CGIAR Initiative on Sustainable Healthy Diets
Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://hdl.handle.net/10568/117907
Part of the CGIAR Action Area on Systems Transformation
Primary CGIAR impact area: Nutrition, health and food security
https://www.cgiar.org/initiative/sustainable-healthy-diets/
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Item Developing a food safety consumer experience scale: Qualitative insights from Bangladesh, Ethiopia, and Vietnam(Journal Article, 2025-05-29) Isanovic, S.; Alonso, Silvia; Frongillo, E.A.; Parvin, A.; Gazu, Lina; Phuong H. Nguyen; Leroy, J.L.Objectives: Unsafe food contributes to 600 million cases of foodborne illness and 420,000 deaths annually. Existing methods used to evaluate food safety risks overlook consumers’ perspectives coming from their everyday experiences that influence their food choices. Our objective was to develop a cross-culturally appropriate and user-friendly scale to assess consumers’ experiences related to food safety in low- and middle-income countries. This study identified the constructs that constitute the experiences of food safety that the scale should reflect. Methods: In-depth interviews were conducted with urban households in Bangladesh (n=51), Ethiopia (n=50), and Vietnam (n=41). Eligible households had children aged 2–5 years and members serving as primary food purchasers, preparers, and caregivers. Interviews explored attitudes, perceptions, and lived experiences related to food safety. Data were analyzed using a constant comparative method. Results: Respondents expressed awareness of biological and chemical contaminants in foods. Concerns about chemical additives and food adulteration were common, fueled by beliefs that these hazards cause chronic illnesses. Personal and familial experiences with foodborne illness reinforced caution when buying foods. Religious and cultural beliefs shaped how respondents explained and responded to food safety concerns, with some attributing illness symptoms to spiritual causes. Trust in food vendors was rooted in reputation, visible cleanliness, and willingness to rectify issues (e.g., exchange items). Respondents differentiated their extent of scrutinizing safety based on food type: staples such as rice and pulses were assessed more by vendor credibility, whereas perishables such as fish and meat underwent direct, detailed inspections. Low transparency in food sourcing and how vendors prepared foods were persistent concerns. Conclusions: Trust, perceived transparency, risk perceptions, and past incidents shaped consumers’ mental representations and behaviors related to food safety. Interviews underscored the centrality of context and sensory-based quality indicators, suggesting that scenario-based assessments are more appropriate than generic risk-reduction items.Item Agrobiodiversity and value chains(Presentation, 2025-05-20) Borelli, TeresaThis keynote presentation explores how developing strong, inclusive value chains for agrobiodiversity—especially for neglected and underutilized species —can drive sustainable food systems and improve livelihoods. Drawing on lessons from the Biodiversity for Food and Nutrition (BFN) project, the CGIAR Nature-Positive Solutions (NATURE+) Initiative, and the EU-funded DIVINFOOD projects, the talk highlights successful strategies to link smallholder farmers, cooperatives, processors, schools, chefs, and consumers. It emphasizes the importance of end-to-end thinking, from seed systems and gender equity to market access and institutional demand. Through real-world examples across Africa, Asia, Latin America, and Europe, this keynote provides a compelling case for integrating agrobiodiversity into food value chains to support climate resilience, nutrition, and local economies.Item A new frontier in understanding food: Mapping food quality to improve human and planetary health(Brief, 2025-04) Ahmed, SelenaImagine a world where we truly understand what’s in our food— where everyone has access to healthy, safe, and delicious diets from sustainable food systems. Diets that not only nourish but also celebrate biodiversity and cultural traditions. This future harnesses the power of food as a vital resource for both human and planetary well-being. Food analysis has followed a similar trajectory. Traditionally, scientists have measured only 30 to 150 known nutrients and broad categories like total protein or total dietary fiber—akin to our once limited view of the cosmos. But just as the Hubble Space Telescope revolutionized astronomy, breakthroughs in multi-omics technologies are expanding our knowledge of food composition beyond the nutrition label. High-resolution omics tools—metabolomics, lipidomics, proteomics, and genomics—have transformed medicine and drug discovery for decades. Now, these same cutting-edge technologies are being applied to food, allowing us to detect thousands of specific lipids, fiber components, proteins, bioactives, and toxins. This deeper