Dr. Penny Hiwilepo-van Hal is a Researcher and Senior Lecturer at the University of Namibia. Her presentation focused on Food Security in Namibia and the Role of Agro-Food Processing. She first explained and then highlighted the importance of Agro-food processing. By giving plenty of practical examples, she demonstrated how Namibians can process nutritious indigenous foods to preserve and to market delicious and healthy products.
Her insights are based on years of work with many food science students who have developed several local products. She hereby stressed the importance of value addition in developing these products and how otherwise neglected local plants can be utilized and made into different products, such as soups and beverages. Her insightful talk brought to light the nutritious value and significance of indigenous fruits & vegetables, such as cow peas, moringa, mutete and many more.