Activities of the Director

March 13, 2017

On March 13 2017, the GFSI Director met with Professor Emmanuel Ohene Afoakwa, Head of the Department of Nutrition and Food Science at the University of Ghana. During the meeting both Professors discussed several ideas towards future research and teaching opportunities to strengthen the long-term partnership between McGill University and the University of Ghana.

Dr. Melgar-Quinonez been introduced by Dr. Seth Adu-Afarwuah

With Dr Agartha Ohemeng, McGill Alumni (2013)

March 2, 2017

On March 2nd 2017 Dr Melgar-Quiñonez was invited to speak at a seminar in the Department of Nutrition and Food Sciences at the University of Ghana in Legon. He presented the talk: Current perspectives in Global Food Insecurity: how big is the magnitude of the problem?

February 29, 2017, Guatemala

Dr Melgar-Quiñonez been interviewed by Guatemalan national media right after his report on the national prevalence of food insecurity”

January 30-31, 2017

International Workshop on Food security and nutritionally-sensitive agriculture: Knowledge at the service of public policies. This workshop was co-organized by the National University of Colombia and McGill, and took place on January 30 and 31st 2017 in Bogotá and was attended by over 250 people. The whole event was inaugurated by Teresa Mosquera and Hugo (Both PIs). Theresa moderated the panel: Synergism between Social and Natural Sciences towards Food Security and Nutrition. Phil Oxhorn presented the talk: The Civil Society and Public Health Promotion: A North-South Comparison. Stan Kubow talked about: Nutritional intervention on disease outcomes and metabolic disorders. Hugo presented the talk: Research and education in Food Security: beyond Interdisciplinarity. Hugo also moderated the panel: Research for Development.

Then on February 6th the same group had a workshop with the same title, but this one took place in the city of Pasto in the Province of Nariño, Colombia; which is the place where our study is taking place. The workshop was attended by 315 people.

Dr Miguel García-Wynder, Representative to the USA of the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation in Agriculture (IICA), and Dr Humberto Monardes, Professor at McGill University and Director of the Global Food Security undergraduate program.

November 10, 2016

On November 10 2016 Dr Melgar-Quiñonez was an invited speaker at the XXV Congress of the Latin American Livestock Production Association in Recife, Brazil. He presented in a plenary session the talk: Livestock and food security in small producers in Latin America and Caribbean Countries. Additionally he was invited to talk at one of the symposia during this congress. He presented the talk: The face of real food insecurity in Latin America.

October 12, 2016

On October 12 2016 Dr Melgar-Quiñonez was invited by the Association of Canadian Faculties of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine to talk about the Current State of Food Insecurity in Canada. The event Mindshare: Securing Canada’s Food Future took place at the University of Saskatchewan in Saskatoon, Canada. For more information please see: http://us5.campaign-archive2.com/?u=2955a690ca1fb84e7e629bc07&id=73b561b088&e=249f78342a

September 28, 2016

Pictured with the President of the Congress Dr Ana Maria Corbacho, University de La República, Uruguay.

September 28, 2016

Dr Melgar-Quiñonez was invited as a keynote speaker to the 1st Latin American Congress on Interdisciplinary Research and Education, which took place on September 28 2016 in Montevideo, Uruguay. Dr Melgar-Quiñonez talk focused on: Research and teaching in food security: beyond interdisciplinarity. Dr Melgar Quiñonez was also invited to talk about the Importance of food security and nutrition information for decision making in the fight against hunger.  https://www.eventos.ei.udelar.edu.uy/event/3/timetable/#20160928 and https://www.eventos.ei.udelar.edu.uy/event/3/page/14

https://www.eventos.ei.udelar.edu.uy/event/3/material/8/0.pdf

Mar 9, 2016

Event: The Walrus Talks

February 29, 2016

Dr Melgar-Quiñonez presented the report “National food insecurity prevalence in Guatemala” The event, which took place in Guatemala City was  organized by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the Guatemalan Secretariat for Food Security and Nutrition, and the National Statistics Institute. The national newspaper Diario de Centroamérica reported on the event: http://lanoticiaenguatemala.com/estudio-revela-urgencia-de-combatir-el-hambre/

Jan. 20, 2016

Event: Preliminary meetings of the CIFSRF Potato project group, Colombia

Participants included Prof Stan Kubow, Dietetics and Human Nutrition (standing, 2nd from left); Patrick Cortbaoui, Institute for Global Food Security (standing, 3rd from left); Prof Danielle Donnelly, Plant Science (sitting, 2nd from left); and Hugo Melgar-Quiñonez (sitting, 3rd from right)

Dec. 10, 2015

Event: Finalising IDRC Project, Guatemala

Project Title: Systemic and Territorial assessment of Food Security and Nutrition in Guatemala – How to improve public policies and practices
Main Audience: City leaders, Guatemala University, IICA, Prof. Humberto Monardes, Prof. Philip Oxhorn.

Web link

Dec. 4 – 5, 2015

Event: Celebration of the 10th Anniversary of the Food Security & Nutrition Observatory at the Colombia National University (UNC), Bogotá, Colombia

Presentation: Advances against Food Security and Hunger in Latin America

Nov. 28 – Dec. 3, 2015

Event: Food Security and Nutrition Assessment, Democratic Republic of Congo

Presentation: Vulnerability Assessment in the Province of South Kivu – DR Congo
Description: Given the known high levels of food insecurity and poverty, the high importation bill of food, as well as the increasing needs of the local population, a vulnerability assessment was conducted in the South Kivu Province of DR Congo between November 22nd and December 4th 2015.

Hugo with the president of the Bolivian Senate

Hugo with Bolivian Minister of Health and a Cuban professor

Nov. 25 - 27, 2015

Event: International Conference, Bolivia

Presentation: Accelerated Reduction of Children’s Undernutrition – a Multisectorial and Community Approach
Main Audience: Municipality leaders (Calamarca), The Canadian Cooperation Office (Anne Germain)
Description: Day 1: Based on a joint Project between Canada, Belgium and France called “Basket Fund”. This project was aimed to support local small dairy farmers (mainly cows). Municipalities are purchasing milk from farmers and processing it into cheese and yogourt. The end products were to be fed to local children (into a special school feeding program) through the municipality nutrition centre. The money is invested in the community and stayed within the community. Stimulating local food processing, the consumption of highly nutritious meal. Day 2: Hugo’s talk - Global Food & Security Situation and Impact in the Children’s Nutrition Status. Day 3: visit the Governmental Palace, event where the President of the Country received an award from WHO for country’s achievement in reducing children’s undernutrition.

Panelists (L-R): Veronica Guerrero (FAO); Ninfa Howay (BCN); Carlos Cafiero (FAO); Hugo Melgar-Quiñonez

Nov. 13, 2015

Event: Conference organised by Nicaragua FAO National Office & Ministry of Foreign Affaires, Nicaragua

Presentation: The use and application of Latin American and Caribbean Food Security Scale
Main Audience: Nicaragua Central Bank, National Institute of Statistics, Ministry of Agriculture
Description: The household Food Security scale is essential for the country to put in place programs/policies that tackle Food Security and to monitor the advancement toward their goals. This scale is targeting the most vulnerable population on Food Security in the country.

Oct. 29 – Nov. 3, 2015

Event: First International Forum on Food Security and Nutrition Public Policies, Medellin, Colombia

Presentation: The importance of solid evaluation and monitoring systems for Food Security policies and programs
Main Audience: City authorities, FAO, governors, other countries.