understanding of food composition can begin to reveal how food shapes our health in ways we are only beginning to grasp. We’re not just measuring food—we’re discovering it.Item Nontargeted metabolomics: PTFI Platform(Brief, 2025-05) Watkins, Steve; Odenkirk, Melanie T; Prenni, Jessica; Brinkley, SarahThe PTFI Nontargeted Metabolomics platform supports the characterization of the small molecule composition in food. This method uses solid phase extraction (SPE) to isolate small molecules for analysis by reverse phased liquid chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry (LC-HRMS). The PTFI Nontargeted Metabolomics platform is adapted from existing protocols used by researchers. What sets the PTFI method apart is the focus on standardization and the incorporation of a unique internal retention standard reagent which is a mixture of 33 compounds nonendogenous to food. When researchers around the world employ the same standardized protocol and utilize the same internal standard reagent the resulting data can be harmonized and becomes comparable – allowing us to build a scalable data resource.Item Lipidomics: PTFI Platform(Brief, 2025-05) Williams, Kevin; Odenkirk, Melanie T; Watkins, Steve; Brinkley, SarahThe PTFI Lipidomics platform enables targeted lipid characterization in food and/or biological samples. It employs Bligh-Dyer1 extraction for lipid isolation and Sciex QQQ or qTRAP instrumentation with differential mobility spectrometry (DMS) and multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) for absolute quantification. The PTFI Lipidomics platform is adapted from Su et al.2 to measure the lipid composition of food and biological samples. What sets this method apart from other lipidomics methods is the addition of novel internal standards developed by Avanti Polar Lipids. These novel standard mixtures extend the number of lipids that are accurately quantified in food and/or biological samples.Item Effects of community seed bank initiatives on indirect beneficiaries in Vihiga County, Kenya: Endline summary report(Report, 2023-12) Akingbemisilu, Tosin; Aluso, Lillian; Termote, CelineItem Bộ tài liệu hệ thống thực phẩm dành cho tập huấn viên(Training Material, 2025-04) Pham Thi, Huong Mai; Huynh Thi, Tuyen Thanh; Nguyen, Quoc Minh; Duong, Thanh Thi; Le Thi, NgaSáng kiến Chế độ ăn lành mạnh bền vững thông qua chuyển đổi hệ thống lương thực thực phẩm (SHiFT) do CGIAR tài trợ. Sáng kiến có mục tiêu thúc đẩy nhu cầu về chế độ ăn uống lành mạnh, bền vững, đảm bảo cung cấp thực phẩm bổ dưỡng, an toàn, giá cả hợp lý và được sản xuất bền vững. Tài liệu này là Phiên bản Tiếng Việt của bộ tài liệu Tiếng Anh đã được sử dụng trong khuôn khổ chương trình tập huấn dành cho tập huấn viên (ToT) thuộc Sáng kiến nghiên cứu SHiFT tại Việt Nam giai đoạn 2023-2024. Phiên bản Tiếng Việt được dùng làm tài liệu tham khảo cho các tập huấn viên nguồn đã tham gia khóa tập huấn của SHiFT vào tháng 11 năm 2023. Các tập huấn viên tham gia tập huấn khóa đầu tiên có thể sử dụng tài liệu này để xây dựng chương trình tập huấn cho các tập huấn viên, người tham gia các khóa kế tiếp. Chương trình tập huấn cho tập huấn viên nguồn (ToT) về Hệ thống lương thực thực phẩm (LTTP) được tiến hành qua 3 giai đoạn: Giai đoạn 1: Khóa tập huấn trực tuyến về Quản trị Hệ thống LTTP được tổ chức tháng 9 và 10/2023 và cấp giấy chứng nhận cho 28 học viên. Học viên nắm được lý thuyết nền tảng về chế độ ăn lành mạnh bền vững (SHD) thông qua chuyển đổi hệ thống LTTP (FST) và vai trò hợp tác đa bên (MSP). Giai đoạn 2: Khóa tập huấn trực tuyến tổ chức song song với giai đoạn 1 trong tháng 9 và 10/2023. Học viên hiểu rõ về hệ thống LTTP ở Việt Nam, kiến thức về chế độ ăn lành mạnh bền vững (SHD) thông qua chuyển đổi hệ thống LTTP (FST) và vai trò của hợp tác đa bên (MSP) và thực hành với các công cụ liên quan. Học viên cũng được tăng cường kỹ năng điều phối quá trình học tập và thay đổi. Giai đoạn 3: Khóa tập huấn trực tiếp 3 ngày “Tập huấn cho tập huấn viên về Hệ thống LTTP tại Việt Nam” cho 21 tập huấn viên khóa đầu tiên (những thành viên này đã được cấp giấy chứng nhận tập huấn trực tuyến), được tổ chức vào tháng 11/2023. Các thành viên tham gia đa dạng từ các ngành nông nghiệp, y tế, công thương, các trường đại học và viện nghiên cứu. Khóa tập huấn được thực hiện bởi Trung tâm Đổi mới Phát triển (WCDI) thuộc Đại học Nghiên cứu Wageningen và Trung tâm Nông nghiệp Nhiệt đới Quốc tế (CIAT, thành viên Liên minh Bioversity và CIAT) hợp tác với các cơ quan đối tác chiến lược của sáng kiến SHiFT tại Việt Nam bao gồm Viện Chiến lược, Chính sách nông nghiệp và môi trường (ISPAE) (trước đây là Viện Chính sách và Chiến lược Phát triển Nông nghiệp Nông thôn - IPSARD), Viện Dinh dưỡng Quốc gia (NIN), Viện Khoa học Nông nghiệp Việt Nam (VAAS). Chương trình tập huấn cho tập huấn viên quốc gia do các giảng viên Trung tâm Đổi mới Phát triển thuộc Đại học Nghiên cứu Wageningen (Wageningen Center for Development Innovation, Wageningen University & Research - WCDI, WUR) và Trung