engaged in poster, oral, performance, film, and exhibit presentations.

It is envisaged that the Alliance for African Partnership programme at MSU will reap many  long-term benefits between UP and MSU. Watch this space!