From the University Agenda

TUBITAK-supported project from IGU to the post-disaster food problem!

After the 6 February 2023 earthquake, which is known as the disaster of the century, the importance of access to clean and sufficient food came to the fore. Istanbul Gelisim University, Vocational School of Health Services, Asst. Prof. Dr. Negin Azarabadi, Halis Şimşeker and Alp Deliyusuf, students of the Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, developed the 'Domestic Disaster Food Production' project based on the problems experienced.

"In the event of a disaster, the loss of life that may occur in order to meet the nutritional needs without disruption can be prevented"

Stating that disasters have very negative effects on people psychologically, physically and economically for whatever reason, Istanbul Gelisim University (IGU) Vocational School of Health Services, Head of Food Processing Department Asst. Prof. Dr. Negin Azarabadi said, "In extraordinary situations such as disasters, the ability to meet the nutritional needs without disruption can be prevented from further increasing the loss of life, as well as supporting people to feel better mentally. As seen in the recent great earthquake disaster in our country, there is an urgent need for quality disaster food that will meet the daily calorie needs, especially in the form of a compact bar prepared 10-15 days in advance."

"Domestic production disaster foods provide great advantages both economically and culturally"

''There is a lack of products that can be used as disaster food, which is our own production, apart from products of foreign origin in this field. We have developed a project called 'Domestic Disaster Food Production' based on the importance of disaster food production that will be more cost-effective and suitable for our tastes.  Different formulations of bars were designed using domestic products to meet the daily need for nutrients and calories, and sensory analysis tests were completed. These bars developed in the project will be used to meet people's basic nutritional needs in times of disaster. This project demonstrates once again that domestic production disaster foods provide great advantages both economically and culturally.''



"We developed this project based on the need experienced in the February 6 earthquake"

Stating that after the 6 February 2023 earthquake, issues such as inadequacy in the coordination of aid, logistical difficulties, insufficient stocks, appropriate storage and distribution problems, lack of nutritional diversity, foods that do not comply with hygiene and safety standards and lack of education and awareness came to the fore, Asst. Prof. Dr. Negin Azarabadi said: “These deficiencies have reduced the effectiveness of relief activities, preventing the nutritional needs of disaster victims from being met. Further planning, preparation, cooperation and strengthening of logistics infrastructure are required to improve disaster food management. Based on this need, after the February 6 earthquake, students of IGU Nutrition and Dietetics Department Halis Şimşeker and Alp Deliyusuf, Food Processing Department Lecturer Dr. Fatma Ebru Koç and Head of Food Processing Department, Asst. Prof. Dr. Negin Azarabadi came together and within the scope of TUBITAK 2209-A project. They aimed to develop bars with cost-effective and high nutritional value by using domestic products with the "Domestic and Functional Disaster Food Production".

The project ranked the top 10 in the competition organized within the scope of TEKNOFEST 2024!

Stating that they applied to TEKNOFEST 2242 University Students Research Project Competitions with the data of the project named "Domestic and Functional Disaster Food Production" supported by TUBITAK 2209-A under the title of "Domestic Disaster Food Production", Asst. Prof. Dr. Negin Azarabadi also added: "Our team named 'HOPE' entered the top 10 in the University Students Research Projects Competition organized within the scope of TEKNOFEST 2024 with 78.67 points determined by the referees with the project named 'Domestic Disaster Food Production' in the category of 'Food and Agriculture'. It was also entitled to participate in the final competition to be held on July 11."