HU RAISE-FS Project Conducts Soybean Cooking Demonstration.

HU RAISE-FS project conducted a cooking demonstration training for 160 plus participants including RAISE-FS soybean innovation scaling farmers, development agents, health extension workers from four kebeles, Woreda experts, and nutrition and food security focal person of Hawassa zuria Woreda between December 6 - 7, 2024.

On the occasion, Dr. Tewodros Ayalew, RAISE- FS project focal, spoke about the efforts the project is putting in place towards transforming the Ethiopian food system. He pointed out that RAISE-FS project has validated, demonstrated and scaled soybean innovations across years following the dramatic increase of demand for soybean. "However", he added, "limited understanding on the soybean consumption and skill on soybean-based food preparation remain outstanding concerns of the farming communities, researchers, and various stakeholders who participated in the RAISE-FS validation workshop, participatory innovation identification, field visit, and bilateral communications following its expansion". Dr. Tewodros said that the cooking demonstration training was meant to fill this gap.

Dr. Agdew Bekele, South liaison office team leader of RAISE-FS and Dr. Mengesha Kebede, a researcher in the project, also stressed the importance of such hands-on events to alleviate the limitations associated with soybean consumption while highlighting the importance of the cooking demonstration training.