Institute for Food Justice And Development

Taking after my mum, I enjoy baking ☺️. For the festivities, a cake is a must. This green maize pudding cake , made by my mum, reminded me of our roots 🌽🍮🥮. Embracing traditional and indigenous foods in our celebrations is key to #foodsovereignty. As we celebrate this season, let us remember that our traditional foods and ingredients should be a part of our meals. What about value addition to these foods or ingredients? Let's preserve our food culture. Enjoy the season, and take some time to rest. Happy New Year! #traditionalMeals #IndigenousMeals Institute for Food Justice And Development

As the year wraps up, we are deeply grateful for your support, engagement, and incredible feedback. You’ve embraced our vision, and together, we are sowing the seeds of #FoodJustice. This season, let’s eat healthy, and remember to share with those who have less. #MerryChristmas

🎄Let's celebrate the gift of nature and the richness of our traditional and indigenous ingredients and foods! ✨ Kenya’s heritage is rooted in the land and the diverse crops it produces. From the nutritious grains of sorghum and millet to the versatile sweet potatoes and cassava, indigenous ingredients have nourished generations and remain key to food sovereignty and cultural preservation. 🌾 Why Choose Traditional and Indigenous Ingredients and Foods This Festive Season? 🍂 Nutritious: Packed with essential nutrients, they keep our families healthy and strong. 🌍 Sustainable: Locally grown, they support the environment and reduce our carbon footprint. 🫱🏼🫲🏽 Empowering: We support local farmers and strengthen our food systems by using these ingredients. 🍽️ Ways to Incorporate Traditional and Indigenous Ingredients and Foods in Your Festivities: ▪️Bake sweet potato or cassava-based treats for your holiday desserts. ▪️Try steaming or roasting cassava and sweet potatoes for a delicious and simple snack. ▪️Prepare brown ugali with sorghum or millet flour as a hearty side dish. ▪️Use indigenous vegetables like amaranth or black nightshade in your festive meals. 🫱🏼🫲🏽 Challenge: This festive season, try preparing at least one traditional or indigenous dish and share it with your loved ones. Post a photo and tag us—let’s keep our traditions alive! This Christmas and New Year, let’s prioritize local, nutritious, and sustainable foods that celebrate Kenya’s rich agricultural heritage. #FoodSovereignty #CulturalPreservation #TraditionalMeals #IndigenousMeals #SustainableFestiveSeason #TasteKenyanHeritage

In Kenya, most public hospital meals often fail patients—having serious nutrition & quality gaps. With pesticide residues from toxic pesticides being a real food safety hazard in Kenya, hospitals should lead by adopting agroecologically- produced foods #FoodJustice #Agroecology Agroecology Fund Agroecology Europe Association Centre for Agroecology, Water & Resilience Biovision FoundationAlliance of Bioversity International and CIAT ISFAAKenya Route to Food African Population and Health Research Center

Grateful to the catering committee at Thika Level 5 Hospital for inviting #IFJAD to engage in a critical discussion on the quality of meals served to patients. Hospitals are places of healing, and the food provided should actively contribute to patients' recovery by being safe, nutritious, and free from harmful chemicals. We emphasized the need for hospital meal plans to incorporate agroecologically-produced foods—grown without excessive pesticide use and with a commitment to soil health and environmental sustainability. Nutritious meals, sourced responsibly, are not just a matter of health but also of justice, ensuring patients receive food that heals rather than harms. As part of our engagement, we presented a copy of #ToxicBusiness by Route to Food, a powerful publication that sheds light on the risks of pesticide-laden conventional farming. By adopting agroecological sourcing practices, hospitals can set an example for the broader food system, aligning health outcomes with ethical food production. This shift represents a win for patients, local farmers, and the environment. Food justice starts with institutions like hospitals taking a stand for safe, healthy, and sustainable meals. Let's work together to make this vision a reality! #FoodJustice #RighttoFood #FoodSafety Agroecology Coalition Agroecology Europe Association Agroecology Fund Centre for Agroecology, Water & Resilience UC Santa Cruz Center for Agroecology UVM Institute for Agroecology Biovision Foundation Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT PELUM Kenya Association ISFAAKenya African Population and Health Research Center

