The School of Nutrition, Food Science and Technology (SNFST) at Hawassa University’s College of Agriculture (CoA) held a technical meeting with the Nestlé Foundation under the theme, “Building a Sustainable Institutional Partnership to Advance Maternal, Child and Adolescent Nutrition and Food Systems” on September 17-18, 2026 at Geremew Haile Hall, CoA.
Delivering the welcoming and opening remarks, Dr. Zerihun Demirew, Dean of the College of Agriculture, highlighted Ethiopia’s significance as one of the major centers of origin and diversity for several domesticated and nutritionally dense food crops, as well as their wild relatives.
Dr. Zerihun noted that the meeting provides an important platform for establishing meaningful collaboration in research, capacity development, innovation, knowledge exchange, and evidence-based interventions related to maternal, child and adolescent nutrition and sustainable food systems.
Dr. Teramage Tesfaye, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs at the College of Agriculture, presented an overview of Hawassa University, the College of Agriculture, and the School of Nutrition, Food Science and Technology.
Representing the Nestlé Foundation, Prof. Wilna Oldewage and Thomas Hauser gave detailed presentations on the Foundation’s aims and vision, impact and achievements, leadership structure, funding policies, types of grants, and alumni networks.
Dr. Tafese Bosha, Head of the School of Nutrition, Food Science and Technology at CoA, explained that the technical meeting aims to establish a long-term institutional partnership between the Nestlé Foundation and SNFST at Hawassa University. He further emphasized opportunities to collaborate on maternal, child and adolescent nutrition.
The two-day meeting involved discussions on research priorities and areas of mutual interest, research showcases, laboratory and facility visits, networking sessions, and a field visit.
