Harvesting nutrition : grain legumes and nutritious diets in sub-Saharan Africa

Low quality diets is the number one risk factor for the global burden of disease. Agriculture is one of the sectors with strong potential to enhance the quality of diets; especially among rural populations in low and middle income countries where malnutrition levels are highest and agriculture is often still the most important source of food and income. In sub-Saharan Africa the availability of nutrient-dense foods such as legumes, dairy, meat, fruits, nuts and seeds has declined while the availability of grains less-dense in protein and micronutrients has increased. The protein and micronutrient intake from sub-Saharan African diets is often estimated to be inadequate. Grain legumes are appreciated for their contribution to dietary protein and micronutrient intake in addition to their benefits in replenishing soil fertility. This thesis describes the research conducted to investigate the potential of grain legume cultivation for nutritious diets of smallholder farming households in sub-Saharan Africa. The research was conducted both at crop level (Chapters 2 and 3) and at whole diet level...