In Ethiopia, a nation boasting a sizeable livestock population, children are nonetheless grappling with severe malnutrition, largely due to scant intake of animal products. This plight has spurred experts into action, as they scramble to devise interventions.
A recent study, spearheaded by a team from the Global Academy of Agriculture and Food Systems at the University of Edinburgh, has laid bare the harsh reality. It reveals that only a minuscule fraction of Ethiopian children under the age of five routinely consume animal-derived edibles like milk, eggs, or meat.
Among the animal-based foods, dairy products and eggs see somewhat more consumption, but meat and seafood are conspicuous by their rarity on children’s plates. This dearth of dietary variety and quality is pushing youngsters towards the precipice of malnutrition and stunted growth.
The research dug deep, analysing data from a national family health survey and conducting community interviews. What emerged were two principal culprits: affordability and awareness, or rather the lack thereof.
For numerous families in the studied regions, animal-sourced fare, especially meat, remains financially out of reach. Compounding the issue, many caregivers seem oblivious to the nutritional goldmine that animal products represent. Instead, they often opt to sell these items for much-needed income, sidelining their children’s dietary needs.
Cultural and religious customs also play a part. Extended fasting periods, for instance, curtail children’s access to nutrient-rich victuals, despite religious leaders cautioning against such practices for the young.
In Amhara, a major farming area in northern Ethiopia, a dismal statistic stands out: only one in ten children regularly incorporates any animal-based food into their diet. The consequences are all too visible, with nearly half the children in the region suffering from stunted growth.
Researchers stress that upping meat consumption could be a game-changer in the fight against stunting, which is predominantly fuelled by a lack of dietary diversity. The implications stretch far beyond physical growth; it could hobble children’s cognitive abilities, future productivity, and economic prospects, potentially ensnaring families in a never-ending cycle of poverty. They even suggest that introducing just a single meat item daily could work wonders.
The Global Academy of Agriculture and Food Systems, part of the Easter Bush Agritech Hub – one of six hubs in Edinburgh’s Data Driven Innovation (DDI) network that bankrolled this study – is on a mission. By marrying local data with global wisdom, they aim to roll out large-scale initiatives to boost animal product consumption in Amhara. Plans include a project to school caregivers on the benefits of meat for their young ones. However, an ongoing civil conflict has thrown a spanner in the works, delaying implementation.
This study, published in Maternal and Child Nutrition and backed by the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme, was a collaborative effort with colleagues from the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) and the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI).
Dr. Taddese Zerfu, the lead author from the University of Edinburgh’s Global Academy of Agriculture and Food Systems, opined, “Affordability and lack of awareness are barriers to including meat in children’s diets in Ethiopia. However, through targeted social interventions that educate caregivers about the nutritional benefits of animal-sourced foods we can significantly improve children’s dietary diversity.”
Professor Alan Duncan, Professor of Livestock and Development at the University of Edinburgh’s Global Academy of Agriculture and Food Systems, added, “Families often prioritise selling animal-sourced foods for income, unaware of the critical role they play in child development. This underscores the need for targeted interventions focused on both awareness and accessibility.”
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