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17 June 2020
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Story Dr WP Wahl
The Division of Student Affairs (DSA) prioritises innovation to meet the challenges of food insecurity and malnutrition among students. To this end, several student volunteers and student governance structures are collaborating with the DSA on various initiatives.
During 2019, various conversations were held about the possibility of creating a health-promoting food environment at the UFS where students and staff are well informed and empowered to take appropriate action regarding their food and nutritional needs. These conversations resulted in an institutional strategy to address the food environment at the UFS. Student representatives serve on a technical committee that directs the implementation of this strategy. In this regard, several initiatives have already been launched.
Students from residences and other student communities have planted vegetable gardens on the Bloemfontein Campus with the assistance of KovsieACT and the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences. Students and staff are already harvesting and distributing vegetables to needy students every week. Measurements were put in place to continue this during the COVID-19 period. The following vegetables were planted: spinach, cabbage, beetroot, broccoli, cauliflower, and carrots.
Food parcels, donated by Tiger Brands and Gift of the Givers, are continuously handed out by DSA staff and student volunteers. In this regard, 540 food parcels have already been handed out on the Bloemfontein Campus during the COVID-19 period alone. During the same time, 117 students received food parcels on the Qwaqwa Campus. The innovation of this food parcel project rests on the fact that business, NPOs, UFS students, and DSA staff are collaborating to address food insecurity and malnutrition.
More collaborative initiatives will be implemented over the next 12 months. The DSA staff and students are already working with the Department of Dietetics and Consumer Sciences to create information packages about the preparation of low-budget nutritious meals.
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Vegetable tunnels established to continue the fight against food insecurity
UFS senior professor serves on panel that investigates conversion of algae into biofuels
2009-09-07
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Prof. Johan Grobbelaar, senior professor at the University of the Free State's (UFS) Department of Plant Sciences, has been invited by the Arizona Public Service (APS) to be part of a panel of experts who will be attending a series of meetings in the United States of America (USA) on CO2 fixation via algae for the Department of Energy Coal to Substitute Natural Gas (SNG) Project. Prof. Grobbelaar has extended knowledge of and is one of the leading researchers in algal biotechnology. APS is investigating the possibility of recycling CO2 emissions into biomass for the successful conversion of algae into biofuels. Prof. Grobbelaar will be visiting the USA from 8-15 September 2009 where the meetings will take place in Phoenix, Arizona.
Photo: Hannes Pieterse |