This discussion will focus on research opportunities related to agriculture-nutrition linkages at population scale. This topic spans the enabling environment for food systems. The evolving food systems of today are responding to policies, market dynamics, and how food prices influence the food environment. Further, the constraints related to poor market connectivity, limited processing and storage, and preservation options also influence access to relatively expensive perishable foods. From a consumer perspective, food prices, consumer income, beliefs, information, convenience, taste, and habits shape demand for nutritious foods and thereby shape the markets for entire populations.

We encourage you to actively engage by sharing your experience and thoughts on additional areas for research. Your engagement will inform USAID as it shapes its priorities for nutrition and food systems investments in the future.

Click “Add New Comment” below to start or join the conversation. Please consider these questions as they relate to the Feed the Future Innovation Lab literature review (See Event Resources to the right): 

• What are the gaps in knowledge related to global and local policy (including trade policy) and markets? Include structure, function and impact on nutrition in your comments.  
• Can better access to information and services (market information systems, contract farming, and subsidized crop insurance) mitigate risk and encourage production of nutritious foods? 
• Taxes, prices, and subsidies can constrain or encourage access to healthy diets. How do these affect different demographic groups/settings and private sector engagement?
• Are there preferred standardized definitions for healthy and unhealthy foods? 
• Are we aware of the best ways to convey information to nudge consumers towards healthier choices? 
• What short-, medium-, and long-term outcome measures are missing to measure change in agriculture and food systems for nutrition?  
• What remains to be done to help guide the development of harmonized measurements for consumer outcomes (food-groups and dietary diversity indicators)? Are there other measurements we should be considering? 

This discussion will remain open from November 12-15 2019. Moderated discussions will take place:

• November 13, 10-12 AM EST (UCT 15:00-17:00), Ashley Aakesson, Senior Social and Behavior Change Advisor, USAID Advancing Nutrition
• November 13, 10:00 PM-12:00 AM EST (November 14, UCT 3:00-5:00), Sanele Nkomani, Supervising Dietitian, Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Nutrition, Malawi