Food trade in West Africa must be deliberately aligned with nutrition goals if the region is to deliver healthier and more affordable diets, experts say.
The experts who spoke during a regional webinar, ‘How Food Trade and Markets Shape Diets in West Africa’ highlighted how food trade and markets can better support healthier diets across West Africa.
They argued that tariffs, import policies, agricultural incentives and industrialisation plans should all be assessed “through a nutrition lens.”
Joyce Akpata, head of policy, advocacy and communications at the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition, said governments should back evidence-based regulation including clear nutrition labelling, responsible marketing and product standards to ensure consumers can access nutritious food without higher costs.
She added that public procurement offers a powerful lever. “Governments are large buyers through schools, hospitals and social protection programmes. Nutrition-sensitive procurement can create more predictable demand for nutritious foods while supporting local producers and SMEs,” Akpata said.
