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Joshua Wesana

Joshua Wesana

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Joshua Wesana is a food science and nutrition researcher with expertise in sustainable food systems, nutrition-sensitive agriculture, food security, and agricultural innovation. He holds a PhD in Applied Biological Sciences (Food Science and Nutrition) from Ghent University, Belgium, and has extensive research experience in linking agriculture, nutrition, health, and livelihoods to address food system challenges.

His research focuses on improving food and nutrition outcomes through sustainable value chains, climate-smart agriculture, aquaculture, biofortification, food loss reduction, and the adoption of innovative agricultural technologies. Joshua has contributed to multidisciplinary research projects aimed at enhancing food security, improving dietary quality, and strengthening resilient food systems, particularly in vulnerable communities. Through his work, he promotes evidence-based solutions that bridge the gap between scientific research, policy, and practical applications for sustainable development.

Doctor (PhD) of Applied Biological Sciences: Food Science and Nutrition, Ghent University, Belgium

Master of Science in Public Health Epidemiology, Karolinska Institute, Sweden

Master of Science in Nutrition & Rural Development: Human Nutrition, Ghent University, Belgium

Bachelor of Science in Home Economics & Human Nutrition, Sokoine University of Agriculture, Tanzania

  1. Ssekyanzi, Athanasius, Joshua Wesana, Gilbert Van Stappen, and Nancy Nevejan (2025). “Assessing factors affecting smallholder earthen pond fish farming in the varied climates of the Rwenzori Region, Uganda.” Aquaculture Reports 41: 102689.
  2. Senyange, Brian, Joshua Wesana, Guido Van Huylenbroeck, Xavier Gellynck, and Hans De Steur (2025). “Tissue engineering in the agri-food industry: current status, socio-economic overview and regulatory compliance.” Current Opinion in Biotechnology 91: 103228.
  3. Atimango, Alice O., Joshua Wesana, Stephen W. Kalule, Wim Verbeke, and Hans De Steur (2024). “Genome editing in food and agriculture: from regulations to consumer perspectives.” Current Opinion in Biotechnology 87 103127.
  4. Senyange, Brian, Hans De Steur, Joshua Wesana, Xavier Gellynck, and Guido Van Huylenbroeck (2024). “Stakeholders’ evaluation of tissue culture plants: evidence from social, economic, and agronomic studies.” The Journal of Horticultural Science and Biotechnology: 1-19.
  5. Strobbe, Simon, Joshua Wesana, Dominique Van Der Straeten, and Hans De Steur (2023). “Public acceptance and stakeholder views of gene edited foods: a global overview.” Trends in Biotechnology.
  6. Kirungi, Diana, Brian Senyange, Joshua Wesana, Haroon Sseguya, Xavier Gellynck, and Hans De Steur (2023). “Entrepreneurial and attitudinal determinants for adoption of Climate-smart Agriculture technologies in Uganda.” Cogent Food & Agriculture 9, no. 2 2282236.
  7. Byrd, Kendra A., Phillipa J. Cohen, Joshua Wesana, and Sloans Chimatiro (2022). “Improving access to aquatic foods.” Nature Food 3, no. 12: 986-987.
  8. Ahikiriza, Elizabeth, Joshua Wesana, Guido Van Huylenbroeck, Ronald Kabbiri, Hans De Steur, Ludwig Lauwers, and Xavier Gellynck (2022). “Farmer knowledge and the intention to use smartphone-based information management technologies in Uganda.” Computers and Electronics in Agriculture 202: 107413.
  9. De Bruyn Julia, Joshua Wesana, Stuart W. Bunting, Shakuntala H. Thilsted, and Philippa J. Cohen (2021). “Fish acquisition and consumption in the African Great Lakes Region through a food environment lens: A scoping review.” Nutrients 13, no. 7: 2408.
  10. Fiona A. Simmance, Philippa J. Cohen, Cindy Huchery, Sarah Sutcliffe, Sharon K. Suri, Xavier Tezzo, Shakuntala H. Thilsted, Peter Oosterveer, Cynthia McDougall, Molly Ahern, Sarah Freed, Kendra A. Byrd, Joshua Wesana, Ian G. Cowx, David J. Mills, Michael Akester, Chin Yee Chan, Joseph Nagoli, Jillian T. Wate, Michael J. Phillips (2022). Nudging fisheries and aquaculture research towards food systems. Fish and Fisheries, 23, 34– 53.
  11. Darian Pearce, Manoj K Dora, Joshua Wesana & Xavier Gellynck (2021). Toward sustainable primary production through the application of lean management in South African fruit horticulture. Journal of Cleaner Production, 127815.
