FAMA

Food and Microbiota in Africa - Traditional food and public health

Partners:

• ARC (South Africa),
• CIRAD, coordinator
• CSIR,
• INRAE
• Cheikh Anta Diop University (Senegal), 
• University of Pretoria,
• University of the Western Cape (South Africa)

In many African countries, malnutrition today takes many forms: undernutrition, deficiencies, and overweight often coexist within the same population. This situation is linked to the rapid transformation of diets and lifestyles, marked by urbanization and the rise of processed foods, which are often higher in sugar, fat, and additives. In this context, the FAMA project poses a central question that has yet to be fully explored: can traditional African foods help improve health, particularly through the gut microbiota?

From the Microbiome to Public Policy

FAMA is being implemented in South Africa and Senegal, focusing on traditional plant-based foods such as sorghum, amaranth, and certain fermented products. The project is distinguished by an integrated approach that links multiple levels of analysis, from the biological to the political. It is not limited to the study of foods: it also examines consumer practices, production conditions, market dynamics, and policy frameworks. This approach is highly interdisciplinary, combining nutrition, public health, food science, and social sciences, and includes an NGO and a company within its consortium.

The project combines research, action, and dialogue. On the one hand, it generates new scientific insights into the links between diet and the microbiome by combining population-based surveys, biological analyses, and laboratory experiments. At the same time, FAMA takes concrete action on the ground by working with farmers and small businesses to improve the production, processing, and promotion of traditional foods. Finally, the project fosters dialogue with public policymakers to integrate these issues into food policies.

Initial scientific findings

The initial results confirm the validity of the approach. From a scientific standpoint, the research shows that foods based on sorghum or amaranth do not have the same effects on the microbiome, and that the extent of these effects varies depending on the microbiome. On the ground, the effects are already tangible: local businesses have received support to improve their products, their stability, their labeling, or their packaging; new practices have been introduced among farmers; and demand for certain traditional crops, such as amaranth, is growing. The project has also provided a better understanding of dietary behaviors and barriers to the consumption of these products, while sparking strong interest among communities in issues related to nutrition and the microbiome.

The next steps aim to consolidate the scientific findings—particularly through ongoing analyses of the microbiome—and translate them into concrete recommendations for on-the-ground stakeholders and public policymakers. In the longer term, the goal is to continue evaluating foods derived from traditional African plants and grains as drivers of food system transformation, with the aim of improving public health, strengthening agricultural resilience, and supporting local economies.

Bridging the gap between cutting-edge science and real-world challenges

INRAE brings crucial expertise on the gut microbiota and the interactions between diet and health. FAMA’s inclusion in the TSARA initiative strengthens the project’s collaborative and transdisciplinary nature by fostering research developed jointly with African partners and creating a framework conducive to sharing expertise, building capacity, and promoting local knowledge. TSARA thus adds an additional dimension to the project: that of collective work on African food systems, with an ambition to have an impact far beyond the project itself.

“Through FAMA, we are demonstrating that traditional African foods are not merely part of our cultural heritage: they can serve as concrete tools for improving health and transforming food systems. The initial findings, both scientific and field-based, confirm the potential of this approach and identify the barriers to its implementation in highly urbanized settings. Through TSARA, we are working in a true partnership with African stakeholders to develop practical solutions rooted in local realities.”