In the last few decades, Africa's food systems have transformed considerably due to rapid rates of urbanization and income growth. Consistent with Bennett's law, the share of food budgets on starchy staples has declined and has been replaced by other nutrient-dense foods such as animal proteins and horticultural produce. Such changing demand, along with increased dependence on markets, has also triggered a significant supply response in various aspects, including technology adoption. This dissertation explores key issues related to consumption and production of nutrient-dense foods using evidence from Nigeria. The first chapter conducts disaggregated demand analysis of fruit and vegetable (FV) consumption, with a goal to understand evolving consumption patterns. International debates focusing on incredibly low FV consumption often discuss supply-side concerns such as availability and affordability. However, demand-related issues linked to consumer preferences have remained largely unexplored. Using a detailed decade-long panel dataset and demand estimation techniques, this study assesses heterogeneity in consumption patterns (trends and elasticities) for different items across regions and income groups over time. We also differentiate between fresh and processed items as well as domestic vs imported items. This analysis reveals that vegetable consumption is much lower than the recommended levels and is not likely to increase even with increasing incomes given consumers preference for "tastier" foods such as animal proteins. Further, detailed examination of different items uncovers interesting behavioral patterns and demonstrates how efforts could be made to increase FV consumption and support producers with implications for overall malnutrition and food insecurity.Next, the second chapter investigates consumer demand for animal proteins using panel data and various demand estimation techniques. Dramatic increases in meat production as a response to increasing demand have already raised concerns related to sustainability. As demand continues to rise, a thorough assessment of consumer preferences for different sources of animal proteins over varying socio-economic and agroecological regions is crucial for both sustainable production and effective functioning of markets. The results suggest that animal-protein demand will continue to increase with rising incomes and that seafood and beef are the most popular forms of animal proteins. While there are significant differences in preferences across regions and income groups, it is consistently noted that poultry meat and eggs are rapidly gaining popularity. As poultry production is less-resource intensive with shorter production cycles, strengthening poultry value chains could play an important role in sustainably meeting the rising demand for animal proteins in Nigeria. Finally, the third chapter examines technology adoption among poultry farmers with implications for food safety. Poultry farmers across the world have been using antibiotics for both therapeutic and non-therapeutic purposes. In fact, their excessive use has already developed concerns related to the emergence of antimicrobial resistant strains of bacteria. In Africa, while poultry production has already progressed towards greater intensification, there is still a common perception that it primarily occurs in backyard settings with limited input utilization. Therefore, small farms remain largely ignored from the discussions related to the responsible use of antibiotics. This study assesses heterogeneity in antibiotics use over farm sizes and regions. The results indicate that antibiotic use, especially for non-therapeutic purposes, is prevalent among farms of all sizes across regions. This debunks yet another myth that poultry practices are largely traditional with little fear of antimicrobial resistance. While large farms are more likely to adopt antibiotics, its indiscriminate use is more evident among small farms and those in less developed areas. Furthermore, these findings reveal that information dissemination through social networks and extension services plays a crucial rule in the efficient use of antibiotics, particularly in the absence of regulation in developing countries like Nigeria.In essence, the findings of this dissertation underscore the need for a coordinated and holistic approach to address the complex challenges facing food systems in Africa, from promoting consumption of vegetables to diversifying sources of animal proteins and adopting responsible technologies. Failure to address these challenges risks perpetuating food insecurity, malnutrition, and environmental degradation, with far-reaching consequences for the well-being and livelihoods of millions of people across the continent.
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