Study Finds that Agricultural Diversity has a Positive Impact on Food Security

Agricultural diversity can be an important driver of food security, but the magnitude of the contribution depends on the broader socio-economic and biophysical characteristics of the local farming system, according to a recently published paper from researchers including those from the Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT.

In their paper published in the journal Global Food Security in June of 2022, the researchers found that in almost two-thirds of all cases, agricultural diversity had a positive effect on food security, but in about one third of the relationships there was no effect of agricultural diversity on food security, or the results were mixed.

According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), food security exists when all people, at all times, have physical and economic access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food that meets their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life, whereas agricultural diversity includes the diversity of crop varieties, livestock breeds, fish species and non-domesticated (wild) resources, including the way in which they are processed and consumed.

The literature review conducted by the researchers showed the work that had been done across the Global South or the Lower-Middle-Income (LMIC) countries looking at the link between agricultural diversity and food security and providing a base for other researchers in the field can now use to find collaborators or to think about further research questions.

Katharina Waha, a Senior Research Scientist in the Global Food and Nutrition Security group at CSIRO in Brisbane, Australia and the lead author of the study said that there were 40 indices measuring the different measures and individual relations.

"We looked at all the combinations you could think of and how to quantitatively measure between the food security and diversity indicators," Waha said, "In terms of negative health outcomes for individuals, all the literature on nutritional and health outcomes would say that not having that diversity or quality is the final outcome."

The researchers found that although agricultural diversity can be beneficial for food security, it is not the only available strategy to promote food security. Where diversification is also the cheapest strategy in terms of monetary and labor costs, it can be an appealing and effective option to improve agricultural practices and profits.