Browsing by Author "Wesana, Joshua"

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    Agronomic Biofortification from a Stakeholder’s Viewpoint Evidence from Studies on Iodine-Enriched Foods in Uganda
    (Vitamins and minerals biofortification of edible plants, 2020) Olum, Solomon; Wesana, Joshua; Odongo, Walter; Mogendi, Joseph; Okello, Collins; Webale, Dominic; Ongeng, Duncan
    This chapter provides an overview of two case studies that examine stakeholder reactions toward iodine biofortification in Uganda. The first case applies the protection motivation theory and evaluates the intention of school heads and parents of school-aged children to include iodine-biofortified legumes in school feeding programs. The second case study takes a broader scope of stakeholder groups and applies the analytical hierarchy process, a multicriteria decision-making tool, to understand the stakeholders' evaluation of the relative importance of Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats (SWOT) factors in implementing agronomic iodine biofortification in Uganda. Results from the two cases demonstrate that stakeholders are generally optimistic about the iodine biofortification strategy to improve iodine intake and address the prevalent iodine deficiency disorders. Both cases provide insights into key factors that need to be considered in implementing iodine biofortification technology in a developing country.
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    Agronomic Biofortification from a Stakeholder’s Viewpoint Evidence from Studies on Iodine-Enriched Foods in Uganda
    (Vitamins and minerals biofortification of edible plants, 2020) Olum, Solomon; Wesana, Joshua; Odongo, Walter; Mogendi, Joseph; Okello, Collins; Webale, Dominic; Makokha, Anselimo; Ongeng, Duncan; Gellynck, Xavier; Steur, Hans De
    This chapter provides an overview of two case studies that examine stakeholder reactions toward iodine biofortification in Uganda. The first case applies the protection motivation theory and evaluates the intention of school heads and parents of school-aged children to include iodine-biofortified legumes in school feeding programs. The second case study takes a broader scope of stakeholder groups and applies the analytical hierarchy process, a multicriteria decision-making tool, to understand the stakeholders' evaluation of the relative importance of Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats (SWOT) factors in implementing agronomic iodine biofortification in Uganda. Results from the two cases demonstrate that stakeholders are generally optimistic about the iodine biofortification strategy to improve iodine intake and address the prevalent iodine deficiency disorders. Both cases provide insights into key factors that need to be considered in implementing iodine biofortification technology in a developing country.
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    Economic Feasibility of Iodine Agronomic Biofortification: A Projective Analysis with Ugandan Vegetable Farmers
    (Sustainability, 2021) Olum, Solomon; Gellynck, Xavier; Wesana, Joshua; Odongo, Walter; Aparo, Nathaline Onek; Aloka, Bonny; Ongeng, Duncan; Steur, Hans De
    Cost–benefit analysis of (iodine) biofortification at farm level is limited in the literature. This study aimed to analyze the economic feasibility of applying iodine-rich fertilizers (agronomic biofortification) to cabbage and cowpea in Northern Uganda. Data on costs and revenues were obtained from a survey of 100 farmers, and benefits that would accrue from using iodine fertilizers were elicited using consumers’ willingness to pay (WTP) for the iodine-biofortified vegetables. The cost–benefit analysis demonstrated iodine agronomic biofortification as a highly profitable effort, generating average benefit–cost ratios (BCRs) of 3.13 and 5.69 for cabbage and cowpea production, respectively, higher than the conventional production practice. However, the projective analysis showed substantive variations of economic gains from iodine biofortification among farmers, possibly due to differences in farming practices and managerial capabilities. For instance, only 74% of cabbage farmers would produce at a BCR above 1 if they were to apply iodine fertilizer. Furthermore, a sensitivity analysis to estimate the effect of subsidizing the cost of iodine fertilizer showed that a higher proportion of farmers would benefit from iodine biofortification. Therefore, as biofortification is considered a health policy intervention targeting the poor and vulnerable, farmers could be supported through fertilizer subsidies to lower the production cost of iodine-biofortified foods and to avoid passing on the price burden to vulnerable consumers.
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    Insects as food: Illuminating the food neophobia and socio-cultural dynamics of insect consumption in Uganda
    (International Journal of Tropical Insect Science, 2021) Olum, Solomon; Wesana, Joshua; Mawadri, Justine; Nakiranda, Joanitar K.; Odongo, Walter
    Entomophagy presents the most viable and sustainable meat alternative to feed the ever-increasing world population as insects are highly nutritious. However, the potential of edible insects’ consumption is constrained by consumers’ fear towards novel or unfamiliar foods (food neophobia), which tends to be higher for insects. This paper assessed the influence of food neophobia and socio-cultural factors on the consumption and consumers’ willingness to consume three edible insects in Uganda (the longhorned grasshoppers, the flying African termites and the wingless red termites). Data were collected from 310 edible insects’ consumers from two culturally different regions in Uganda. Results show that culture and familiarity with edible insects are important determinants of edible insects’ consumption. Consumers with high levels of food neophobia were less likely to consume edible insects that were unfamiliar to them.Much as the population exhibited high levels of food neophobia, neophobia was not a significant predictor of future edible insect consumption. In addition, personal characteristics like education and age influenced both the level of food neophobia and consumption of insects. Therefore, consumption of edible insect should be promoted, keeping in mind specific cultural contexts and familiarity of specific edible insects among potential consumers. Improving knowledge of consumers about edible insects and their nutritional benefits could also lower their levels of food neophobia and improve willingness to consume insects