The project has comprehensively assessed nutrition across infants, young children, and adults in eight African countries using the Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) data, informing targeted interventions such as integrated home gardening and nutrition counselling in Kenya, behaviour change communication in Uganda, school feeding with fortified products in Côte d’Ivoire, and school gardening in Cameroon, with impact evaluated through rigorous methods. Analytical tools for value chain and food environment mapping have been developed, producing value chain maps for green leafy vegetables and fruits in Uganda and Benin and food environment maps in Kenya, Uganda, Côte d’Ivoire, and Benin, while a systematic review evaluated interventions to prevent overweight and obesity. As a basis for nutritionally favorable diversification of crop production, a nutrient composition database covering 196 major and underutilised foods has been established, alongside nutritional analysis of 23 underutilised crop species. Novel biofortified crop varieties (rice, maize, tomato, pepper) and sustainable diversified production systems for crops and livestock have been developed, supported by a botanical garden for neglected species and upscalable livestock feeds from Azolla and black soldier fly larvae. Highly nutritious products (fortified rice crackers and iron-zinc and low glycemic parboiled rice) are being promoted and commercialised, while experiments with seaweed-based biostimulants improve vegetable shelf life. Some of these innovations have been advanced to the next project cluster, which explores effects on consumers. Acceptance and exposure assessments to food toxicants have been conducted, accompanied by food safety training and public awareness campaigns, including modules on mycotoxins. Behavioural studies on indigenous foods, digestion, postprandial metabolism, and women’s cardio-metabolic and psychosocial health have informed nutrition interventions, supported by a recipe book for mothers and children. As part of our scaling strategy, living labs (Community Virtual Hubs, Multi-stakeholder Innovation Platforms, and Youth Agribusiness Hubs) have been established across eight countries, promoting 55 healthy diet innovations, training 1188 youth (197 of whom established agribusinesses), and raising awareness among 37320 people. School and orphanage vegetable gardens provide healthy foods, while 75 postdoctoral, PhD, and MSc researchers are being trained across multiple disciplines. Policy engagement includes a national nutritional guide for Ivorian workers, policy gap analyses, stakeholder workshops, and documentation of good nutrition practices for advocacy. Public engagement is further supported through websites, social media, and webinars to disseminate project activities and promote sustainable, diversified food systems that improve nutrition, health, and livelihoods across Africa.
