Innovations, nudging interventions and food and nutrition security : Evidence from experimental and quasi-experimental studies in Ethiopia

Abstract

the food value chain element of the food system, while the last one falls under the consumer behaviour element of the system as it has an empowerment effect on women by reducing home labour. These technological innovations do not have significant negative environmental impacts and are cost-effective (Bouis and Saltzman, 2017). Moreover, they do not require radical changes in people's eating habits. This is important, at least in the short run, as these habits are deeply entrenched aspects of many cultures (Mead, 1943) and cannot be easily changed. Finally, the innovation examined in this thesis addresses key bottlenecks in the food 1.2. Promoting healthy diets Fortification of foods and biofortification of staple crops are recognized as effective public health interventions to reduce micronutrient deficiencies in poor countries. The core chapters of this thesis contribute to the efforts of promoting these innovations. The role of food fortification in ensuring a healthy diet has been widely recognized throughout the world. The success of fortified foods essentially relies on whether they are accepted and consumed by the target population. To ensure adequate consumption, there is a need to design effective behaviour change communication interventions. Designing such interventions requires a deeper understanding of the food choice motives of the target consumers. In this regard, nutrition knowledge gaps have long been identified as a major bottleneck (Spronk et al., 2014a), and information interventions have been implemented as key entry points to assist individuals in making optimal food choices (Miller and Cassady, 2015). However, despite the rising concerns regarding food fraud, adulteration, and toxic residues from pesticides and feed additives in developing countries (Ortega and Tschirley, 2017), the effects of food safety on consumer food choice as well as its moderating effect on information interventions have not been explored well. In addition, there is a dearth of evidence that shows how fortification interacts with food safety concerns.Biofortification-the process of creating micronutrient-dense staple crops-is an important intervention to overcome micronutrient deficiency among a population that may have limited access to diverse diets (Bouis and Saltzman, 2017). For this intervention to achieve its intended goal -reduction of micronutrient deficiencies-the target population (rural population) needs to consume food prepared from biofortified crops. Encouraging consumption of biofortified crops in rural areas usually involves working with smallholder farmers and persuading them to adopt these crops. This is because most staples are produced by smallholders and smallholders form an important group of people with nutrient deficiencies. One of the strategies that have been used to encourage adoption of these crops is provision of nutrition information. However, the impact of such intervention on the adoption rate is found to be negligible . Insights from psychology such as normative messaging and messaging ...