Better Roads, Better Nutrition? New Study Challenges Traditional Food Security Approaches

Groundbreaking research in Africa suggests that improving infrastructure may be more effective than increasing crop diversity.

A staggering two billion people globally suffer from undernutrition, sparking ongoing debates among experts and policymakers about the best strategies to improve diets and nutrition in vulnerable communities.

A newly published study in Nature Food challenges the widely held belief that increasing the variety of crops grown by farmers—known as food production diversity (FPD)—is the most effective way to combat nutritional deficiencies. Instead, researchers argue that better infrastructure, specifically roads providing access to markets, could play a more significant role in improving dietary diversity and overall nutrition.

Key Findings of the Study

Conducted by the Center for Development Research (ZEF) at the University of Bonn, Germany, the study is one of the most comprehensive of its kind. It examined data from nearly 90,000 households across Ethiopia, Malawi, Niger, Nigeria, Tanzania, and Uganda between 2008 and 2022.

The researchers found that enhancing road networks and market access in towns and cities could more effectively address nutritional deficiencies than relying on local farm diversity alone.

“We show that regional production diversity matters and can substitute for individual farm production diversity in many situations,” said Professor Matin Qaim of ZEF in an interview with Al Jazeera. “This is good news because it is much easier to ensure that additional crop and livestock species are produced somewhere in the region and distributed via local markets rather than pushing every individual small farm to grow a wide range of crops.”

The study assessed the relationship between agricultural production and household nutrition by analyzing the variety of crops and livestock maintained by small-scale farmers. Using the household dietary diversity score (HDDS), which measures the range of food groups consumed within a week, researchers evaluated the quality of household diets.

Reassessing the Role of Crop Diversity

The research challenges older studies that have focused on farm-level production diversity without considering broader regional factors. According to the findings, local farm diversity had a minor effect on household nutrition in many cases.

“Producing too many different crops on each farm can force farmers into subsistence farming, limiting their ability to specialize and benefit from trade,” Qaim explained. “What we see is that market access, enabled by better infrastructure, plays a crucial role.”

Thanh Tung Nguyen, another researcher from ZEF, emphasized that ensuring robust access to local and regional markets is more important than increasing diversity on individual farms.

“These markets not only allow farmers to sell their surplus produce but also enable them to purchase foods that they lack,” Nguyen said in a public statement.

Barriers to Food Access

One of the key challenges identified in the study is inadequate infrastructure. Poorly maintained roads can lead to prolonged travel times, causing food products to spoil or sustain damage before reaching consumers. The study found that the average household in the six African nations surveyed is located approximately 31 kilometers (19 miles) away from the nearest urban center—a significant distance that hinders market access.

Addressing Food Insecurity with Smarter Solutions

While increasing agricultural diversity remains an important factor in food security, the study highlights that other issues also contribute to dietary deficiencies.

Climate-related events, such as droughts, floods, and hurricanes, negatively impact food availability and household nutrition. Additionally, the production of cash crops like cotton, coffee, and tobacco was found to contribute to higher dietary diversity by generating income that allows families to purchase a wider range of foods.

“Understanding how to build nutritional resilience against climate shocks and other external pressures remains an area requiring further study,” Qaim noted.

Seasonality also plays a role, as certain fruits and vegetables are only available at specific times of the year. The study recommends that farmers focus on cultivating crops suited to their local environment to maximize productivity and profitability.

Infrastructure Projects Making a Difference

Efforts to improve food accessibility through infrastructure development are already underway. In 2016, the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) launched a $55 million feeder roads project in South Sudan to boost trade and food security.

By November of last year, the Nyamlel Bridge had been handed over to Sudan, along with 44 kilometers (27 miles) of feeder roads, drinking water stations, and sanitation systems in Northern and Western Bahr el Ghazal States. The initiative is expected to positively impact 1.2 million people in the region.

Conclusion

The latest research underscores the need for a broader approach to addressing malnutrition, one that goes beyond traditional solutions like farm-level crop diversification. By investing in better infrastructure, policymakers and development organizations may unlock new opportunities for farmers and consumers alike, creating a more sustainable and effective strategy for improving global nutrition.