32 research outputs found
Solving global nutrition and dietary challenges: More than proteins
No full textThe global focus on protein transition must not detract attention from other nutritional and dietary challenges that are at least as important, specifically the high prevalence of vitamin and mineral deficiencies in low-and middle-income countries. Unlike in many high-income cou tries, low- and middle-income countries may benefit from increased access to and consumption of animal-sourced foods. Policymakers should set locally tailored dietary guidelines and look beyond proteins to the food system as a whole.PRIFPRI4Nutrition, Diets, and Health (NDH); Food and Nutrition Policy8 page
Food system transitions in Vietnam: The case of pork and vegetable networks
No full textVietnamese food systems have experienced a transition process since the late 1980s Đổi mới reforms. This paper examines the historical and ongoing transitions of pork and vegetable networks, using the Multi-Level Perspective (MLP), the Multi-Pattern Approach (MPA) and insights from food systems research. Our findings show that there was a shift from collective and self-subsistent farming to commercial small-scale farming in the late 1980s, and a rapid institutionalisation of smallholders and wet markets in the early 1990s. We argue that the current slow transition of the smallholder food regime towards improved food safety and standardisation has been locked in by the strong alignments of actors, practices and cultural values that support small-scale, fragmented production and distribution. The study suggests that those practices, values, and the needs and interests of smallholder producers and food consumers should be carefully considered when implementing transition agendas toward food safety, security, and sustainability.PRIFPRI3; ISI; CRP4; Capacity Strengthening; DCA; 2 Promoting Healthy Diets and Nutrition for allNutrition, Diets, and Health (NDH); Food and Nutrition PolicyCGIAR Research Program on Agriculture for Nutrition and Health (A4NH
Environmental impact and nutrient adequacy of derived dietary patterns in Vietnam
No full textRationale and objective: Improving diet quality while decreasing environmental impacts is an important challenge for a healthy and sustainable food system. Therefore, this study aims to analyze the most common dietary patterns per female household member and explore the diet quality and environmental impacts of these patterns.
Methodology: The nationally representative General Nutrition Survey of 2009–2010 (n = 8,225 households) was used to derive dietary patterns using principal component analysis (PCA) based on 18 food groups as input variables. Quintiles of the highest adherence (Q5) and lowest adherence (Q1) were generated based on the factor score of each dietary pattern. Nutrient adequacy and dietary diversity scores (DDS) were calculated to measure diet quality, and greenhouse gas emission (GHGE) and blue water use (BWU) were selected as environmental impact indicators.
Results: Using PCA, three distinct dietary patterns were identified: an Omnivorous, Traditional, and Pescatarian pattern. Compared to the Traditional pattern, the Omnivorous and Pescatarian patterns (Q5s) were associated with a higher nutrient adequacy, with mean probability of adequacy of 0.51 in both patterns, compared to 0.45 in the Traditional pattern. However, environmental impacts in terms of GHGE and BWU per 2,000 kcal were considerably higher in the Omnivorous pattern (6.14 kg CO2-eq. and 0.15 m3/kg) compared to all other pattern’s Q5s. The GHGE was lowest in the Traditional pattern (4.18 kg CO2-eq.) and the Pescatarian pattern has the lowest BWU (0.12 m3/kg).
Conclusion: Despite that diet quality was slightly better in all three patterns compared to the average diet of the total population, environmental impact was also higher. Therefore, future research is needed to develop a more optimal diet that considers both diet quality and environmental impact to explore the trade-offs between diet quality and environmental impact.PRIFPRI3; ISI; CRP4; 2 Promoting Healthy Diets and Nutrition for allNutrition, Diets, and Health (NDH); Food and Nutrition Policy; A4NHCGIAR Research Program on Agriculture for Nutrition and Health (A4NH
Fruits and vegetables for healthy diets: Priorities for food system research and action
No full textFruits and vegetables are vital for healthy diets, but intake remains low for a majority of the global population. This chapter reviews academic literature on food system issues, as well as opportunities for research and action, as an input into the 2021 UN Food Systems Summit in the context of the International Year of Fruits and Vegetables.
The chapter summarises evidence underpinning food system actions to make fruits and vegetables more available, accessible and desirable through push (production and supply), pull (demand and activism) and policy (legislation and governance) mechanisms, with action options at the macro (global and national), meso (institutional, city and community) and micro (household and individual) levels. It also suggests the need to recognise and address power disparities across food systems, and trade-offs among diet, livelihood and environmental food system outcomes.
