Health, protein and food security to be discussed at 2018 World Woman Summit
By Sarah Cato
U of A System Division of Agriculture
Oct. 11, 2018
Fast facts:
- Researcher Jamie Baum will serve on a panel at the 2018 World Woman Summit
- Panel will cover climate change impacts on food security
- Summit will be Oct. 11-12 at the Clinton Presidential Center in Little Rock
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FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – An Arkansas researcher who uses a molecule-to-man approach in her study of protein and metabolic health will be among those exploring the future of food during the World Woman Summit, Oct. 11-12 at the Clinton Presidential Center in Little Rock.
Jamie Baum, director of the Center for Human Nutrition for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, will be part of a panel discussion on “Women Driving the Future of Food.” Baum is also an associate professor in the Dale Bumpers College of Food, Agricultural and Life Sciences and the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station.
The discussion centers on how the impacts of climate change – drought, floods, extreme weather, increased incidence of disease, and growing food and water insecurity – disproportionately affect the world’s 1.3 billion poor, the majority of whom are women. The session will examine how women are contributing to both adaptation and mitigation efforts in creating innovative solutions to build resilient communities.
The fight against food insecurity will be increasingly difficult as the population rises, and Baum said women will play a key role in the process.
“Nearly 50 percent of food science graduates are women,” she said. “These are our future innovators and product developers. In addition, around the world women play an integral part of purchasing and preparing food for their families.”
Also serving on the panel are Jennifer James, an Arkansas rice farmer; Yael Lehmann, president and CEO of The Food Trust; Lisa Pino, former U.S. Department of Agriculture deputy administrator; Adriana Garcia DeVun of Heifer International; and Tracy Cryder, vice president, Deloitte Consulting.
Baum’s molecule-to-man research approach focuses on nutrient screening at the molecular level before implementing them in larger scale clinical trials in humans. Baum uses this approach while looking at health in relation to dietary protein.
“The focus of my expertise is dietary protein and working toward defining the amount and types of protein that are best for health,” Baum said. “The biggest concerns for the future of food and health when it comes to protein are sustainability, access and safety.”
Baum’s research extends beyond the lab.
“Research we have conducted in Northwest Arkansas demonstrated that cost and convenience are two big barriers to consuming dietary protein. This concern is even greater globally, where lack of refrigeration is an issue to keep animal sources of protein safe to eat,” Baum said. “To address this we conducted a study using eggs which do not require refrigeration.
“We have shown that egg supplementation in students living in rural Uganda resulted in increased height and weight compared to kids not eating eggs,” she said. “Taken together, I believe the work we do related to protein will contribute to developing educational tools or developing novel food products to meet the protein needs of the growing population.”
(See: https://www.uaex.uada.edu/media-resources/news/june2017/06-07-2016-Ark-Eggs-Nutrition-Uganda.aspx)
To learn more about the summit visit: http://www.worldwomanfoundation.com/summit2018/.
About the Division of Agriculture
The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture’s mission is to strengthen agriculture, communities, and families by connecting trusted research to the adoption of best practices. Through the Agricultural Experiment Station and the Cooperative Extension Service, the Division of Agriculture conducts research and extension work within the nation’s historic land grant education system.
The Division of Agriculture is one of 20 entities within the University of Arkansas System. It has offices in all 75 counties in Arkansas and faculty on five system campuses.
The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture offers all its Extension and Research programs to all eligible persons without regard to race, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, religion, age, disability, marital or veteran status, genetic information, or any other legally protected status, and is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer.
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Media Contact: Mary Hightower
Dir. of Communication Services
U of A System Division of Agriculture
Cooperative Extension Service
(501) 671-2126
mhightower@uada.edu