Food-sourcing from on-farm trees mediates positive relationships between tree cover and dietary quality in Malawi

Abstract

Food security policies often overlook the potential of trees to provide micronutrient-rich foods. Here, through causal mediation analysis, we show the positive effect of tree cover on micronutrient adequacy, explained by people sourcing food from on-farm trees. Detailed survey data (n = 460 households with repeated surveys) from Malawi were linked to high-resolution (3 m) tree-cover data to capture forest and non-forest trees. Our findings support integrating nutrition and landscape restoration policies. Trees are an important source of food. Combining household surveys with high-resolution land-cover data, a causal mediation analysis shows how sourcing food from on-farm trees mediates the positive effect of tree cover on micronutrient adequacy in Malawi.