Inception of the new project: 'Sustainable soil management for nutrition-sensitive agriculture in Sub-Saharan Africa and South East Asia'
Through the new project 'Sustainable soil management for nutrition-sensitive agriculture in Sub-Saharan Africa and South East Asia' the Global Soil Partnership is supporting FAO member countries to apply sustainable soil management practices in an effort to improve the nutritional quality of locally-produced foods to address micronutrient deficiencies in people.
Nutrition-sensitive agriculture is a food-based approach to agricultural development that puts nutritionally rich foods, dietary diversity, and food fortification at the heart of overcoming malnutrition and micronutrient deficiencies.
The project is a 3-year initiative funded by the government of Germany. It is being piloted in Bangladesh, Burkina Faso and Malawi where the government have highlighted the need to address human nutrient deficiencies, particularly in rural communities where agriculture is the main source of employment.
The goal of the project is to improve nutrition through the soil, crop, and human continuum, particularly in locally-produced and consumed foods.
Major activities will centre on pilot field sites in each of the three countries to demonstrate sustainable soil management technologies to increase micronutrient contents of soils and crops, with associated capacity-development and training activities for farmers and national agricultural research and extension research personnel.
The result of the pilot trials, specifically any changes in micronutrient contents of the edible part of the crops, combined with the food consumption habits of the farmers and local community, will be used to infer possible health outcomes on the local populations.
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