Opinion: How to sustainably tackle malnutrition in Africa? Beans is how

African consumers have long appreciated the value of beans as a low-cost, versatile and nutritious ingredient. But leveraging beans to address malnutrition more equitably across the entire continent requires a coordinated drive to ensure more Africans can grow, access, and consume these superfoods.

In western Kenya, Rwanda, and Burundi, people eat more than 30 kilograms, or about 100 grams per day per capita — some of the highest consumption levels in the world. Yet the benefits of beans as a rich source of protein, iron, and other micronutrients are spread unevenly across the continent. In Zambia, for example, consumption is relatively low at just 10kg per capita per year.

Meanwhile, in Kenya, the price and availability of beans fluctuate because the country has a production deficit. The country harvests just under 80% of its annual beans consumption a year, leaving a shortfall of over 20% that must be imported to meet the country’s annual consumption needs of roughly 879,000 metric tons. Parts of the population — as much as half — miss out on the high-quality and affordable nutrition provided by beans and other legumes.