4 March 2014: A study by the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT) on global food supply documents a growing similarity within global diets and details how this may accelerate a rise in obesity, heart disease and diabetes, as well as make agriculture more vulnerable to threats and drought.

The report documents the decreasing importance of regional crops like sorghum, millet, rye, and root crops like sweet potato and cassava. It underscores that many more local crops are more data poor. The researchers call for the adoption of a wider range of varieties of major crops to boost genetic diversity, particularly for crops like bananas that are dominated by a few widely grown commercial varieties. The publication also supports the conservation of diverse plant genetic resources, and the improvement of the nutritional quality of major crops.

Finally, the report calls for promoting alternative crops and fostering greater public awareness on the need for healthier diets. The study used data from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO) on more than 50 crops from over 150 countries for almost 50 years. CIAT is a member of the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR). [CGIAR Press Release] [Publication: Increasing Homogeneity in Global Food Supplies and the Implications for Food Security]