Science at UM [S01-ep16]: From production diversity to dietary diversification among women in Tunisia

[Podcast] - Published on March 24, 2022 in Science-Society

This week we welcome Cédric Gaillard, an economics researcher at CIRAD, and Eric Verger, a nutrition researcher at IRD. They are both members of the Moisa team. Moisa team and talk to us about their study on the link between agricultural diversification in Tunisia and dietary diversification among women.

Today's theme takes us to Tunisia, more specifically to the governorate of Sidi Bouzid in the center of the country. This region is characterized by its fertile plains, karstic subsoil, and an economy based on agriculture: cereals, market gardening, fruit trees, but also livestock and dairy production.

For those interested in current affairs or contemporary history, Sidi Bouzid is also the birthplace of the Jasmine Revolution in 2011, when a young fruit and vegetable seller set himself on fire to protest against his living conditions, exposing the deep-rooted problems in Tunisian society to the world.

Our guests are Eric Verger, nutrition researcher, and Cédric Gaillard, economics researcher. They chose Sidi Bouzid as the field site for a study on the link between diversification of production on family farms and the diversity of the diets of the women who live and work there. This project was conducted in collaboration withINNTA, the Tunisian Institute of Nutrition and Food Technologies.

Their study, published in Plos One on February 8, presents an original and innovative approach, the result of fieldwork conducted as part of the Medina project on food systems in the Mediterranean.

At UM Science, you have the program, so let's get started!

Production: University of Montpellier/Divergence FM
Host: Lucie Lecherbonnier
Interview: Aline Périault and Lucie Lecherbonnier
Director: Anna Demeulandre

Listen to the program “A LUM LA SCIENCE” on Divergence FM 93.9

Keywords: Science at UM, Agriculture, Economy, International