🎊Celebrate the Flavors of Our Rich Heritage!✨️ Kenya is home to unique dishes that tell stories of our culture, history, and way of life. This festive season, let’s honor our roots by sharing traditional and indigenous meals with family and friends. 🍴 Festive Menu Ideas to Inspire You: 🌱 Mukimo – A comforting blend of mashed potatoes, greens, and maize, perfect for family gatherings. 🍛 Githeri – A wholesome mix of beans and maize, symbolizing the strength in simplicity. 🍲 Matoke – Sweet and savory cooked bananas, a perfect addition to your table. 🥛 Mursik – This fermented milk is a cultural staple and a symbol of celebration. 🍠 Sweet Potatoes & Cassava – Roasted or boiled, they’re timeless treats for any occasion. 🍗 Kuku Kienyeji – Tender and flavorful free-range chicken that always feels like home. 🌾 Brown Ugali – Made from millet, sorghum, or whole maize flour, this hearty staple celebrates wholesome, local grains. Incorporating these traditional and indigenous dishes into our celebrations means we not only enjoy delicious meals but also preserve our culture and promote food sovereignty in Kenya. 💚 👉 Challenge: This festive season, try preparing at least one traditional or indigenous dish and share it with your loved ones. Post a photo and tag us—let’s keep our traditions alive! 🎉 It’s about more than just food—it’s about legacy, connection, and celebrating what makes us Kenyan. #FoodSovereignty #CulturalPreservation #TraditionalMeals #IndigenousMeals #SustainableFestiveSeason #TasteKenyanHeritage

🌱 Amaranth: The Unsung Hero of Semi-Arid Farming 🌱 On our farm, amaranth grows like a weed – but not just any weed. As we grow organic crops, our amaranth is also 100% organic. We're replanting it and spreading its seeds everywhere, knowing how precious the few weeks of rain we get each year truly are. Amaranth is one of my personal favorites greens. This resilient green is packed with nutrients, making it a vital crop in our semi-arid region, where food security often feels like a distant dream. Its tolerance to heat, pests, and diseases makes it indispensable. Amaranth proves that with the right practices, we can make the most of what nature offers and build a healthier, more food-secure community. 🌾💚 #MbogaSioCabbageTu #Nutrition #FoodJustice #Agroecology #organicfarming

💡 What’s the story behind N, P, and K? 💡 These three macronutrients are essential for robust plant growth: Nitrogen (N): Fuels lush, green growth. Phosphorus (P): Strengthens roots and supports flower, seed, and fruit development. Potassium (K): Boosts plant resilience against stress and disease. 🔍 Spot common deficiency symptoms: N Deficiency - Yellowing leaves, stunted growth. P Deficiency - Poor seed/fruit development, purple or red leaves, delayed maturity. K Deficiency - Browning leaf edges, poor fruit quality. 💡 Sustainable solutions: Incorporate matured organic fertilizers and biofertilizers to restore soil health and keep your crops thriving! #SoilHealth #PlantNutrition #SustainableAgriculture #SoilNutritionSeries

Amaranth: a resilient crop that is quite tolerant to heat, pests, & diseases. Its seeds & leaves contain incredible nutrients, perfect for hospitalized patients & school meals. Let's harness its potential for healthier communities! 💪🍃 #MbogaSioCabbageTu #Nutrition #FoodJustice African Population and Health Research Center Agroecology Coalition Agroecology Europe Association Agroecology Fund Centre for Agroecology, Water & Resilience UC Santa Cruz Center for Agroecology Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT

Our public schools, prisons, and hospitals could benefit from improved diets—something we can all agree is critical. But why does this matter? 1️⃣ Consistent markets for smallholder farmers: This reduces rural poverty and strengthens local economies. 2️⃣ Better nutrition in institutions: Healthier meals combat malnutrition and improve overall well-being. 3️⃣ Lower carbon footprint: Local sourcing promotes climate health and sustainability. Let’s bridge the gap between our local farmers and public institutions to create a win-win for people and the planet. 🌍🌱 #FoodJustice #RuralDevelopment #Agroecology #ClimateAction African Population and Health Research Center Agroecology Coalition Agroecology Fund Agroecology Europe Association Centre for Agroecology, Water & Resilience UC Santa Cruz Center for Agroecology UVM Institute for Agroecology Biovision Foundation Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT Biovision Africa Trust Abdihakim Ainte PELUM Kenya Association ISFAAKenya