Toward an integrated approach to nutritional quality, environmental sustainability, and economic viability: research and measurement gaps

Abstract

Nutrition is affected by numerous environmental and societal causes. This paper starts with a simple framework based on three domains: nutritional quality, economic viability, and environmental sustainability, and calls for an integrated approach in research to simultaneously account for all three. It highlights limitations in the current understanding of each domain, and how they influence one another. Five research topics are identified: measuring the three domains (nutritional quality, economic viability, environmental sustainability); modeling across disciplines; furthering the analysis of food systems in relation to the three domains; connecting climate change and variability to nutritional quality; and increasing attention to inequities among population groups in relation to the three domains. For an integrated approach to be developed, there is a need to identify and disseminate available metrics, modeling techniques, and tools to researchers, practitioners, and policy makers. This is a first step so that a systems approach that takes into account potential environmental and economic trade-offs becomes the norm in analyzing nutrition and food-security patterns. Such an approach will help fill critical knowledge gaps and will guide researchers seeking to define and address specific research questions in nutrition in their wider socioeconomic and environmental contexts.

Assessing the value of diverse cropping systems under a new agricultural policy environment in Rwanda

“…The literature indicates the breadth of agroecological and socio-ecological benefits associated with mixed cropping systems and agricultural diversity, and many of these services are increasingly understood to be positively associated with resilience in the face of climatic and other risk factors (Mijatović et al 2013). New research is also emerging that links functional agrobiodiversity and ecological studies with human nutrition outcomes (DeClerck et al 2011;Döring et al, 2014;Herforth et al 2014;Jones et al 2014). Despite this evidence, diversification and intercrop production in particular is often marginalized in favor of input-intensive sole cropping.…”

Combining Low Price, Low Climate Impact and High Nutritional Value in One Shopping Basket through Diet Optimization by Linear Programming

“…Nutrition is affected by numerous environmental and societal causes. Herforth et al [16] suggested a simple framework based on three domains: nutritional quality, economic viability, and environmental sustainability. Our study is in line with their call for an integrated approach in research to simultaneously address all three domains.…”

Identifying platforms for healthier diets in Ethiopia and Vietnam : Annex to the discussion paper identifying platforms for healthier diets: A4NH Flagship Programme 1 Food systems for healthier Diets

“…For this report we use the definition of diet quality. Diet quality is central to healthy diets and encompasses aspects of both adequacy (getting enough of desirable foods or food groups, energy, macro-and micronutrients) and moderation (restriction of unwanted foods, food components or nutrients such as fat, sugar, sugar-sweetened beverages, and sodium) (Herforth et al 2014;Alkerwi 2014). For platforms, the following definition was used; "governed spaces for multisector interactions that bring together actors form different sectors, involving a certain degree of institutionalisation".…”