Examining energy and nutrient production across the different agroecological zones in rural Ethiopia using statistical methods
Abstract Poor‐quality diets are of huge concern in areas where consumption is dominated by locally sourced foods that provide inadequate nutrients. In agroecologically diverse countries like Ethiopia, food production is also likely to vary spatially. Yet, little is known about how nutrient productio...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2023-12-01
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| Series: | Food Science & Nutrition |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1002/fsn3.3676 |
| _version_ | 1797389209628049408 |
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| author | Habtamu Guja Mariana Belgiu Lidya Embibel Kaleab Baye Alfred Stein |
| author_facet | Habtamu Guja Mariana Belgiu Lidya Embibel Kaleab Baye Alfred Stein |
| author_sort | Habtamu Guja |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Poor‐quality diets are of huge concern in areas where consumption is dominated by locally sourced foods that provide inadequate nutrients. In agroecologically diverse countries like Ethiopia, food production is also likely to vary spatially. Yet, little is known about how nutrient production varies by agroecology. Our study looked at the adequacy of essential nutrients from local production in the midland, highland, and upper highland agroecological zones (AEZs). Data were collected at the village level from the kebele agriculture office and at the farm and household levels through surveys in rural districts of the South Wollo zone, Ethiopia. Household data were acquired from 478 households, and crop samples were collected from 120 plots during the 2020 production year. Annual crop and livestock production across the three AEZs was converted into energy and nutrient supply using locally developed crops' energy and nutrient composition data. The total produced energy (kcal) met significant proportions of per capita energy demand in the highland and upper highland, while the supply had a 50% energy deficit in the midland. Shortfalls in per capita vitamin A supply decreased across the agroecological gradient from midland (46%) to upper highland (31%). The estimated shortfall in folate supply was significantly higher in the upper highlands (63%) and negligible in the highlands (2%). The risk of deficient iron and zinc supply was relatively low across all AEZs (<10%), but the deficiency risk of calcium was unacceptably high. Agroecology determines the choice of crop produced and, in this way, affects the available supply of energy and nutrients. Therefore, agroecological variations should be a key consideration when designing food system interventions dedicated to improving diets. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T22:53:35Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-6ce7c69ae05b48e1b013007dd429fe34 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2048-7177 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T22:53:35Z |
| publishDate | 2023-12-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Food Science & Nutrition |
| spelling | doaj.art-6ce7c69ae05b48e1b013007dd429fe342023-12-16T07:01:19ZengWileyFood Science & Nutrition2048-71772023-12-0111127565758010.1002/fsn3.3676Examining energy and nutrient production across the different agroecological zones in rural Ethiopia using statistical methodsHabtamu Guja0Mariana Belgiu1Lidya Embibel2Kaleab Baye3Alfred Stein4Faculty of Geo‐information Science and Earth Observation (ITC) University of Twente Enschede The NetherlandsFaculty of Geo‐information Science and Earth Observation (ITC) University of Twente Enschede The NetherlandsCenter for Food Science and Nutrition, College of Natural and Computational Sciences Addis Ababa University Addis Ababa EthiopiaCenter for Food Science and Nutrition, College of Natural and Computational Sciences Addis Ababa University Addis Ababa EthiopiaFaculty of Geo‐information Science and Earth Observation (ITC) University of Twente Enschede The NetherlandsAbstract Poor‐quality diets are of huge concern in areas where consumption is dominated by locally sourced foods that provide inadequate nutrients. In agroecologically diverse countries like Ethiopia, food production is also likely to vary spatially. Yet, little is known about how nutrient production varies by agroecology. Our study looked at the adequacy of essential nutrients from local production in the midland, highland, and upper highland agroecological zones (AEZs). Data were collected at the village level from the kebele agriculture office and at the farm and household levels through surveys in rural districts of the South Wollo zone, Ethiopia. Household data were acquired from 478 households, and crop samples were collected from 120 plots during the 2020 production year. Annual crop and livestock production across the three AEZs was converted into energy and nutrient supply using locally developed crops' energy and nutrient composition data. The total produced energy (kcal) met significant proportions of per capita energy demand in the highland and upper highland, while the supply had a 50% energy deficit in the midland. Shortfalls in per capita vitamin A supply decreased across the agroecological gradient from midland (46%) to upper highland (31%). The estimated shortfall in folate supply was significantly higher in the upper highlands (63%) and negligible in the highlands (2%). The risk of deficient iron and zinc supply was relatively low across all AEZs (<10%), but the deficiency risk of calcium was unacceptably high. Agroecology determines the choice of crop produced and, in this way, affects the available supply of energy and nutrients. Therefore, agroecological variations should be a key consideration when designing food system interventions dedicated to improving diets.https://doi.org/10.1002/fsn3.3676agroecologyantinutrientsenergy and nutrient adequacyEthiopialocal food composition datarural |
| spellingShingle | Habtamu Guja Mariana Belgiu Lidya Embibel Kaleab Baye Alfred Stein Examining energy and nutrient production across the different agroecological zones in rural Ethiopia using statistical methods Food Science & Nutrition agroecology antinutrients energy and nutrient adequacy Ethiopia local food composition data rural |
| title | Examining energy and nutrient production across the different agroecological zones in rural Ethiopia using statistical methods |
| title_full | Examining energy and nutrient production across the different agroecological zones in rural Ethiopia using statistical methods |
| title_fullStr | Examining energy and nutrient production across the different agroecological zones in rural Ethiopia using statistical methods |
| title_full_unstemmed | Examining energy and nutrient production across the different agroecological zones in rural Ethiopia using statistical methods |
| title_short | Examining energy and nutrient production across the different agroecological zones in rural Ethiopia using statistical methods |
| title_sort | examining energy and nutrient production across the different agroecological zones in rural ethiopia using statistical methods |
| topic | agroecology antinutrients energy and nutrient adequacy Ethiopia local food composition data rural |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1002/fsn3.3676 |
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