Coming to terms with terminology in agriculture-nutrition research projects: an interactive glossary
- 20.10.2021
- English Articles
- Irmgard Jordan
- Eleonore Heil
- Gudrun Keding
Peer Reviewed / Manuscript (original) received: 10 March 2021 / Revision accepted: 9 May 2021
Coming to terms with terminology in agriculture-nutrition research projects: an interactive glossary
Background
When working in research projects on food and nutrition security and food systems, it seems to be only natural to apply a holistic approach to understand the various connections and linkages between and within the disciplines and its actors [1–3], and to find balanced solutions for food and nutrition security challenges [4]. Alongside inter-disciplinary projects, multi- and trans-disciplinary projects in conducting food systems research have recently evolved. These are perceived as important for establishing more sustainable food systems that improve food and nutrition security for the global population [2,5,6].
We noticed that, when presenting results at conferences or when findings were prepared for publication, multi-, inter- or trans-disciplinary projects, each used technical terms and indicators in a specific way, assuming that they would be universally understood. At the same time, researchers from other disciplines heard the same term or indicator but understood it in a completely different way. This was not always immediately clear and therefore misunderstandings and confusions occurred which delayed the research process or even hampered the collaboration [7].
Abstract
Research projects on food and nutrition security and food systems require multidisciplinary approaches. A different understanding of supposedly 'well-defined' technical terms, can complicate collaboration. On the basis of several workshops with participants of different disciplines with relevance to nutrition and subsequent research in already existing (partial) glossaries, this work is the first draft of a glossary with currently 145 terms, ranging from 'acceptance of food' to 'Z-score'. The glossary in English language contains definitions from different databases and scientific sources. To facilitate communication within the food and agriculture community, a „living“ glossary has been created that is regularly updated and supplemented as needed.
Keywords: agricultural science, definitions, nutrition research, technical terms, agriculture-nutrition glossary, interdisciplinary collaboration, food security
