Diet Diversity and the Declining Importance of Staple Grains

Abstract

Changing diets poses critical demand-side challenges for food systems. Increase in income, urban growth, processes of globalization and demographic changes have led to a reduction in the relative importance of cereals, while consumption of animal-based protein, processed and purchased foods have increased. We argue that such dietary transitions should move food security debates away from access to calories towards access and affordability of diverse and quality diets. Diet diversification should become a focus for food and agricultural policy. At the same time, food and nutrition policy should also concern itself with the rising instances of obesity and other non-communicable diseases, resulting from changing diets. Finally, given that 65.5 million Indians live in urban slums, urban food security concerns should also be a part of the broader policy discussions.