tâm Nông nghiệp Nhiệt đới Quốc tế - thành viên Liên minh Bioversity và CIAT (CIAT) hợp tác thực hiện.Item Unpacking food environment policy landscapes for healthier diets in “emerging” countries: the case of Viet Nam(Journal Article, 2025) Even, Brice; Truong, Thi Thu Trang; Thai, Thi Minh Hang; Pham, Thi Mai Huong; Nguyen, Thu Duong; Bui, Thi Viet Anh; Bene, ChristopheObjective: Food systems and food environments are evolving rapidly in Viet Nam, concurrently with significant shifts in dietary patterns and health outcomes. This study aims to identify critical gaps in the national regulatory framework governing food environment in Viet Nam and to propose actionable recommendations to overcome these gaps. Results: Using the Food Environment Policy Index from the INFORMAS network, we mobilized a transdisciplinary panel of 18 experts to co-analyze and assess policy evidence, as well as co-develop policy recommendations. The assessment, encompassing 35 indicators across six food environment domains, revealed substantial gaps: 74% of indicators scored low or very low, while only 26% scored medium or high. Key gaps were identified in food composition standards, marketing, labeling, and financial incentives. Recommendations from the experts focused on strengthening food composition standards, enhancing consumer education, and fostering inter-sectoral policy integration. Implications: This study provides a comprehensive evaluation of Viet Nam’s food environment policies and offers actionable recommendations to foster food environments conducive of healthier diets. Drawing on Viet Nam as a case study representative of challenges in other low- and middle-income countries, our findings highlight the importance of strong political commitment to prioritize public health over industry interests in order to create healthier, more equitable food environments and food systems.Item CGIAR Research Initiative on Sustainable Healthy Diets: Annual Technical Report 2024(Report, 2025-04-15) CGIAR Initiative on Sustainable Healthy DietsItem Synergistic conservation approaches for nurturing soil, food security and human health towards sustainable development goals(Journal Article, 2024-11) Pandian, Kannan; Mustaffa, Mohamed Roshan Abu Firnass; Mahalingam, Govindaraj; Paramasivam, Arunachalam; Prince, Abishek John; Gajendiren, Manimaran; Mohammad, Abdul Rahman Rafiqi; Varanasi, Surya TejaUsing chemical fertilizers extensively in small farms has helped increase crop yields, supporting food security and economic growth. However, recent studies show that these fertilizers are often used inefficiently and inconsistently. This leads to environmental harm, unbalanced soil nutrients, and lower-quality food production. These issues threaten food security, which is vital for human survival and may lead to the abandonment of arable land. This situation calls for a significant shift in soil conservation research to better connect scientific findings with practical conservation methods, ensuring that agricultural progress goes hand in hand with environmental sustainability. Effective use of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) fertilizers is vital for both environmental sustainability and food security. Correcting nutritional imbalances, especially the disrupted N/P ratio caused by faulty fertilization practices, is key to ensuring a balanced nutrient supply. These imbalances have a substantial effect on aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems, altering their functionality, biodiversity and human nutrition Therefore, adopting balanced fertilization techniques is essential to combine environmental sustainability with global food security and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).To optimize nutrient consumption and production efficiency, regulations should be enacted to enforce the 4R principle, which involves applying the right nutrient source at the appropriate rate, time, method and location. This article emphasizes the connections between current agricultural practices, land use, fertilizer application, soil degradation, and future challenges. It promotes environmentally friendly farming methods that recognize the vital links between soil quality, food security, human health, and environmental sustainability.Item New breeding trends in sorghum(Book Chapter, 2024-11-13) Elango, Dinakaran; Wang, Wanyan; Francis, Neethu; Chatterjee, Debamalya; Murithi, Ann; Chandra, Visalakshi; Parthasarathi, Theivasigamani; David, Einstein Mariya; Jayaraman, Vanitha; Govindarajan, Kamaleeswari; Gogoi, Bonti; Punnuri, Somashekhar; Thudi, Mahendar; Govindaraj, Mahalingam; Are, Ashok Kumar; Jiao, Yinping; Chopra, SurinderItem Business aspects along the rural-urban continuum, outlet type, and gender of ownership among MSMEs in the Vietnamese food environment(Working Paper, 2025-04-08) Ceballos, Francisco; Aguilar, Francisco; de Brauw, Alan; Nguyen, Trang; van den Berg, MarritConcurrent with its rapid economic growth, Viet Nam