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Imprint
Crops for Healthy Diets: Linking Agriculture and Nutrition. Subproject 1 (HealthyLAND)
Project
Project code: 2813FSNU02
Contract period: 16.04.2015
- 28.02.2019
Budget: 879,824 Euro
Purpose of research: Applied research
Keywords: Uganda, Malawi, Kenya, global food security, knowledge transfer, networking, agricultural biodiversity, agroforestry, food security, human nutrition
The potential connection between increased diversity in the cultivation of crops and a diverse diet is being explored. The aim is to find out where there could be a starting point for improving the nutrition of poor population groups in particularly disadvantaged areas of Malawi, Uganda and Kenya in Africa. Characteristics of chosen research areas in the 3 countries are a) a low potential for the supply of calories and micronutrients for daily food intake or b) domination by monocultures, where the aim is to supply a lot of nutritional energy with highly productive crops. First, existing small holder farming systems, family eating habits and the choice of cultivated crops for consumption or sale will be charcterised. It is expected that there is a relationship between existing diversity in the field and variety in consumed family food, because smallholder farmers often grow subsistence crops in their own fields and gardens. Where monocultures are used extensively, the variety in family nutrition is assumed to be low. Locally adapted alternatives offering more variation in the cultivation systems for improved nutrition will be developed in the three countries. Crops and fruits need to be identified (including agroforestry) which are suitable for the different agro-ecological areas and could be accepted by the rural population. The identified alternatives are to be tested with the resource-poor. Tests are also being carried out to see which crops and fruits value chains offer themselves best for sustainable agricultural development. The project works with the concept of a diversified diet for better health. Originally, Ethiopia was intended as an experimental country, but was replaced by Malawi. The project has a communication and capacity building component for different stakeholders.
Section overview
Subjects
- Crop Production
- Business administration
- Physiology of Nutrition
