Dr Sandra Barteit ↗
Study-protocol corresponding author
Role / research source ↗Heat, work and nutrition · Nouna, Burkina Faso · Siaya, Kenya
Heat to Harvest
Investigating the pathway from heat exposure to farmer health, work capacity, crop yields and nutrition.
Published study protocol
Connected research
Project objectives
Objectives
- Investigate the pathway from heat exposure through farmer physiology and physical work to crop production.
- Connect seasonal environmental and wearable measurements with farming and household nutrition information.
- Generate evidence for understanding climate-sensitive risks across agricultural and health systems.
The research question
How does heat stress travel through agricultural work into household food security and nutrition?
Research approach
Research approach
Heat to Harvest brings together environmental observation and physiological measurement with farming and household information. Its 2025 protocol sets out repeated seasonal research on how heat may affect physical work and the food-production pathways that shape nutrition.
Design: Longitudinal, multi-site research · Protocol published in 2025
People & contributions
Research roles and contributions
Heat to Harvest is a distinct collaborative study connecting heat exposure, farming, health and nutrition. It draws on shared cohort infrastructure and measurement experience.
Prof Rainer Sauerborn ↗
Coauthor of the published Heat to Harvest study protocol
Role / research source ↗Dr Ali Sié ↗
Coauthor of the published Heat to Harvest study protocol
Role / research source ↗Prof Hanns-Christian Gunga ↗
Coauthor of the published Heat to Harvest protocol; P4 collaboration contributes physiological methods
Role / research source ↗Partners & connections
Partner institutions
Heidelberg Institute of Global Health (HIGH) ↗
Digital Global Health, shared methods and academic research collaboration
Centre de Recherche en Santé de Nouna (CRSN) ↗
Nouna HDSS, local population research and field implementation
Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) ↗
Siaya population research and local field collaboration
DFG Research Unit FOR 2936 ↗
Research programme linking climate change and health in sub-Saharan Africa
Partner roles refer to the research and institutional connections documented in the linked sources.
Current status · 12 November 2026
Published study protocol
A study protocol was published in 2025. It describes repeated seasonal research in Burkina Faso and Kenya. The protocol establishes the research design, not a demonstrated effect of heat on yields or nutrition; related farmer and crop-methods papers provide background evidence.
Publications & evidence
Related publications
The labels distinguish project or site publications from related studies and shared methods. Protocols describe research designs, rather than proven health effects.
2025Project protocolStudy protocol
Assessing heat exposure and its effects on farmer health, harvest yields, and nutrition: a study protocol for Burkina Faso and Kenya ↗
Heat to Harvest studies the pathway from heat exposure through work capacity and crop yields to child nutrition.
Methods, findings & limitations ↗2025Related farmer-health evidenceObservational study
Physical effort during labour and behavioural adaptations in response to heat stress among subsistence farmers in Burkina Faso: a gender-specific longitudinal observational study ↗
Examines gender-specific physical effort and behavioral adaptation among subsistence farmers exposed to heat.
Methods, findings & limitations ↗2023Related crop-yield methodsRemote sensing
Satellite-based multi-annual yield models for major food crops at the household field level for nutrition and health research: A case study from the Nouna HDSS, Burkina Faso ↗
Develops satellite-based yield models at individual household-field level in Nouna HDSS.
Methods, findings & limitations ↗2023Related farming evidenceCase study
The effects of climate change-induced flooding on harvest failure in Burkina Faso: case study ↗
Combines farmer reports, satellite imagery and weather data to investigate flood-related harvest losses.
Methods, findings & limitations ↗Research settings
Research settings
Sources & updates
Sources and updates
Profile reviewed 12 November 2026. Suggest a profile update ↗
Network resources & exchange