The nutritional quality of cereals varies geospatially in Ethiopia and Malawi

D. Gashu, P. C. Nalivata, T. Amede, E. L. Ander, E. H. Bailey, L. Botoman, C. Chagumaira, S. Gameda, S. M. Haefele, K. Hailu, E. J. M. Joy, A. A. Kalimbira, D. B. Kumssa, R. M. Lark, I. S. Ligowe, S. P. McGrath, A. E. Milne, A. W. Mossa, M. Munthali, E. K. Towett, M. G. Walsh, L. Wilson, S. D. Young and M. R. Broadley ()
Additional contact information
D. Gashu: Addis Ababa University
P. C. Nalivata: Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (LUANAR)
T. Amede: International Crop Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT)
E. L. Ander: British Geological Survey
E. H. Bailey: University of Nottingham
L. Botoman: Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (LUANAR)
C. Chagumaira: Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (LUANAR)
S. Gameda: International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT)
S. M. Haefele: Rothamsted Research
K. Hailu: Addis Ababa University
E. J. M. Joy: London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine
A. A. Kalimbira: Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (LUANAR)
D. B. Kumssa: University of Nottingham
R. M. Lark: University of Nottingham
I. S. Ligowe: Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (LUANAR)
S. P. McGrath: Rothamsted Research
A. E. Milne: Rothamsted Research
A. W. Mossa: University of Nottingham
M. Munthali: The Department of Agricultural Research Services
E. K. Towett: World Agroforestry (ICRAF)
M. G. Walsh: Selian Agricultural Research Institute
L. Wilson: University of Nottingham
S. D. Young: University of Nottingham
M. R. Broadley: University of Nottingham

Nature, 2021, vol. 594, issue 7861, 71-76

Abstract: Abstract Micronutrient deficiencies (MNDs) remain widespread among people in sub-Saharan Africa1–5, where access to sufficient food from plant and animal sources that is rich in micronutrients (vitamins and minerals) is limited due to socioeconomic and geographical reasons4–6. Here we report the micronutrient composition (calcium, iron, selenium and zinc) of staple cereal grains for most of the cereal production areas in Ethiopia and Malawi. We show that there is geospatial variation in the composition of micronutrients that is nutritionally important at subnational scales. Soil and environmental covariates of grain micronutrient concentrations included soil pH, soil organic matter, temperature, rainfall and topography, which were specific to micronutrient and crop type. For rural households consuming locally sourced food—including many smallholder farming communities—the location of residence can be the largest influencing factor in determining the dietary intake of micronutrients from cereals. Positive relationships between the concentration of selenium in grain and biomarkers of selenium dietary status occur in both countries. Surveillance of MNDs on the basis of biomarkers of status and dietary intakes from national- and regional-scale food-composition data1–7 could be improved using subnational data on the composition of grain micronutrients. Beyond dietary diversification, interventions to alleviate MNDs, such as food fortification8,9 and biofortification to increase the micronutrient concentrations in crops10,11, should account for geographical effects that can be larger in magnitude than intervention outcomes.

Date: 2021
References: Add references at CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (6)

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-021-03559-3 Abstract (text/html)
Access to the full text of the articles in this series is restricted.

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:nat:nature:v:594:y:2021:i:7861:d:10.1038_s41586-021-03559-3

Ordering information: This journal article can be ordered from
https://www.nature.com/

DOI: 10.1038/s41586-021-03559-3

Access Statistics for this article

Nature is currently edited by Magdalena Skipper

More articles in Nature from Nature
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Sonal Shukla () and Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing ().