The Chair has the following objectives:

1. studies that provide a conceptual understanding of the factors that influence food choice;
2. investigation of how changes in food environments and food systems influence food choice and nutrition transition;
3. investigation of how climate change affects nutrition and food security;
4. investigation of household determinants of triple burden of disease;
5. investigation of differential decision making within household around who eats what, how much, and when, based on age, gender, culture and other household dynamics;
6. investigation of food accessibility, availability and consumption;
7. investigation of the extent individuals exercise their degree of autonomy or decision power with regard to food choice and environment;
8. design of potential interventions based on data above to influence food choices and behaviour change to impact on manifestation of triple burden of disease targeting women and children.

Improving nutrition across the life course from conception to adulthood is essential for the long-term well-being of families and communities and for successful economic and social advancement. The research focuses on investigation key drivers of food choice and the impact these have on nutrition and health outcomes. The research also focuses on the impact that shocks like floods and drought have on food accessibility and how households cope with the situation.

The Chair`s programme also provide a platform for masters and doctoral candidates who want to focus on preventative nutrition and health care.

The research focus for the Chair is Food Environments, Nutrition and Health. Food environments in the context of their influence and impact on the triple burden of malnutrition. Triple burden of malnutrition in this context refers to undernutrition (stunting, wasting and micronutrient deficiencies), over nutrition (overweight and obesity), and consequent non-communicable diseases (diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular diseases, and cancer). Food environment includes food systems (land, production, processing, distribution, and food industry), food security (accessibility and places of food purchase, availability, utilisation, stability, and sustainability) and household status (socioeconomic status, education of family members, family size, housing, water, energy and sanitation).

The changes in dietary patterns can be better understood by studying relationships between agricultural productivity, economic policies, value chain modifications, cultural practices, and behaviour change. A thorough understanding of the drivers of food choices in the household will provide guidance for the development of more effective nutrition-sensitive programs. In this program, we are designing and piloting impact evaluation tools to assess nutrition and health outcomes that are culturally sensitive and applicable to local environments.

Food environments research involves the study of cognitions, process, and behaviours by which people in the household consider, select, prepare, distribute, and consume foods taking into consideration the various age groupings within the household. The research focuses on studying the relationships of biological, psychological, economic, social, cultural, and political factors. Food choice is an integral social and economic expression of identities, preferences and cultural meanings in many societies and ultimately influences nutrient intake and health. Understanding the food environment and how changes in drivers of food choice or nutrition transition, differentially impact household members especially women and children, is important in order to understand the manifestation of triple burden of disease. 

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Prof Xikombiso Mbhenyane​

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