We conclude that there is still a need to better understand the different ways that food systems can make fruits and vegetables available, affordable, accessible and desirable across places and over time, but also that we know enough to accelerate action in support of fruit- and vegetable-rich food systems that can drive healthy diets for all.PRIFPRI4; CRP4Nutrition, Diets, and Health (NDH); Food and Nutrition Policy7 pagesCGIAR Research Program on Agriculture for Nutrition and Health (A4NH
Seasonality and nutrition-sensitive farming in rural Northern Ghana
No full textIn rural sub-Saharan Africa, where malnutrition in all its forms is rife, the greatest gap between the availability of foods and the foods needed for a nutritious diet are faced during the ‘hunger season’. We investigated what rural households in Northern Ghana would need to grow to ensure year-round availability of a nutrient adequate diet or the income required to fulfil their dietary needs. We applied linear programming to model different scenarios and interventions. Our results provide three major insights. First, considering seasonality is crucial in nutrition-sensitive farming. Ensuring a nutritious diet year-round requires enhanced availability of vegetables and fruits throughout the year. Second, although staple crops do not provide the full range of essential nutrients, increasing their yields allows for a reduction of field size, freeing up space for the production of other foods belonging to a nutritious diet, such as vegetables. Third, small farms are unable to produce sufficient food to cover their needs. They depend on income both from agriculture and other sources, and the availability of types of foods on markets to meet their dietary needs. Our study shows the value of modelling the range of dietary effects from agricultural interventions in a specific context, using a local feasible nutritious diet as a starting point and taking seasonality into account.PRIFPRI3; ISI; CRP4; 2 Promoting Healthy Diets and Nutrition for allNutrition, Diets, and Health (NDH); Food and Nutrition PolicyCGIAR Research Program on Agriculture for Nutrition and Health (A4NH
Developing feasible healthy diets for Ethiopian women of reproductive age: A linear goal programming approach
No full textObjective:
To develop a healthy diet for Ethiopian women closely resembling their current diet and taking fasting periods into account while tracking the cost difference.
Design:
Linear goal programming models were built for three scenarios (non-fasting, continuous fasting and intermittent fasting). Each model minimised a function of deviations from nutrient reference values for eleven nutrients (protein, Ca, Fe, Zn, folate, and the vitamins A, B1, B2, B3, B6, and B12). The energy intake in optimised diets could only deviate 5 % from the current diet.
Settings:
Five regions are included in the urban and rural areas of Ethiopia.
Participants:
Two non-consecutive 24-h dietary recalls (24HDR) were collected from 494 Ethiopian women of reproductive age from November to December 2019.
Results:
Women’s mean energy intake was well above 2000 kcal across all socio-demographic subgroups. Compared to the current diet, the estimated intake of several food groups was considerably higher in the optimised modelled diets, that is, milk and dairy foods (396 v. 30 g/d), nuts and seeds (20 v. 1 g/d) and fruits (200 v. 7 g/d). Except for Ca and vitamin B12 intake in the continuous fasting diet, the proposed diets provide an adequate intake of the targeted micronutrients. The proposed diets had a maximum cost of 120 Ethiopian birrs ($3·5) per d, twice the current diet’s cost.
Conclusion:
The modelled diets may be feasible for women of reproductive age as they are close to their current diets and fulfil their energy and nutrient demands. However, the costs may be a barrier to implementation.PRIFPRI3; CRP4; DCA; ISI; 2 Promoting Healthy Diets and Nutrition for all; Capacity StrengtheningA4NH; Nutrition, Diets, and Health (NDH); Food and Nutrition PolicyCGIAR Research Program on Agriculture for Nutrition and Health (A4NH
The DQQ is a valid tool to collect population-level food group consumption data: A study among women in Ethiopia, Vietnam, and Solomon Islands
No full textBackground
The Diet Quality Questionnaire (DQQ) is a rapid dietary assessment tool designed to enable feasible measuring and monitoring of diet quality at population level in the general public.
Objectives
To evaluate validity of the DQQ for collecting population-level food group consumption data required for calculating diet quality indicators by comparing them with a multipass 24-h dietary recall (24hR) as the reference.
Methods
Cross-sectional data were collected among female participants aged 15–49 y in Ethiopia (n = 488), 18–49 y in Vietnam (n = 200), and 19–69 y in Solomon Islands (n = 65) to compare DQQ and 24hR data in proportional differences in food group consumption prevalence, percentage of participants achieving Minimum Dietary Diversity for Women (MDD-W), percent agreement, percentage misreporting food group consumption, and diet quality scores of Food Group Diversity Score (FGDS), noncommunicable disease (NCD)-Protect, NCD-Risk, and the Global Dietary Recommendation (GDR) score using a nonparametric analysis.
