At the Fourth Biennial Science and Development Conference in Accra, Professor Kwaku Gyebi Duodu of the University of Pretoria sounded the alarm on how Africa’s rapid urbanisation is fuelling a silent but devastating health crisis: malnutrition in all its forms.
Speaking on Wednesday at the University of Ghana’s College of Basic and Applied Sciences event, Prof. Duodu revealed that both undernutrition and overnutrition are on the rise across the sub-region—not as opposing problems, but as two sides of the same coin driven by shifting urban diets.
“The modern urban lifestyle is altering food habits dramatically,” he noted. “While incomes may rise, people are moving away from traditional nutrient-rich foods to ultra-processed, energy-dense diets that are high in sugar, fat, and low in fibre.”
This dietary transition, he said, is contributing to what he termed Africa’s “triple burden of malnutrition”: undernutrition, micronutrient deficiencies, and increasing rates of obesity and non-communicable diseases such as diabetes and heart conditions.
Citing data from the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Prof. Duodu highlighted a troubling trend of worsening food insecurity across Central, East, and West Africa from 2015 to 2022. He stressed that addressing malnutrition requires more than food access—it also demands nutritional quality and sustainable dietary practices.
Beyond nutrition, Prof. Duodu linked urbanisation and health to wider systemic challenges—like energy poverty and environmental degradation. He called for integrated strategies that address energy, food security, health, and the environment in a unified way.
“Energy remains the engine of Africa’s development, yet millions are still trapped in energy poverty despite our rich renewable resources,” he observed, calling for decentralised energy solutions and expanded rural electrification.
Prof. Duodu also urged investment in resilient indigenous crops such as sorghum, millet, and legumes to promote sustainable food systems in the face of climate change.
The event also featured industry perspectives, with Salome Azevedo, Managing Director of Nestlé Ghana Ltd, outlining how private sector innovation can support sustainability. She showcased Nestlé’s shift to renewable energy, including the installation of a vast solar panel system on the roof of its Tema factory, which now powers over a third of its daytime operations.
Azevedo described sustainability as an urgent imperative. “We cannot ignore the effects of climate change—food insecurity, altered weather patterns, and disease outbreaks are no longer distant threats,” she said.
She detailed Nestlé Ghana’s environmental initiatives, such as replacing LPG-powered forklifts with electric ones and purchasing cocoa entirely through sustainable means under the Nestlé Cocoa Plan.
She also announced a GHS175 million investment into the company’s CERELAC® production line, aimed at creating jobs and supporting local supply chains through farmer training and support.
The three-day conference, themed “Sustainable Solutions for Energy, Food Security, Environment and Health,” is a rallying call for policymakers, academics, and the private sector to work together in addressing Africa’s overlapping development challenges.
“Collaboration across sectors is not optional—it’s the only way forward,” Azevedo stressed. “Our individual actions must combine to create meaningful and lasting change.”
