Spatial analysis of aquatic food access can inform nutrition-sensitive policy

Bennett A 1 , Rice E 2 , Muhonda P 3 , Kaunda E 4 , Katengeza S 5 , Liverpool-Tasie LSO 6 Show all authors , Belton B 6 , Infante DM 2 , Ross J 2 , Virdin J 7 , Gondwe E 2

Affiliations 

  • 1 Center for Systems Integration and Sustainability, Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA. benne592@msu.edu
  • 2 Center for Systems Integration and Sustainability, Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
  • 3 College of Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, USA
  • 4 African Centre of Excellence in Aquaculture and Fisheries (AquaFish), Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Lilongwe, Malawi
  • 5 Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics, Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Lilongwe, Malawi
  • 6 Department of Agriculture, Food, and Resource Economics, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
  • 7 Nicholas School of the Environment and Nicholas Institute for Energy, Environment, & Sustainability, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
Nat Food, 2022 Dec;3(12):1010-1013.
PMID: 37118314 DOI: 10.1038/s43016-022-00642-4

Abstract

Aquatic foods are critical for food and nutrition security in Malawi, but it is unclear which populations benefit from different aquatic foods and what factors shape food access. Spatial analysis of food flows across value chains from Lake Malawi to domestic consumers shows that usipa (Engraulicypris sardella) reaches more consumers than chambo (Oreochromis karongae) across all Malawi districts, particularly rural populations. Higher number of markets, nutrient content, and overall supply coupled with lower retail prices and volumes make usipa more accessible to consumers than chambo. Spatial analysis of food flows can guide policymakers towards supporting fisheries that reach vulnerable populations and designing interventions that enhance physical and economic access to fish.

* Title and MeSH Headings from MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

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