Spatial and temporal patterns of consumption of animal‐source foods in Tanzania

Abstract

Animal-source foods (ASF) are an important source of nutrients in many developing countries. However, there is limited information on the demand for ASF and the factors influencing their consumption. This study assessed spatial and temporal patterns of ASF consumption in Tanzania using data from a nationally representative household survey. Price and expenditure elasticities of ASF demand were estimated by applying a censored Quadratic Almost Ideal Demand System (QUAIDS) model. Results showed a 30% increase in weekly household expenditure on ASF from USD 3.02 in 2008 to USD 3.94 in 2014. The likelihood of a household purchasing ASF was 4.5 percentage points higher in urban compared to rural areas. With the exception of dried fish, the expenditure elasticity of ASF demand was positive and statistically significant. Expenditure and own-price elasticities were largest for chicken and lowest for dried fish. The responsiveness of ASF demand to ownprice changes was higher in rural than urban areas in all cases. The findings imply that public policies that either raise household incomes or lower ASF prices have the potential to increase the consumption of ASF and

The Future of Food Security, Nutrition and Health for Agri-food Systems Transformation

“…Source (HLPE, 2017). Reproduced with permission (Simmance et al, 2021) Though demand is generally recognized as changing in response to a variety of influences such as increased incomes and increased recognitions of nutrient and health benefits of animal-sourced foods driving a shift away from starchy staples (Mayén, Marques-Vidal, Paccaud, Bovet, & Stringhini, 2014;Wang et al, 2021) , investments in improving food systems must also better target the linkages between demand, drivers, and corresponding outcomes. While investment in agricultural development has historically focused on supply-side and production-related advances (Rosegrant et al, 2014), we must complement this perspective to address cross-sectional and temporal dimensions of demandrelated issues from food preference to consumer behavior.…”

“…This differentiation increases when combined with increased incomes, population growth, and urbanization (Thurstan & Roberts, 2014). These drivers are likely to induce dietary shifts away from traditional staples and, depending on income, towards highly processed food or food with high nutrition value, particularly fruits, vegetable, and nuts (EAT, 2019), as well as animal-sourced food (Liverpool-Tasie, Sanou, Reardon, & Belton, 2021;Thurstan & Roberts, 2014;Wang et al, 2021;Wang, Tran, Wilson, Chan, & Dao, 2019). These dietary shifts will have an essential bearing on the evolution and capacities of environmental systems to support food demand in the future (Springmann et al, 2018).…”

“…Similarly, demand for fish and aquatic foods has been increasing rapidly. These changes derive not only from population and income growth but also from an increasing appreciation for the health benefits of fish consumption (Chan et al, 2017;Tran et al, 2019;Wang et al, 2021;Wang et al, 2019) as well as changes in lifestyles and preferences associated with rapid urbanization and globalization. These new analyses illustrate the importance of iterative foresight, incorporating new knowledge regarding both drivers and corresponding demand.…”

“…One major set of trade-offs that will be of increasing concern is between meeting food demand and maintaining ecosystem services provision (Enahoro et al, 2019;Rosegrant et al, 2017;Wang et al, 2021). A recent study (Enahoro et al, 2019), projected that improved global economic conditions would lead to increased food supplies and reduced prevalence of hunger and undernutrition in Tanzania in 2030, but with trade-offs emerging between meeting the demand for nutrient-rich animal-sourced foods and maintaining ecosystem services.…”

Linking ecosystem services provisioning with demand for animal-sourced food: an integrated modeling study for Tanzania

“…This study assesses if, and to what extent, increasing the diversity in agricultural production systems could mitigate losses to ecosystem services resulting from livestock-mediated agricultural land expansion. The analysis focuses on Tanzania as an example of a country facing the dual pressure to mitigate environmental stresses while expanding agricultural and livestock production to meet higher local demand for food (Wang et al 2021). Many other developing countries find themselves in this category.…”