Food insecurity and malnutrition are most prevalent in countries with low levels of economic development and high levels of institutional fragility. Extreme weather events caused by climate change will further aggravate this challenge, both in developing and developed countries.
In QUALITY.3, we hence study the role of sustainable plant-based crop systems for food and nutritional security, both in conditions of poverty and institutional fragility and in more advanced economies, where rapid changes in human nutrition will also have to occur.
Specifically, we pursue three related research themes. First, we analyze how plant-based food value chains can adapt to produce more diverse, healthier diets, especially in times of climate change.
Second, we investigate if and how interventions such as school and home gardens can strengthen economic development, gender equality, food and nutritional security in low income settings.
Third, we study how consumers adapt their behavior and preferences in general and their diets specifically in rapidly changing food systems. Methodologically, we will invest in primary panel data collection such as the “Life in Kyrgyzstan Study”, combining social science and natural science methods and data to advance our understanding of the horticultural value chain and its relation to food and nutritional security.
For our work on home and school gardens, we will work with experts especially in Asia, for example in the Drivers of Food Choice project and in the Home Gardens for Resilience and Recovery (HG4RR) international expert network. We will also conduct experimental investigations in consumer behavior, exploring collaborations with other social and natural scientists as IGZ and beyond, for example in the “Food4Future” project.
