Researchers from Meru University of Science and Technology (MUST) site meeting at Karare, Marsabit

Meru University of Science and Technology (MUST), Kenya and University of Reading, United Kingdom won a Global Challenge Research Fund – Networking Grant on “Improving food security in Arid and Semi-Arid (ASAL) regions of Northern Kenya through transformation of the camel milk supply chain”.

The Global Challenge Research Fund – Networking Grant Workshop was organized by the collaboration between Meru University of Science and Technology (MUST), Kenya, as the lead institution, University of Reading in the United Kingdom, University of Petra in Jordan, The International Society of Camel Research and Development (ISOCARD), Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT), Tharaka University College (TUC) and Ngamia milk suppliers, Nanyuki.

The Vice-Chancellor of MUST, Prof. Romanus Odhiambo informed the participants that the University is in support of scholarly collaborations that create an impact in our communities.  He added that through advocacy and technology transfer, people learn new or developed ways to solve problems.

As part of the activities for the networking grant, MUST as a lead institution played part in organizing the first virtual camel milk international workshop in February 2021 which was a success attracting over forty-five (45) participants, seven (7) universities from Kenya and several international universities.

The Vice-Chancellor thanked the Government of Kenya through the National Research Fund (NRF) for the Fund’s continued execution of the institution’s mandate in facilitating research for the advancement of Science, Technology and Innovation. He said that this has greatly propelled our country globally in terms of research and innovation.

Prof. Odhiambo stated that MUST has put in place pragmatic policies and procedures on research and innovation in order to avail a conducive environment for conducting research and innovation by the University faculties. He also indicated that MUST’s research and innovation culture is supported through mentorship and training. The Vice-Chancellor also informed the participants that our University Chancellor, Dr. James Mwangi gifted us an Innovation and Entrepreneurship Centre which serves as an effective hub for great minds to collaborate and build on ideas aimed at making our world a better place.

Meru University of Science and Technology has over fifty-six (56) on-going research projects. MUST envisages establishing itself as the Centre of excellence in camel products research. This workshop, therefore, forms the basis for strong collaboration between the participating institutions to develop bigger research proposals, compete for international funding for impactful research and organize bigger conferences in the discipline.