Bill Gates Highlights Agricultural Productivity as Key to Combating Malnutrition in Sub-Saharan African
Microsoft Co-founder, Bill Gates, emphasized the importance of improving agricultural productivity as a crucial step in addressing global malnutrition, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa. Gates, who also co-chairs the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, made these remarks on Tuesday during Nutrivision 2024, a Pan-African Youth Dialogue on Nutrition held at Nile University in Abuja.
Gates underscored the role of accessible, affordable food and the use of better seeds in fighting malnutrition, which he described as a major barrier to realizing human potential.
“If you’re malnourished, you’re at much higher risk. If you get malaria or diarrhoea, your chances of dying from those conditions double. Even if you survive, malnutrition can hinder your educational performance and other activities,” Gates explained.
He highlighted how malnutrition leads to stunting—a condition where a child’s height is significantly below average for their age. Gates pointed out that improving agricultural productivity is key to tackling this issue. “Part of the solution to malnutrition lies in making food more affordable, using better seeds, and adapting to climate change by developing crops that require less water or can thrive in areas with too much water,” he said.
Gates expressed concern that many people in Sub-Saharan Africa are still undernourished, and regrettably, the situation is not improving. He also noted that high inflation in Nigeria and other countries is exacerbating the problem by limiting access to quality food.
Interestingly, Gates observed that some malnourished children do have enough food, but their diets lack the necessary nutrients, which hinders their ability to absorb nutrition properly.
Recognizing that malnutrition begins early in life, Gates emphasized the importance of supporting mothers before and during pregnancy. He mentioned that the foundation is focusing on interventions that help mothers throughout pregnancy. “New Micronutrient Supplements (MMS) have been added to those provided to pregnant women during prenatal visits. I just learned that three million bottles of MMS are coming into the country, which will help reduce two million cases of maternal anaemia and save the lives of 70,000 babies. Soon, mothers will receive these essential vitamins,” Gates said.
Gates expressed his enthusiasm about the Gates Foundation’s increased investment in nutrition. However, he acknowledged that solving malnutrition is complex, requiring collaboration with both the health and agricultural sectors.
