At the 2023 Agriculture, Nutrition and Health (ANH) Academy Week in Lilongwe, Malawi, researchers from the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) and Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (LUANAR) hosted an interactive learning lab to introduce participants to Agrifood—a new decision-support tool designed to inform food selection in nutrition-sensitive agricultural programming.

Participants engaged in hands-on group exercises using real data from Malawi, simulating the decision-making process that Agrifood supports. Working through a case study, they ranked decision criteria from the perspectives of different stakeholders—agriculture extension officers, health workers, environmental officers, and others—and used the tool to explore which foods or food combinations should be prioritised for promotion.
The session sparked thoughtful discussion about the trade-offs between nutrition, productivity, income, and sustainability—and how Agrifood can help navigate these in a transparent and participatory way. Participants reflected on the implications of promoting specific foods and shared ideas for how the tool could support programme design in their own contexts.

This shows how we can move beyond general food advice and tailor our recommendations to real constraints and priorities on the ground.”

Workshop participant

The learning lab demonstrated how Agrifood can support practical, evidence-informed decisions in food system interventions—and foster greater collaboration across sectors.