Towards nutrition sensitive agriculture. Actor readiness to reduce food and nutrient losses or wastes along the dairy value chain in Uganda

The growing search for potential approaches needed for nutrition sensitive agriculture has increased the attention given to reduction of food and nutrient losses or wastes. This study targeted the dairy sector in Uganda to empirically explore stakeholder readiness for a change toward a nutrition sensitive value chain. A survey was conducted among 246 supply chain actors about their general understanding of nutrition sensitive agriculture while making a link with food and nutrient loss or waste reduction strategies. By using lean manufacturing as a waste management approach, the theory of organizational readiness to change was applied and its constructs tested empirically to assess value chain actors’ readiness to adopt measures against losses and wastes. Findings indicate that actors are less familiar with the term nutrition sensitive agriculture, yet they actually know or do what the concept entails. In addition, we found that unmarketable dairy products are often discarded but sometimes donated to charity. Path analysis revealed that change valence and resource availability positively influence change commitment and efficacy, respectively, to adopt lean measures against losses and wastes. Multi-actor approach only had a positive effect on change commitment but not on efficacy. In summary, value chain actors are optimistic about adopting approaches to reduce food and nutrient losses or wastes as part of nutrition sensitive agriculture. Consequently, external players such as governments, academia and humanitarian agencies need to create sustainable partnerships with the food industry to implement such initiatives.