Alumni meeting
SKOV - Weather Forecast, Weather Impact and Food Security in Sub Saharan Africa - 12 December 2023
The study circle for Development Issues cordially invites you, members and friends of SKOV, alumni, students, and other interested persons to a seminar on weather forecast, weather Impact, and Food Security in Africa
Invitation to join the seminar on Weather Forecast, Weather Impact and Food Security in Sub Saharan Africa that will be held on Tuesday 12 December 2023 (16:30 – 19:00h) followed by drinks and bites. A moment that is also a nice networking opportunity!
Location: Ground Floor Forum Building
Programme
| 16:30-17:00 | Arrival, with tea, coffee, water | |
| 17:00-17:05 | Opening by Cor de Jong, president SKOV | |
| 17:05-17:25 | Introduction by Ms Janina Fraas | Tailored Weather Forecasting for Smallholder Agriculture in Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 17:25-17:45 | Introduction by Prof. Ken Giller | Plant Production in Africa in Relation to Climate Risks |
| 17:45-18:30 | Discussion, facilitated by UCAS | |
| 18:30-19:00 | Drinks & bites and closing |
Biopics speakers
Janina Fraas MSc
Janina is consultant at Weather Impact. She holds a unique combination of a MSc Climate Studies degree at Wageningen University & Research (WUR) where she focused on enhancing her skills in Meteorology and modelling/programming, and a BSc degree in International Development Studies. Her thesis on combining numerical weather prediction and indigenous forecasting knowledge to predict short-term rainfall was awarded with the 1-st NVBW prize in 2022 (Dutch association for the advancement of Meteorology).
Now, Janina is leading projects in Zimbabwe and Tanzania for the provision of agro-weather services to farmers. These services range from weather to seasonal forecasting whereby they are tailored to the local crops and cultural context. These projects also include a capacity building component where relevant stakeholders – from farmers to ministries – receive training on development, use, and interpretation of such services.
Prof. dr. Ken Giller
Ken is Emeritus Professor Plant Production Systems at Wageningen University & Research. His research has focused on smallholder farming systems in sub-Saharan Africa, and in particular problems of soil fertility and the role of nitrogen
fixation in tropical legumes, with emphasis on the temporal and spatial dynamics of resources within crop/livestock farming systems and their interactions.
He leads a number of initiatives such as N2Africa (Putting Nitrogen Fixation to Work for Smallholder Farmers in Africa) and is co-chair of the Thematic Network 7 on Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems of the Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) of the United Nations. He retired from WUR in September 2023.
Organisation
The seminar is organised by SKOV in cooperation with the United Community of African Students (UCAS) in Wageningen and the Study Association Ipso Facto.