Rice paddies, Madagascar
Funding: Triangle Center for Evolutionary Medicine (TriCEM)
Years: 2020-2021
James Herrera (PI), Randy Kramer, Charles Welch and Alan Franzluebbers (co-PIs)
The degradation of natural environments not only threatens biodiversity, but also the ecosystem services crucial to human health. This planetary health project combines research and intervention to increase the sustainability and health of farmers in northeast Madagascar (SAVA region). This research will examine the effects of farming practices, dietary habits, and socioeconomics on human health and the environment. The study will combine sociological research, noninvasive health assessments, and interventions targeted at sustainable agriculture, nutrition, and hygiene. Study activities will include measuring height, body weight, and hemoglobin levels (measured using a noninvasive finger cuff sensor) in all members of households, and surveys on socioeconomic characteristics, dietary patterns, food security, attitudes and farming practices. Interventions will include workshops conducted in each target village to teach the community about sustainable agriculture methods, nutritious balanced diets, and hygiene / sanitation.