has been experiencing a food systems transformation. Broad changes in the food environment have been a key part of this transition. While the availability of processed food is ubiquitous, the food environment continues to be largely dominated by micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs). So, to build strategies to improve the availability and affordability of healthy foods, MSMEs are a key entry point. In this paper, we use primary survey data to separate key sources of variation in MSMEs’ organizational dimensions and business practices by type of outlet, rural-urban location, and gender of the owners. We focus on outcomes related to employment, food sources, business finance, good business practices, and nutrition knowledge and attitudes. We find limited differences in this set of outcomes in terms of whether an outlet is located in a rural, peri-urban, or urban area, or in terms of the gender of its owners. Instead, most of the variation in outcomes can be linked to the type of outlet, raising specific types of outlets as a key focus when seeking to foster the supply of healthier foods in the food environment.Item Fatty Acid Methyl Esters (FAMEs): PTFI Platform(Brief, 2025-03) Watkins, Steve; McDonald, Jeff; Johnson, Ann; Odenkirk, Melanie; Prenni, Jessica; Brinkley, SarahThe PTFI Fatty Acid Methyl Esters (FAMEs) platform supports targeted characterization of the fatty acid composition in food and/or biological samples. This method uses a biphasic extraction with water and hexane to isolate fatty acids prior to analysis with gas chromatography coupled with flame ionization detection (GC-FID).Item Ionomics: PTFI Platform(Brief, 2025-03) Chaparro, Jacqueline M; Odenkirk, Melanie T; Prenni, Jessica E; Watkins, Steve; Brinkley, SarahThe PTFI ionomics method quantifies the concentrations of 26 biologically important elements across a wide range of plant and animal foods. This method utilizes acid digestion to free all elements prior to their analysis by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS).Item Synopsis: Commercialization and dietary diversity of Rwandan smallholder farmers: a focus on women and youth headed households(Brief, 2025-04) Mukangabo, Emerence; Warner, JamesIn the last two decades, the government of Rwanda has significantly lowered stunting among children under five years from 48% in 2000 to 33% in 2020 and recognizes dietary diversity as one the approaches to overcome malnutrition and micronutrient deficiencies. A key priority of the Second National Strategy for Transformation (NST2) is to tackle malnutrition and to reduce stunting rates among children. Therefore, using a household dietary diversity score as a proxy for household access to nutritious foods, this policy note outlines how commercialization impacts dietary diversity, with a focus on women and youth headed households. Key findings include: The rural smallholder farmers diet is predominantly based on cereals, roots and tubers as well as vegetables. Even when controlling for relevant variables, women do not have more diverse consumption patterns, however, they do, relative to male headed households, consume more diverse foods the greater their level of commercialization. Despite an overall lack of resources and income, youth-headed households show a positive relationship with household dietary diversity when compared to mature-headed households. Determinants that positively influence household dietary diversity include the level of commercialization, household non-farm assets, market access, education of the household head, the presence of children under five in the household, irrigation, land size, and livestock holdings.Item Farm resilience and healthy diets for a sustainable food system in Vihiga County, Kenya(Blog Post, 2023-10-13) Mutui, Edith; Aluso, LillianItem SELEVER study: Endline survey(Dataset, 2025-03-21) International Food Policy Research InstituteThe Soutenir l’Exploitation Familiale pour Lancer l’Élevage des Volailles et Valoriser l’Économie Rurale (SELEVER) study was a cluster randomized controlled trial conducted in rural Burkina Faso to evaluate the impact of an integrated agriculture-nutrition intervention on the diets, health, and nutritional status of women and children. The intervention package combined poultry value chain development, women’s empowerment initiatives, and a behavior change communication strategy to promote healthier diets and improved feeding, care, and hygiene practices. Data collection took place in rural communities across three regions—Boucle du Mouhoun, Centre-Ouest, and Haut-Bassins—over four rounds between March 2017 and August 2020. The baseline survey (Round 1) was conducted from March to June 2017, during the post-harvest season, and included a sample of 1,800 households. Follow-up 1 and Follow-up 2 (Rounds 2 and 3) were carried out during the lean season, with data collected in September–October 2017 and September–October 2019, respectively, from a subsample of 1,080 