IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/bla/devpol/v39y2021i2p233-249.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Are market‐based solutions a viable strategy for addressing micronutrient deficiency? Lessons from case studies in sub‐Saharan Africa and South Asia

Author

Listed:
  • Spencer Henson
  • Jessica Agnew

Abstract

Motivation While public and civil sector nutrition interventions in low‐ and middle‐income countries have demonstrated positive impacts on nutritional status, micronutrient deficiency remains persistent and severe. Accordingly, there is much debate about the viability of market‐based strategies directed at reducing micronutrient deficiencies among the poor, particularly concerning the role businesses can take. Purpose This article explores the potential for both large and micro/small businesses to engage in markets for nutrient‐dense foods. It examines the challenges businesses face in establishing and maintaining sustainable business models and whether these businesses can achieve the scale required to achieve substantive impacts on the nutrition of the poor. Methodology This article presents a comprehensive literature review and in‐depth case studies of market‐based initiatives directed at enhancing the access of the poor to nutrient‐dense foods. The case studies involved analysis of secondary data and interviews with stakeholders, including value chain actors, civil society organizations, government officials, etc. Findings All bottom of the pyramid (BOP) businesses face considerable challenges in the context of markets for nutrient‐dense foods directed at the poor that relate to the difficulties faced in presenting a viable value proposition to consumers and in distributing products to the places where the poor reside, while achieving sustainable scale. Importantly, the results indicate a critical role for micro/small businesses in promoting the consumption of nutrient‐dense foods by the poor. Policy implications The findings raise important questions over the role and focus of public support to businesses looking to enter and/or expand in markets for nutrient‐dense foods directed at the poor, and especially with respect to micro/small businesses as opposed to large/multinational corporations. Originality The article presents the first comparative analysis of market‐based strategies of micro/small to large businesses directed at reducing micronutrient deficiencies in the poor.

Suggested Citation

  • Spencer Henson & Jessica Agnew, 2021. "Are market‐based solutions a viable strategy for addressing micronutrient deficiency? Lessons from case studies in sub‐Saharan Africa and South Asia," Development Policy Review, Overseas Development Institute, vol. 39(2), pages 233-249, March.
  • Handle: RePEc:bla:devpol:v:39:y:2021:i:2:p:233-249
    DOI: 10.1111/dpr.12492
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://doi.org/10.1111/dpr.12492
    Download Restriction: no