  12. Olum Solomon, Xavier Gellynck, Joshua Wesana, Walter Odongo, Nathaline Onek Aparo, Bonny Aloka, Duncan Ongeng, and Hans De Steur (2021). “Economic Feasibility of Iodine Agronomic Biofortification: A Projective Analysis with Ugandan Vegetable Farmers.” Sustainability 13, no. 19 10608.
  13. Ahikiriza Elizabeth, Joshua Wesana, Xavier Gellynck, Guido Van Huylenbroeck, and Ludwig Lauwers (2021). “Context Specificity and Time Dependency in Classifying Sub-Saharan Africa Dairy Cattle Farmers for Targeted Extension Farm Advice: The Case of Uganda.” Agriculture 11, no. 9: 836.
  14. Olum, Solomon, Joshua Wesana, Justine Mawadri, Joanitar Kizza Nakiranda, and Walter Odongo (2020). “Insects as food: Illuminating the food neophobia and socio-cultural dynamics of insect consumption in Uganda.” International Journal of Tropical Insect Science: 1-10.
  15. Joshua Wesana, Xavier Gellynck, Manoj K Dora, Lucy Muyama, Emmanuella Mutenyo, Elizabeth Ahikiriza, Edmond Kagambe and Hans De Steur (2020). Labeling Nutrition-Sensitive Food Chains: A Consumer Preference Analysis of Milk Products. Frontiers in Nutrition. 7:158
  16. Olum, Solomon, Joshua Wesana, Walter Odongo, Joseph Mogendi, Collins Okello, Dominic Webale, Anselimo Makokha, Duncan Ongeng, Xavier Gellynck, and Hans De Steur (2020). Agronomic Biofortification from a Stakeholder’s Viewpoint: Evidence from Studies on Iodine‐Enriched Foods in Uganda. Vitamins and Minerals Biofortification of Edible Plants, Benkeblia (Ed.), 163-189, John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
  17. Joshua Wesana, Joachim Schouteten, Evi Van Acker, Xavier Gellynck, & Hans De Steur (2019). On consumers’ use, brand preference and equity of sports nutrition products. British Food Journal. 122(2), 635-654.
  18. Joshua Wesana, Xavier Gellynck, Manoj K Dora, Darian Pearce and Hans De Steur (2019). Measuring food and nutritional losses through value stream mapping along the dairy value chain in Uganda. Resources, Conservation and Recycling, 140, 104416.
  19. Joshua Wesana, Hans De Steur, Manoj K Dora, Darian Pearce and Xavier Gellynck (2019). Reducing food losses in the supply chain through value stream mapping: a case study in the dairy sector. Book chapter in Saving Food: Production, Supply Chain, Food Waste and Food Consumption. Elsevier Academic Press.
  20. Carolin Kamrath, Joshua Wesana, Stefanie Bröring, Xavier Gellynck, Hans De Steur (2019). What Do We Know about Chain Actors’ Evaluation of New Food Technologies? A Systematic Review of Consumer and Farmer Studies. Comprehensive Reviews in Food Science and Food Safety, 18(3), 798-816.
  21. Dora Manoj, Joshua Wesana, Xavier Gellynck, Nitin Seth, Bidit Dey, and Hans De Steur (2019). “Importance of sustainable operations in food loss: evidence from the Belgian food processing industry.” Annals of Operations Research: 1-26.
  22. Joshua Wesana, Hans De Steur, Manoj K Dora, Emmanuella Mutenyo, Lucy Muyama, Xavier Gellynck (2018). Towards nutrition sensitive agriculture. Actor readiness to reduce food and nutrient losses or wastes along the dairy value chain in Uganda. Journal of Cleaner Production, 182, 46-56.
  23. Darian Pearce, Manoj K Dora, Joshua Wesana & Xavier Gellynck. (2018). Determining factors driving sustainable performance through the application of lean management practices in horticultural primary production. Journal of Cleaner Production, 203, 400-417.
  24. Hans De Steur, Joshua Wesana, Dieter Blancquaert, Dominique Van Der Straeten and Xavier Gellynck (2017). Methods matter: a meta-regression on the determinants of willingness-to-pay studies on biofortified foods. Annals of New York Academy of Sciences, 1390(1), 34-46.
  25. Hans De Steur, Joshua Wesana, Dieter Blancquaert, Dominique Van Der Straeten and Xavier Gellynck (2017). The socio- economics of genetically modified biofortified crops: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Annals of New York Academy of Sciences, 1390(1), 14-33.
  26. Ashkan Afshin., Mohammad H. Forouzanfar., Marissa B Reitsma., … Joshua Wesana., … Christopher J L Murray (2017). Health Effects of Overweight and Obesity in 195 Countries over 25 Years. New England Journal of Medicine, 377(1), 13-27.
