D4N2024 Presentation Showcase – Plenary Research Showcase: Connecting Dots Across Systems for Better Nutrition

This research showcase presentation from Delivering for Nutrition in South Asia (D4N2024) highlights three studies examining pathways to healthier and more sustainable food systems in South Asia. The first study models food system transformation scenarios for India and finds that integrated changes in diets, agricultural production, and environmental management can generate substantial health, social, and environmental benefits, although some economic trade-offs remain. The second study explores food environments in low-income communities in Colombo, Sri Lanka, demonstrating how affordability, infrastructure, social relationships, school feeding programs, and crisis-related coping strategies shape dietary choices and nutrition outcomes. The third study investigates food environments in rural Bangladesh, India, and Nepal, showing that unhealthy foods and related advertising are widespread, while affordability, accessibility, availability, and wealth strongly influence food consumption patterns. Together, the studies underscore the need for multisectoral, food systems-based approaches that address both the supply and demand sides of nutrition while accounting for local social, economic, and environmental contexts. -Abstract generated by Copilot AI 2.2