    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1111/dpr.12492?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Lewis Davis, 2014. "How to Generate Good Profit Maximization Problems," The Journal of Economic Education, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 45(3), pages 183-190, September.
    2. Reiner, Gerald & Gold, Stefan & Hahn, Rüdiger, 2015. "Wealth and health at the Base of the Pyramid: Modelling trade-offs and complementarities for fast moving dairy product case," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 170(PB), pages 413-421.
    3. Sibhatu, Kibrom T. & Qaim, Matin, 2018. "Review: Meta-analysis of the association between production diversity, diets, and nutrition in smallholder farm households," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 77(C), pages 1-18.
    4. Marielle Audrey Payaud, 2014. "Marketing Strategies at the Bottom of the Pyramid: Examples From Nestlé, Danone, and Procter & Gamble," Post-Print halshs-00932812, HAL.
    5. John Humphrey & Ewan Robinson, 2015. "Markets for Nutrition: What Role for Business?," IDS Bulletin, Blackwell Publishing, vol. 46(3), pages 59-69, May.
    6. Antonio Bassanetti & Carlo Cottarelli & Andrea F Presbitero, 2019. "Lost and found: market access and public debt dynamics," Oxford Economic Papers, Oxford University Press, vol. 71(2), pages 445-471.
    7. Muthini, Davis & Nzuma, Jonathan & Qaim, Matin, 2018. "Subsistence Production, Markets, and Dietary Diversity in the Kenyan Small Farm Sector," Department of Agricultural and Rural Development (DARE) Discussion Papers 279791, Georg-August-Universitaet Goettingen, Department of Agricultural Economics and Rural Development (DARE).
    8. David Tschirley & Thomas Reardon & Michael Dolislager & Jason Snyder, 2015. "The Rise of a Middle Class in East and Southern Africa: Implications for Food System Transformation," Journal of International Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 27(5), pages 628-646, July.
    9. Bernard Garrette & Aneel Karnani, 2010. "Challenges in Marketing Socially Useful Goods to the Poor," Post-Print hal-00517194, HAL.
    10. Chi-Chur Chao & Eden S. H. Yu, 2014. "Profit-Sharing and International Capital Mobility," World Scientific Book Chapters, in: TRADE-RELATED INVESTMENT MEASURES Theory and Applications, chapter 15, pages 217-229, World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd..
    11. Subrat Sarangi & Sanjay Patro & Ravi Shekhar Kumar, 2014. "Sustainable Distribution in Emerging Markets – African Perspective," Transnational Marketing Journal, Oxbridge Publishing House, UK, vol. 2(1), pages 39-60, May.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Mywish K. Maredia & Maria Porter & Eduardo Nakasone & David L. Ortega & Vincenzina Caputo, 2024. "Does increasing the availability of a nutritious food produced by a small‐ and medium‐sized enterprise increase its consumption? Evidence from a field experiment in Kenya," Applied Economic Perspectives and Policy, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 46(2), pages 414-434, June.
    2. Williams Paul F., 2019. "Really Rethinking Financial Reporting: A Discussion of Rethinking Financial Reporting: Standards, Norms and Institutions by Shyam Sunder," Accounting, Economics, and Law: A Convivium, De Gruyter, vol. 9(2), pages 1-8, July.
    3. Srivardhini K. Jha & E. Richard Gold & Laurette Dubé, 2021. "Modular Interorganizational Network Governance: A Conceptual Framework for Addressing Complex Social Problems," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(18), pages 1-21, September.
    4. Tesfaye, Wondimagegn & Tirivayi, Nyasha, 2020. "Crop diversity, household welfare and consumption smoothing under risk: Evidence from rural Uganda," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 125(C).
    5. Ruben, Ruerd & Cavatassi, Romina & Lipper, Leslie & Smaling, Eric & Winter, Paul, 2022. "Research Series 67: Towards food systems transformation – five paradigm shifts for healthy, inclusive and sustainable food systems," IFAD Research Series 320667, International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD).
    6. Orkhan Sariyev & Tim K. Loos & Manfred Zeller & Tulsi Gurung, 2020. "Women in household decision-making and implications for dietary quality in Bhutan," Agricultural and Food Economics, Springer;Italian Society of Agricultural Economics (SIDEA), vol. 8(1), pages 1-20, December.
    7. Simplice A Asongu & Sara Le Roux, 2019. "Understanding Sub-Saharan Africa’s Extreme Poverty Tragedy," International Journal of Public Administration, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 42(6), pages 457-467, April.
    8. Sukhwinder Singh & Andrew D. Jones & Ruth S. DeFries & Meha Jain, 2020. "The association between crop and income diversity and farmer intra-household dietary diversity in India," Food Security: The Science, Sociology and Economics of Food Production and Access to Food, Springer;The International Society for Plant Pathology, vol. 12(2), pages 369-390, April.
    9. Giancarlo Corsetti & Aitor Erce & Timothy Uy, 2017. "Official Sector Lending Strategies During the Euro Area Crisis," Discussion Papers 1720, Centre for Macroeconomics (CFM).
    10. Del Prete, Davide & Ghins, Léopold & Magrini, Emiliano & Pauw, Karl, 2019. "Land consolidation, specialization and household diets: Evidence from Rwanda," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 83(C), pages 139-149.
    11. Ola, Oreoluwa & Menapace, Luisa, 2020. "A meta-analysis understanding smallholder entry into high-value markets," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 135(C).
    12. Hammond, James & Siegal, Kim & Milner, Daniel & Elimu, Emmanuel & Vail, Taylor & Cathala, Paul & Gatera, Arsene & Karim, Azfar & Lee, Ja-Eun & Douxchamps, Sabine & Tu, Mai Thanh & Ouma, Emily & Lukuyu, 2022. "Perceived effects of COVID-19 restrictions on smallholder farmers: Evidence from seven lower- and middle-income countries," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 198(C).
    13. Krzysztof Dembek & Nagaraj Sivasubramaniam & Danielle A. Chmielewski, 2020. "A Systematic Review of the Bottom/Base of the Pyramid Literature: Cumulative Evidence and Future Directions," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 165(3), pages 365-382, September.
    14. Simplice A. Asongu & Sara le Roux, 2018. "Understanding Sub-Saharan Africa’s Extreme Poverty Tragedy," Research Africa Network Working Papers 18/012, Research Africa Network (RAN).
    15. Timler, Carl & Alvarez, Stéphanie & DeClerck, Fabrice & Remans, Roseline & Raneri, Jessica & Estrada Carmona, Natalia & Mashingaidze, Nester & Abe Chatterjee, Shantonu & Chiang, Tsai Wei & Termote, Ce, 2020. "Exploring solution spaces for nutrition-sensitive agriculture in Kenya and Vietnam," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 180(C).
    16. Stavros A. Zenios & Andrea Consiglio & Marialena Athanasopoulou & Edmund Moshammer & Angel Gavilan & Aitor Erce, 2021. "Risk Management for Sustainable Sovereign Debt Financing," Operations Research, INFORMS, vol. 69(3), pages 755-773, May.
    17. Lovo, Stefania & Veronesi, Marcella, 2019. "Crop Diversification and Child Health: Empirical Evidence From Tanzania," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 158(C), pages 168-179.
    18. Simplice A. Asongu & Nicholas M. Odhiambo, 2021. "Income Levels, Governance and Inclusive Human Development in Sub-Saharan Africa," Applied Research in Quality of Life, Springer;International Society for Quality-of-Life Studies, vol. 16(1), pages 71-103, February.
    19. Chrisendo, Daniel & Krishna, Vijesh V. & Siregar, Hermanto & Qaim, Matin, 2020. "Land-use change, nutrition, and gender roles in Indonesian farm households," Forest Policy and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 118(C).
    20. Rob Vos, 2018. "Agricultural and rural transformations in Asian development," WIDER Working Paper Series 87, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).

    More about this item

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:bla:devpol:v:39:y:2021:i:2:p:233-249. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Wiley Content Delivery (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://edirc.repec.org/data/odioruk.html .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.