  27. Barber, Ryan M., Nancy Fullman, Reed JD Sorensen, Thomas Bollyky, … Joshua Wesana., … Christopher J L Murray (2017). Healthcare Access and Quality Index based on mortality from causes amenable to personal health care in 195 countries and territories, 1990–2015: a novel analysis from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2015. Lancet. 390(10091), 231-266.
  28. Abajobir, A. A., Abate, K. H., Abbafati, C.,….Bennett, D. A., D. Bisanzio, A. Deribew, P. W. Gething, S. I. Hay ….Joshua Wesana, R. Ali, Christopher J L Murray (2017). Global, regional, and national under-5 mortality, adult mortality, age-specific mortality, and life expectancy, 1970–2016: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2016. Lancet, 1084-1150.
  29. Hans De Steur, Joshua Wesana, Manoj K Dora, Darian Pearce and Xavier Gellynck (2016). Applying Value Stream Mapping to reduce food losses and wastes in supply chains: a systematic review. Waste Management, 58, 359-368.
  30. Hans De Steur, Joseph Birundu Mogendi, Joshua Wesana, Anselimo Makokha, and Xavier Gellynck (2015). Stakeholder reactions toward iodine bio-fortified foods. An application of protection motivation theory. Appetite,92, 295-302.
  1. VLIR-UOS TEAM  project with Ghent University and Mountains of the Moon University – Uganda (2024-2029) – 299,999.7 Euros. 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.
  2. VLIR-UOS TEAM project with KU Leuven and Mountains of the Moon University – Uganda (2024-2029) – 299,999.67 Euros. Harnessing local traditional knowledge and experiences on production and consumption of fruits and vegetables-based diets to optimize cardiometabolic health and undernutrition in Rwenzori region.
  3. VLIR-UOS ICP Connect project with VIVES University of Applied Sciences and Mountains of the Moon University (2024-2030) – 748.981,20 Euros. Beyond the Souvenir: A Multi-Regional Project for Authentic and Sustainable Hospitality Education.
  4. REDAA project with International Institute of Tropical Agriculture and Mountains of the Moon University (2024-2027) – 500,000 GBP. Restoring degraded environments for improved livelihoods in refugee settlements and host communities in Uganda.
  5. G-STIC Climate Programme, Flanders Government (2023-2026) – 250,000 Euros. Safeguarding carbon sinks and their sequestration with aggrotech (tissue culture) solutions in Western Uganda
  6. IMMANA Grant Round 4 – Uganda & Zimbabwe (2023-2025) – 250,000 GBP. NUTRI + 4 AID: NUTritional Postharvest Loss Estimate for Humanitarian Aid. 
  7. KU Leuven Global Minds project (2023-2024) – 20,000 Euros. Strengthening the linkages between academia and nutrition practice to optimise cardiometabolic health in Rwenzori Region
  8. Ghent University Structural International Partnership (SIP) with Mountains of the Moon University (2024-2028) – 125,000 Euros.
  9. VLIR-UOS Institutional University Cooperation (IUC) of Ghent University with Mountains of the Moon University – Uganda (2019-2025) – 1.5 million Euros. Action research to promote food security in Aquaculture & Dairy value chains (Phase 2).
  10. VLIR-UOS Institutional University Cooperation (IUC) with Mountains of the Moon University – Uganda (2013-2018) – 1.5 million Euros. Action research to promote food security in Dairy & Aquaculture value chains (Phase 1).
  11. VLIR-UOS TEAM project with Ghent University and Gulu University – Uganda (2016-2020) – 272,795 Euros. Agronomic biofortification to improve iodine intake in Northern Uganda: a stakeholder-based intervention.
  12. VLIR-OUS South Initiative project with Ghent University and Mountains of the Moon University – Uganda (2018-2019) – 69,996 Euros. Reinforcing family farmer capacity to improve crop storage and reduce food losses in Rwenzori region.
  13. Enabel Skills Development Fund, – Uganda (2019-2022) – 205,438 Euros. Enhancing practical skills and competencies of workers in the Hotel Sector in Kabarole and Kasese districts, Uganda.
  14. VLIR-UOS TEAM project with Ghent University Kenyatta University – Kenya (2019-2022) – 279,926 Euros. Insects for Nutrition and Health: Development and Evaluation of Insect-based Complementary Foods for Children in west Kenya.
  15. Special research project Grant – Ghent University (2015-2019) – 111,000 Euros. Reinforcement of agriculture-nutrition linkages in value chains as a means for enhanced socio-economic development of the dairy sector in Uganda.

