Enhancing Food Security and Livelihoods through Virus-Free Vitamin A-rich Sweet Potato Vines: A Demand-Driven and Multi-actor Approach in Uganda’s Refugee Settlements and Host Communities

1. To establish existing farmer adoption and consumer preferences for OFSP.

2. To comprehensively analyse the operations of existing OFSP vines input suppliers.

3. To develop and optimize In Vitro techniques for efficient elimination of OFSP viruses.

4. To scale up the production of virus-free OFSP cultivars through credible tissue culture, and distribute clean vines for sustainable adoption and consumption in refugee settlements and host communities.

The project is expected to produce several tangible outcomes, including: 1) Innovative in vitro tissue culture techniques scientifically tested to inform co-design of an efficient low-cost approach that eliminates multiple OFSP viruses; 2) A credible and successful micropropagation, multiplication, and deployment of clean planting vines at scale for the community; 3) Enhanced capacity of partner institution staff and students in novel plant biotechnology tissue culture; 4) Strengthened biotechnology tissue culture laboratory with equipment and tools; 5) Action research on adoption and novel OFSP product development; 6) Capacity building of refugees and host communities in good agronomic practices and value chain development; 7) MMU certified as a clean vines supplier by the National Seed Certification Service; 8) Establishment of demonstration plots and distribution of clean vines in target refugee settlements (Rwamwanja, Kyaka, and Pagirinya); 9) Development of nutritious OFSP-based food products; and 10) A scale-up strategy, including marketing plans and business models. The long-term impact aims to be improved food security and nutrition among vulnerable refugees and host communities, reduced reliance on humanitarian food aid, and a sustainable local supply chain for virus-free OFSP cultivars.

• rof. Christine Yung Hung (UGent) – Flemish Coordinator, Lead of Consumer and Adoption Studies

• Assoc. Prof. Joshua Wesana (MMU) – South Coordinator, Lead of Farmer Studies, Product Development, and Nutritional Aspects

• Prof. Hans de Steur (UGent) – Support Scale-up Activities and Research Initiatives

• Prof. Stefaan Werbrouck (UGent) – Support Biotechnology Tissue Culture Research Components

• Dr. Sofie Van Holle (HOGENT) – Support Quantitative (Real Time) PCR Application

• Dr. Christel Meert (HOGENT) – Support Analytical Chemistry Aspects

• Dr. Jacob Kaingo (MMU) – Promote Good Agronomic Practices Among Beneficiaries

• Dr. Jimmy Obala (MMU) – Support Student Locally in Virus Indexing

• Ms. Efrance Najjuma (MMU) – Potential PhD Researcher, Plant Biotechnology Integrated with Socio-economic Aspects

• Ms. Costa Gumisiriya (MMU) – Support Identification, Screening and Indexing of OFSP Viruses in Field Settings

• Dr. Solomon Olum (Gulu University) – Farmer and Consumer Research and Outreach Activities in Northern Uganda

• Prof. Richard Echodu (Gulu University) – Farmer and Consumer Research and Outreach Activities in Northern Uganda

• Dr. Normal Kwikiriza (CIP) – Stakeholder Engagement and Scaling of OFSP Intervention

• Ms. Sarah Mayanja (CIP) – Stakeholder Engagement and Scaling of OFSP Intervention

• Dr. Lucas Vanhaelewyn (Deroose Plants) – Private Sector Perspective and Technical R&D Support

• Dr. Filip Vandenbussche (Deroose Plants) – Private Sector Perspective and Technical R&D Support

• Dr. Patience Rwamigisa (MAAIF) – Policy Efforts in Supporting OFSP Adoption and Certification Processes

• Mr. Isaac Kabazzi (UNHCR) – Outreach and Beneficiary Engagement Efforts, Facilitating Access to Refugee Settlements