Nutrient Gaps in Changing Food Systems in Rural Africa
Roseline Remans *
Columbia University, New York, USA.
Caitlin Hoeberlein
Columbia University, New York, USA.
Stephen Wood
Columbia University, New York, USA.
Kyle DeRosa
Columbia University, New York, USA.
Cheryl Palm
Columbia University, New York, USA.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Objectives: Using an innovative package of research tools and village-level datasets, this study assesses changes in nutrient gaps of food systems in eight Millennium Villages Project sites across different agro-ecological zones in sub-Saharan Africa. In addition, the potential of local ecosystems to help fill these gaps is explored.
Methods: Data on food production, consumption and purchase, anthropometric measurements and biomarkers were collected at baseline (2006-7). Follow-up surveys were conducted at year three and year 5 of the MVP. A first tool calculates nutrient intake. A second tool estimates the minimum cost of a nutritional food basket, identifies most expensive nutrients and compares this to household income. A third tool determines food and nutrient availability at the landscape level and uses soil, climate and biodiversity data to identify local potential for closing nutrient gaps.
Results: Three and five years after the start of the project, increases are observed in food and nutrient availability, access and utilization. Stunting among children under 2 years in age reduced. Despite large variability in food availability and diet diversity between sites, remaining micronutrient gaps, in particular for Zinc and Vitamin A, are common across different agro-ecological zones. Application of the nutritional functional diversity metric identified food sources that can help closing these nutrient gaps.
Conclusions: The approach used in this project provides a systematic means to assess nutrient gaps in the various parts of the food system – availability, access and utilization. The diversity of recommendations across sites demonstrates the necessity of a custom analysis.