Roseanna Avento
Global Development Manager
Summary
My research focuses on food security related initiatives in the Global South. I work on aquaculture and specifically fish farming development, food innovation using neglected foods and indigenous knowledge, food safety and quality management as well as value chain management and development of gender-based value chains.
The development of tertiary education (vocational and higher education) is a cross-cutting theme in all of my global engagements in research and education.
Profile
Researcher info
Institution
University of Eastern Finland
Department/faculty
Development Services
Contact information
roseanna.avento@uef.fi
+358403553828
Keywords
agriculture aquaculture capacity building in education curricula development Food Development food security gender equality indigenous knowledge neglected foods Nutrition quality education. Value Chain Management zero hunger
Research projects
The study aimed at describing the South African education landscape, identifying education needs and priorities in different sectors and in two regions: Gauteng and Western Cape. The study also identified opportunities for collaboration in the public and private sector and matching them to Finnish stakeholder interests. Finally the study also highlighted key operation and funding models that can be utilised by South African and Finnish stakeholders in the education sector.
Team
Albertus Louw, Lightning Tree Stories
This project aimed at training food sector experts in Kyrgyzstan on best practices in food safety and quality management. It included training of experts in Kyrgyzstan, one-on-one consultations for Kyrgyz food businesses.
Team
Professor emeritus Atte von Wright
This was an education workshop bringing women from all the SADC countries together to innovate food products from indigenous foods. Some of the food innovations were then piloted further and scaled.
Team
Professor Kati Lindroos, UEF; Professor David Katerere Tshwane University of Technology
The study on science, technology and innovation (STI) collaboration between Finland and Africa was compiled with three aims: (i)To explore the different strategies that exist in the Finnish-African STI landscape (ii)To review the current context and landscape of Finnish-Africa STI cooperation (iii) To explore if the drive for private sector engagement has affected Finnish-African STI collaboration. The study was implemented under the “Developing Finnish Science, Technology and Innovation Cooperation between Europe, Africa, Asia and the Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) Region” (FinCEAL) initiative coordinated by the University Partnership for Development (UniPID).
Team
The collaboration between UEF and KNAU aims to provide an enabling environment for teaching fisheries and aquaculture, at both vocational and bachelor level, by training of trainers, developing teaching and study material and developing the teaching infrastructure at KNAU. The main activities of FishEDU are: 1) training of trainers on fisheries and aquaculture subjects and pedagogics 2) piloting of courses in two newly developed curricula and development of course material 3) establishment of an aquaculture demonstration fish farm and training centre and an e-library.
Team
Professor Raine Kortet, Professor Sari Havu-Nuutinen, University Lecturer Liisa Nurminen, Project Researcher Sofiia Nishaeva, Project Researcher Oksana Skaldina
This was an education programme where we trained Namibian students to master-level in primary education.
Team
The research examines how Finnish HEIs engage with other higher education institutions, communities, civil society organisations (CSOs), non-governmental organisations (NGOs), enterprises and governments to influence, integrate and/or address the needs for development in various food value-chains and their eco-systems, and further in food and nutrition security and education policy dialogue, especially in the context of the Global South.
Team
Building capacity in value chain management, food product development, food and nutrition security and entrepreneurship. through training trainers and experts and exchange information on best practices in amaranth and quinoa utilization, product development and value-chain creation.
Team
Dr. Daniel Sila, Dr. Ritva Repo-Carrasco, Fanny Ludeana, Dr. Katja Lindroos, Roseanna Avento
We are looking at how fish farming affects the socio-economical status of women in Nepal, the challenges they face and mitigation measures available. In addition we are also looking at how women establish their businesses and work together in cooperatives. We are also looking the impact of fish farming on food and nutrition security in communities in 3 districts.
Team
Sunila Rai
Exchange of knowhow, training and dissemination of good practices and solutions are central to building capacity in sustainable natural and agricultural resources management. CAFEIN aims to integrate new and innovative methods of skills development and training to build the agricultural science capacity, and support and advance agricultural education to ensure a safe, secure, nutritive and sustainable food supply under conditions of global climate change.
Team
Liisa Nurminen UEF, Salla Ruuska UEF, Heimo Mikkola UEF, Jannina Viljakainen UEF, Ardita Jahja-Hoxha Savonia UAS, Bermet Tazhibaeva Kyrgyz National Agrarian University
Enhancing food and nutrition security via 11 sub-research projects ranging from processing of fermented dairy products in Kazakhstan and identificaiton of Lactid acid bacteria to, cyroconservation of native poultry breeds, to behaviour of dairy cattle, to assessing quality of meat of native cattle breeds, assesing of quality of honey, gene identification for disease-resistant strains of apples, use of plants in soil remediation etc.
Team
Development of fisheries and aquaculture in the Kyrgyz Republic especially through training. We have trained and educated students in the sector, and area also working on curriculum development with the local universities. In addition we are researching the status of recreational fisheries and the socio-economic status of fisher communities. Research is also focusing on developing the value chain from pond to plate, by training on hygiene and cold-chain management and we are also looking at the logistic chain and identifying gaps and critical points where interventions need to be made. Research is also looking into awareness of fish as a nutritive source of food. We are also researching different processing techniques of fish and product development.
Team
Liisa Nurminen UEF, Heimo Mikkola UEF, Jannina Viljakainen UEF, Bermet Tazhibaeva Kyrgyz National Agrarian University