Home / Research projects / Food & Business Research Synthesis Study

Food & Business Research Synthesis Study

F&BR programme - synthesis study
Image: NWO-WOTRO
Share:

The Global Challenges Programme (GCP) and the Applied Research Fund (ARF) together form the funding instrument Food & Business Research (F&BR), aiming at addressing persistent food security challenges in low and middle income countries. In 2020-2021 a synthesis study of the research projects under F&BR is executed by Daniëlle de Winter and Ellen Lammers. 

F&BR focuses on the urgent and growing need for adequate knowledge and solutions for regional and local problems related to food security. Both GCP and ARF are managed by WOTRO, the Science for Global Development department of NWO (The Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research), are linked with the Food & Business Knowledge Platform (F&BKP) and form part of the Food & Business Knowledge Agenda of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Food & Business Research Synthesis study (2020)

By the end of 2020 the last F&BR projects financed through GCP and ARF will be finalised. Time for NWO-WOTRO, in collaboration with F&BKP to take stock of the achievements. Therefore, a synthesis study of the programme was commissioned, providing insights into research results and outcomes on policy and practice.

The F&BR Synthesis Study is executed by Daniëlle de Winter and Ellen Lammers. Seven studies will be published in the course of 2020-2021:

Thematic Papers

Please find introductions to the articles at the bottom of this page: in the Related articles links are published to the full studies and two-page abstracts or summaries.

Outcomes Papers

Please find introductions to the articles at the bottom of this page: in the Related articles links are published to the full studies and two-page abstracts or summaries.

Approach and Assumptions papers

Please find introductions to the articles at the bottom of this page: in the Related articles links are published to the full studies and two-page abstracts or summaries.

Synthesis videos

Videos presenting insights and results of the various papers based on the synthesis study of research projects under the Food & Business Research programme.

Webinar reports

“Dangerous Assumptions” podcasts

This podcast series challenges deeply held assumptions underpinning research projects in the FNS sector from three LMIC perspectives.

_ _ _
See also the NWO-WOTRO website.

 

Related articles
Scaling Insights for Sustainable Food Systems: Discussing outcomes of Food & Business Research
December 18, 2020Knowledge activity
Scaling Insights for Sustainable Food Systems: Discussing outcomes of Food & Business Research

On 9 and 10 December, the Food & Business Research Final Conference “Scaling Insights for Sustainable Food Systems” took place online with participants from all over the world. The conference was organized by NWO-WOTRO and the Food & Business Knowledge Platform to enlarge the impact of the 75 Food & Business Research projects (Applied Research Fund and Global Challenges Programme), bring together insights and outcomes, and discuss implications for future Food and Nutrition Security (FNS) (research) programmes. »

Food & Business Research Final Conference
November 1, 2020Knowledge activity
Food & Business Research Final Conference

On December 9 and 10, 2020, NWO-WOTRO and the Food & Business Knowledge Platform organise the final Food & Business Research Conference. This conference will enlarge the impact of all research results by bringing together project-level insights and outcomes, in order to identify commonalities and create coherence. »

Shaking up the Food System
October 6, 2020Knowledge activity
Shaking up the Food System

Is it high time for a shake-up of the global food system? The output of the the 75 GCP and ARF research projects on food and nutrition security consists of insights about, for instance, the role of indigenous and local foods when confronted with fragility of global value chains due to acute shocks like COVID-19. Or innovations for circular and climate smart agriculture in response to the long-term crisis that climate change is. »

Increasing smallholder food production
July 14, 2020Study
Increasing smallholder food production

This third Outcomes Paper of the F&BR Synthesis Study assesses the outcomes delivered by thirteen Food & Business Research (F&BR) projects in terms of increased food production by and for farming communities in seven African and two Asian countries. Smallholders play a vital role in contributing to food and nutrition security. Ironically, smallholders and their families are themselves among the poorest and most food insecure people in the global South. »

Influencing policies and practice for improved food and nutrition security
July 14, 2020Study
Influencing policies and practice for improved food and nutrition security

This second Outcomes Paper of the F&BR Synthesis Study assesses the outcomes delivered by sixteen Food & Business Research (F&BR) projects for both policy formulation and implementation of FNS policies by government and non-profit agencies. The design of food security policies can be influenced by knowledge and research. A better understanding derived from research, can help policymakers and practitioners reconsider or adjust their policy priorities, strategies and viewpoints. »

A business perspective on serving marginalised farmers & consumers
June 17, 2020Study
A business perspective on serving marginalised farmers & consumers

This first Outcomes Paper of the F&BR Synthesis Study presents the findings from fourteen interdisciplinary research projects on two outcome areas: firstly, innovations for agricultural production and processing that intend to meet (existing or anticipated) needs of poor and marginalised producers and consumers in LMICs; and secondly, new approaches or strategies to connect marginalised producers to the market. »

Smallholder agriculture: Research-based opportunities for improved food and nutrition security
May 25, 2020Study
Smallholder agriculture: Research-based opportunities for improved food and nutrition security

This fourth Thematic Paper of the F&BR Synthesis Study discusses Research for Development insights and innovations regarding smallholder farmers. The paper stresses that differences among smallholders have significant implications and require an integrated approach from donors, governments and development agencies. Any such approach should be rigorously monitored on process and results to enable adaptive programming and learning. »

Inclusive business for sustainable food systems: Putting the last first
May 22, 2020Study
Inclusive business for sustainable food systems: Putting the last first

How can business models be profitable and benefit low income populations, aim to address societal problems, including poverty and food and nutrition insecurity, and promote sustainable livelihoods? This is the key question explored in the third Thematic Paper of the F&BR Synthesis Study that has recently been produced discussing Research for Development insights and innovations regarding these business models, commonly referred to as Inclusive Business models. »

African indigenous foods: Opportunities for improved food and nutrition security
April 16, 2020Study
African indigenous foods: Opportunities for improved food and nutrition security

What is the potential of local and indigenous foods to contribute to food and nutrition security, as well as economic empowerment, of poor and marginalised farmers and consumers in Sub Saharan Africa? This is the key question explored in the second Thematic Paper of the F&BR Synthesis Study that has recently been produced discussing Research for Development insights and innovations regarding these foods. »

Opportunities and barriers of Circular Agriculture
February 24, 2020Study
Opportunities and barriers of Circular Agriculture

In 2020 a synthesis study of the GCP and ARF projects under the Food & Business Research programme is executed. This first Thematic Paper of the F&BR Synthesis Study discusses Research for Development insights and innovations regarding three principles of Circular Agriculture: (1) preserving and enhancing natural resources, (2) efficient use of resources, and (3) multi-purpose use and recovering value from waste. »