Results
The mean (standard deviation) percentage point difference between DQQ and 24hR in population prevalence of food group consumption was 0.6 (0.7), 2.4 (2.0), and 2.5 (2.7) in Ethiopia, Vietnam, and Solomon Islands, respectively. Percent agreement of food group consumption data ranged from 88.6% (10.1) in Solomon Islands to 96.3% (4.9) in Ethiopia. There was no significant difference between DQQ and 24hR in population prevalence of achieving MDD-W except for Ethiopia (DQQ 6.1 percentage points higher, P < 0.01). Median (25th–75th percentiles) scores of FGDS, NCD-Protect, NCD-Risk, and GDR score were comparable between the tools.PRIFPRI3; ISI; 2 Promoting Healthy Diets and Nutrition for allNutrition, Diets, and Health (NDH); Food and Nutrition Polic
Factors affecting fruit and vegetable consumption and purchase behavior of adults in sub-Saharan Africa: A rapid review
No full textIn order to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, considerable dietary shifts, including an increase in the consumption of fruit and vegetables (FV) will be required. However, worldwide consumption of FV is far below international recommendations, including in many low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), particularly in Africa. Understanding what, where, when, and how people choose to eat requires an understanding of how individuals are influenced by factors in their social, physical, and macro-level environments. In order to develop effective interventions to increase fruit and vegetable consumption, the factors influencing consumer behavior need to be better understood. We conducted a rapid review to assess and synthesize data on individual, social, physical, and macro-level factors that enable or constrain fruit and vegetable consumption and purchase among adults living in sub-Saharan Africa. Our conceptual framework is based on a socio-ecological model which has been adapted to settings in LMICs and Africa. We systematically searched four electronic databases including Scopus, Medline (PubMed), PsycInfo, and African Index Medicus, and screened Google Scholar for gray literature. We included a total of 52 studies and narratively summarized the existing evidence for each identified factor across the different levels. We found that most studies assessed demographic factors at the individual level including household or family income, socio-economic status and education. Furthermore we identified a variety of important factors that influence FV consumption, in the social, physical, and macro environment. These include women's empowerment and gender inequalities, the influence of neighborhood and retail food environment such as distance to market and price of FV as well as the importance of natural landscapes including forest areas for FV consumption. This review identified the need to develop and improve indicators both for exposure and outcome variables but also to diversify research approaches.PRIFPRI3; ISI; Capacity Strengthening; 2 Promoting Healthy Diets and Nutrition for allNutrition, Diets, and Health (NDH); Food and Nutrition Polic
Plant metabolomics and its potential application for human nutrition
No full textWith the growing interest in the use of metabolomic technologies for a wide range of biological targets, food applications related to nutrition and quality are rapidly emerging. Metabolomics offers us the opportunity to gain deeper insights into, and have better control of, the fundamental biochemical basis of the things we eat. So doing will help us to design modified breeding programmes aimed at better quality produce; optimised food processing strategies and ultimately, improved (micro)nutrient bioavailability and bioefficacy. A better understanding of the pathways responsible for the biosynthesis of nutritionally relevant metabolites is key to gaining more effective control of the absence/level of presence of such components in our food. Applications of metabolomic technologies in both applied and fundamental science strategies are therefore growing rapidly in popularity. Currently, the world has two highly contrasting nutrition-related problems – over-consumption and under-nourishment. Dramatic increases in the occurrence of overweight individuals and obesity in developed countries are in staggering contrast to the still-familiar images of extreme malnutrition in many parts of the developing world. Both problems require a modified food supply, achieved through highly contrasting routes. For each, metabolomics has a future role to play and this review shall deal with this key dichotomy and illustrate where metabolomics may have a future part to play. In this short overview, attention is given to how the various technologies have already been exploited in a plant-based food context related to key issues such as biofortification, bioprotectants and the general link between food composition and human health. Research on key crops such as rice and tomato are used as illustration of potentially broader application across crop species. Although the focus is clearly on food supply, some attention is given to the complementary field of research, nutrigenomics, where similar technologies are being applied to understand nutrition better from the human side
Nutrition: Transforming food systems to achieve healthy diets for all
No full textPre-pandemic, 3 billion people could not afford a healthy diet; that number could rise by 267.6 million due to the pandemic. Food system transformation must support healthy diets and tackle all forms of malnutrition.
KEY MESSAGES
- Evidence from phone surveys in low- and middle-income countries shows widespread job and income losses and rapid rises in food insecurity due to government measures to contain the pandemic; poorer households, women, and other vulnerable groups are most affected.
- Across the globe, the quality of diets deteriorated due to disruptions in supply of fresh, healthy foods, drops in demand for these foods due to unaffordability and perishability, and increased consumption of cheaper sources of calories including starchy staples and ultra-processed foods.
- Deteriorations in diet quality could have devastating consequences for the health and nutrition of vulnerable women and children and could increase all forms of malnutrition in the short term and cause lifelong, irreversible development, health, and nutrition damage, reversing decades of progress made so far.
- Food system transformation must support healthy diets and by doing so, serve as double duty actions that simultaneously tackle all forms of malnutrition.PRIFPRI4; CRP4; 2 Promoting Healthy Diets and Nutrition for allPHND; A4NHCGIAR Research Program on Agriculture for Nutrition and Health (A4NH
