nutrition Archives

Addressing nutritional deficiencies using dried small fish

Fish, especially small fish, is an important animal food source among vulnerable populations and increases the nutritional quality of their diets. Dried small fish has been found to significantly enhance nutrient deficiencies in the diets of pregnant or lactating women and young children. A recent study carried out by a group of researchers, including IITA’s…

African Yam Bean (AYB): Rehabilitating a leguminous crop with many uses

To revitalize underutilized crops in Africa, the “Bean-preneur” team organized exploratory interviews with African Yam Bean (AYB) growers and non-AYB growers in Nigeria to identify its cultivation and utilization challenges. They also used the opportunity to create more awareness about AYB’s economic and nutritional benefits among farmers and other stakeholders. In the southwestern part of…

Improving human health with plant extracts

Healthy eating starts with healthy food choices, improving health, and preventing malnutrition and a range of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and health conditions. However, increased production of processed foods, rapid urbanization, and changing lifestyles have led to a shift in dietary patterns. Also, the exact make-up of a diversified, balanced, and healthy diet varies depending on…

Healthy eating: Improved quality biscuits

Biscuits are consumed globally for their nutritional value and can be stored for about six months or more, depending on the packaging and recipe. Biscuits are available in a wide range of shapes, fillings, colors, and toppings, so they are accepted by consumers of all age groups. The basic characteristic that separates a biscuit, cookie, or…

Application of Aflasafe KE01 on a maize field by Sarah Chughu. (Photo: U Mutuku/IITA)

Scaling agricultural innovations to strengthen Africa’s food systems, food safety and nutrition

Africa’s food systems are at an inflection point. Food demand in sub-Saharan Africa is expected to at least double between 2015 and 2050. Moreover, income growth and urbanization are driving significant changes in consumer demand, including for more varied, nutritious, and value-added foods. Meanwhile, food security remains a challenge—according to the United Nations Food and…

Adamawa State participants with training facilitators behind.

Integrated Agriculture Activity trains youth as spray service providers in Adamawa and Borno States…

The USAID-funded Feed-the-Future Nigeria Integrated Agriculture Activity (IAA) recently concluded the training of 30 youths as spray service providers (SSPs) in Adamawa and Borno States, in North-Eastern Nigeria. The first sessions of the training, which began in February, and held in Borno had 15 participants. The Adamawa Agriculture Development Investment Limited Farming Skills Acquisition Centre…

Study finds that growing own food is better than relying on markets

Think back over the last month. What types of food have you and your family consumed? Have you eaten a balanced and diversified diet? The answer may not matter; what matters is who or what influenced your food choices. These and more are the questions that researchers from the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA)…

The more crops farmers grow, the more food, nutrition and income secure they are – study

It is common for smallholder farmers in Africa to grow multiple crops on their farms. However, policies do not often consider crop diversity as an option for fostering innovation in agriculture. Researchers set out to examine how crop diversity relates to household food security and income derived from the sale of multiple crops. To find…

IITA signs major project agreement with the EU to enhance livelihoods in Northern Uganda

IITA has signed an agreement with the European Union and Uganda Government to start the implementation of a three-year, multidisciplinary program that seeks to enhance food and nutrition security, increase household incomes, and improve maternal and child nutrition and health in Northern Uganda. The project will, among others, promote diversified food (production; commercialization of agriculture;…

The Kingdom of Eswatini celebrates milestone with the launch of nationally significant nutrition books

The Government of the Kingdom of Eswatini, in collaboration with IITA, has launched a Food Composition Table and a National Recipe Book for foods commonly consumed in the southern African country. The ceremony to unveil the books took place in the legislative capital of Lobamba in October 2019. Chief Research Officer at the Ministry of…