Masters

  1. Emmanuella Mutenyo (MSc, 2016-2017: Ghent University)  Towards a nutrition sensitive value chain: applying and extending the theory of organizational readiness to change in the dairy industry – Completed.
  2. Lucy Muyama (MSc, 2016-2017: Ghent University). Consumer preferences for a nutrition sensitive chain label: A case study on the dairy sector in Uganda – Completed. 
  3. Ronald Wankya Kiduma (MSc, 2018-2019: Ghent University)  Impact of Academic Satisfaction on Performance Satisfaction in Aquaculture in Kenya – Completed.
  4. Ruben Martinez Cuella (MSc, 2018-2019: Ghent University). Use of different methods to analyse Food Loss and Waste in a Spanish SME – Completed
  5. Daniel Ibanda (MSc, 2018-2020: Mountains of the Moon University).  Underutilization of antenatal care services and the risk of adverse (prenatal) pregnancy outcomes among mothers in Ntoroko district – Completed.
  6. Nyagoma Annet (MSc, 2023-2025: Mountains of the Moon University). Contribution of vegetable home gardens to nutritional outcomes in refugee communities: a case study of Rwamwanja refugee settlement – On-going

PhDs

  1. Elizabeth Ahikiriza (PhD, 2019-2023: Ghent University) – Agriculture productivity, Living labs and bridging the gap between research and practice: a case of Ugandan dairy sector – Completed.
  2. Andrew Ronnie Mugenyi (PhD, 2019-2022: Vrije Universiteit Brussel) – Completed. Results uptake and change management in North-South University Development Cooperation projects: a stakeholder-based approach – Completed.
  3. Athanasius Ssekyanzi (PhD, 2019-2023: Ghent University). Water management for improved aquaculture production in the Rwenzori region of Uganda – Completed
  4. Diana Kirungi (PhD, 2020-2024: Ghent University). Climate-smart agriculture technologies in Uganda: adoption and the role of business models – Completed
  5. Lizzie Saka (PhD, 2020-2024: University of Greenwich). A food systems approach to understanding and supporting contributions of small pelagic fish to human diets and nutrition in Malawi – On-going
  6. Brian Senyange (PhD, 2023-2026: Ghent University). Entrepreneurial orientation and technology (tissue culture) adoption in the agricultural sector: Lessons from the South – On-going
  7. Efrance Najjuma (PhD, 2025-2029: Ghent University). Using tissue culture techniques to develop virus-free Vitamin A rich Sweet Potatoes for improved nutritional outcomes.