Managing agricultural biodiversity for better nutrition and health, improved livelihoods and more sustainable production systems in sub-Saharan Africa : case studies from Benin, Kenya, and South Africa

Date

2011

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Publisher

Biodiversity International, Maccarese, IT

Abstract

In three country case studies – Benin, Kenya and South Africa, the implementation of a cross-cutting intervention package that spans agriculture, health, and environment sectors, rooted within local food systems, was carried out and then assessed. Agricultural biodiversity can be mobilized to improve local diets and potentially, nutritional outcomes in communities within African local food systems. The project explores how combined agriculture-nutrition interventions based on local food, ecosystems and human resources can provide sustainable solutions to malnutrition. Research demonstrates that rural communities utilized on-farm diversity and took up nutritious, new or under-utilized crop species.

Description

Keywords

AGRICULTURAL BIODIVERSITY, DIETARY DIVERSITY, AGROECOSYSTEMS, SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA, MALNUTRITION, LOCAL, TRADITIONAL, UNDERUTILIZED, AFRICA SOUTH OF SAHARA, NUTRITION, HEALTH

Citation

DOI