households. The endline survey (Round 4) took place from March to August 2020, with a temporary pause in data collection due to COVID-19 restrictions. The study aimed to assess the effectiveness of the intervention package in enhancing nutritional outcomes for women and children in the targeted communities. The data presented here are from the endline survey.Item SELEVER study: Second follow-up survey(Dataset, 2025-03-21) International Food Policy Research InstituteThe Soutenir l’Exploitation Familiale pour Lancer l’Élevage des Volailles et Valoriser l’Économie Rurale (SELEVER) study was a cluster randomized controlled trial conducted in rural Burkina Faso to evaluate the impact of an integrated agriculture-nutrition intervention on the diets, health, and nutritional status of women and children. The intervention package combined poultry value chain development, women’s empowerment initiatives, and a behavior change communication strategy to promote healthier diets and improved feeding, care, and hygiene practices. Data collection took place in rural communities across three regions—Boucle du Mouhoun, Centre-Ouest, and Haut-Bassins—over four rounds between March 2017 and August 2020. The baseline survey (Round 1) was conducted from March to June 2017, during the post-harvest season, and included a sample of 1,800 households. Follow-up 1 and Follow-up 2 (Rounds 2 and 3) were carried out during the lean season, with data collected in September–October 2017 and September–October 2019, respectively, from a subsample of 1,080 households. The endline survey (Round 4) took place from March to August 2020, with a temporary pause in data collection due to COVID-19 restrictions. The study aimed to assess the effectiveness of the intervention package in enhancing nutritional outcomes for women and children in the targeted communities. The data presented here are from the second follow-up survey.Item SELEVER study: First follow-up survey(Dataset, 2025-03-21) International Food Policy Research InstituteThe Soutenir l’Exploitation Familiale pour Lancer l’Élevage des Volailles et Valoriser l’Économie Rurale (SELEVER) study was a cluster randomized controlled trial conducted in rural Burkina Faso to evaluate the impact of an integrated agriculture-nutrition intervention on the diets, health, and nutritional status of women and children. The intervention package combined poultry value chain development, women’s empowerment initiatives, and a behavior change communication strategy to promote healthier diets and improved feeding, care, and hygiene practices. Data collection took place in rural communities across three regions—Boucle du Mouhoun, Centre-Ouest, and Haut-Bassins—over four rounds between March 2017 and August 2020. The baseline survey (Round 1) was conducted from March to June 2017, during the post-harvest season, and included a sample of 1,800 households. Follow-up 1 and Follow-up 2 (Rounds 2 and 3) were carried out during the lean season, with data collected in September–October 2017 and September–October 2019, respectively, from a subsample of 1,080 households. The endline survey (Round 4) took place from March to August 2020, with a temporary pause in data collection due to COVID-19 restrictions. The study aimed to assess the effectiveness of the intervention package in enhancing nutritional outcomes for women and children in the targeted communities. The data presented here are from the first follow-up survey.Item SELEVER study: Baseline survey(Dataset, 2025-03-21) International Food Policy Research InstituteThe Soutenir l’Exploitation Familiale pour Lancer l’Élevage des Volailles et Valoriser l’Économie Rurale (SELEVER) study was a cluster randomized controlled trial conducted in rural Burkina Faso to evaluate the impact of an integrated agriculture-nutrition intervention on the diets, health, and nutritional status of women and children. The intervention package combined poultry value chain development, women’s empowerment initiatives, and a behavior change communication strategy to promote healthier diets and improved feeding, care, and hygiene practices. Data collection took place in rural communities across three regions—Boucle du Mouhoun, Centre-Ouest, and Haut-Bassins—over four rounds between March 2017 and August 2020. The baseline survey (Round 1) was conducted from March to June 2017, during the post-harvest season, and included a sample of 1,800 households. Follow-up 1 and Follow-up 2 (Rounds 2 and 3) were carried out during the lean season, with data collected in September–October 2017 and September–October 2019, respectively, from a subsample of 1,080 households. The endline survey (Round 4) took place from March to August 2020, with a temporary pause in data collection due to COVID-19 restrictions. The study aimed to assess the effectiveness of the intervention package in enhancing nutritional outcomes for women and children in the targeted communities. The data presented here are from the baseline survey.