The oral presentation session “Food consumption, consumer preference and human health” hold rich reminders why agricultural research should not only focus on food production, but always need to keep an eye on the consumption side. Under the order of NSA, Hannah Jaenicke presented a holistic framework on how to narrow the gap between the already quantitatively sufficient supply of nutrients and a qualitatively balanced diet. Even though, this does not relate to the latest scandals from the US, her transatlantic observations for example included the fact even within one household some members are obese while others are undernourished.

Global warming, peak oil, climate change; GM seeds of the bio-giants BAYER and MONSANTO are ruining our biosphere; 40% of greenhouse gas emissions comes from the industrialized agriculture sector; – how to get from where we are now to an abundant, pleasurable and resilient future? The 65-minute long documentary film “Voices of Transition”gives us a concrete answer to this powerful question. Leigh Court Farm in England

Only 6 posters were presented in the session, and another hand full of people listened to them on early Thursday morning, so that Mr. Fitwi, moderator of the Poster presentation session “Aquaculture, fisheries and fish“, referred to them as the “underdogs” of the Tropentag 2013. However, the wide range of topics presented during the sessions shows that aquacultural research does not need to hide away from the big stages, but actually addresses very urgent topics such as depleting resources and women empowerment.

African bush butter, oil bean seeds, soursop fruits, bush mango, African bread fruit, African star apple, bitter cola… Do you know there are many edible fruits in Africa and they are socio economically important for indigenous people and farmers?

Pigs won’t drive a car anytime soon, around 30 people learned, when listening to the presentations “Nutrition of monogastric animals”.

The oral presentations during the Wednesday morning session represented the huge variety of aspects under the umbrella of ‘Intensive Livestock systems and services’, but stood in keen competition with time constraints due to a pushed forward lunch break.

GIZ projects to promote urban agriculture On Wednesday morning, representatives from Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH shared their experience on rural development projects in Africa.

The session started of with an awakening keynote speech from FIAN President Dr. Flavio Luiz Schieck Valente. He asked researchers to use science to influence politics, because politicians have an impact on people’s lives. His presentation did not focus on the continuum as such, but rather on what actually happens to the people in the continuum?