Hunger and malnutrition can create a variety of health problems. The long-term consequences of these conditions can be detrimental to the health and livelihoods of individuals and their communities.
In Kenya, 19% of the population is undernourished, with 26% of children under five years suffering from chronic malnutrition. In Ethiopia, these estimates are 29% and 38% respectively.1 Malnourished children are at risk of losing more than 10% of their lifetime economic potential.2 As a result, developing countries are losing up to 3% of their annual GDP.
Local agrobiodiversity – including ‘forgotten’ traditional foods and wild foods – is crucial to diversify the diets of vulnerable communities and provide a rich source of naturally available nutrients all year round.