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Cornell University

Tata-Cornell Institute for Agriculture and Nutrition

Tag: exploratory research

Maureen Valentine

Feed and fodder scarcity in India – an exploratory research project

One of the major constraints to dairy production in India, particularly in resource-poor, rural areas, is a lack of feed and fodder for livestock. Birthal and Jha (2005) estimate that feed scarcity is the most important constraint in the dairy…

Cow culture: tackling taboos in field-based research

Maureen Valentine is a TCi Scholar and a second year Ph.D student in the department of Animal Science. For her research, she plans to focus on the widespread deficit of biomass for animal consumption in India. Comments in this blog…

Key lessons in exploratory research and fieldwork

A key feature of the Tata-Cornell experience is conducting fieldwork. As TCI Scholars, we gather primary data for our thesis research through a long-term engagement with villages in rural India.  Before we finalize our research questions, write a proposal and…

Field notes: Visit to the Azadpur fruit and vegetable wholesale market

The United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal 12, responsible consumption and production, aims to halve worldwide food waste and reduce global food loss by 2030. When thinking about this goal, many questions arise, such as: How is food loss and food…

Videos from the Field: Jocelyn Boiteau

This summer, Jocelyn Boiteau has been learning about food loss in the fruit and vegetable value chains in India. Hear from Jocelyn as she describes her exploratory research. Jocelyn Boiteau is a Tata-Cornell Scholar and second year PhD student at…

Videos from the Field: Krystal Rampalli

Information and Communications Technologies (ICT) have been used to help agriculture communities improve their farming knowledge and market strategies. Over the summer, Krystal Rampalli has been talking with farmers and programs across India that use ICT for Ag, to understand…

Videos from the Field: Rohil Bhatnagar

During his summer of exploratory research, Rohil Bhatnagar has spent two months visiting rural villages in order to assess  dietary patterns, market-level food diversity, and nutritional awareness – especially around iron-deficiency anemia.  Learn more about how this fieldwork in Gujarat,…

Dietary predictors of iron-deficiency anemia in rural India

Iron-deficiency anemia (IDA) is a global, multifactorial nutritional disorder having severe health and economic implications. The burden of IDA is most prevalent in resource-limited settings that rely primarily on staple cereals and a few vegetables for nourishment. Specifically in India, …
A man selling tomatoes

Quality or quantity? Defining food loss and waste along the fruit and vegetable value chain

The FAO estimates that “one-third of food produced for human consumption is lost or wasted globally” (FAO, 2011). As I went about my summer exploratory work on food loss in India, I spent time reflecting on how ‘food loss and…