What benefits nutrition in Africa the most

A diverse food supply - is extremely important for healthy development. Photo: Matin Qaim/University of Bonn . More variety in the fields is not necessarily the best strategy, a recent study shows - Malnutrition in developing countries is best addressed not by increasing the variety of crops grown on smallholder farms, but by improving access to markets. This is the conclusion of a recent study by the MwAPATA Institute in Malawi and the University of Bonn in Germany. More variety in animal production, however, does show positive effects. The findings are now published in the journal "Lancet Planetary Health". Not only too little food, but also a diet that is too one-sided can have serious negative health consequences.