TITLE:
Assessing Dietary Structure, Food Production, Consumption and Environmental Impact in Liberia from 1961-2022
AUTHORS:
Karessa W. Jallah
KEYWORDS:
Dietary Structure, Food Security, Environmental Impact, Greenhouse Gas Emissions, Liberia
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Access Library Journal,
Vol.12 No.7,
July
28,
2025
ABSTRACT: This research investigates Liberians’ food structure and dietary habits from 1961 up to 2022, as well as their environmental impacts. It emphasizes the reliance on rice, cassava, and maize, which are high in calories but lack the necessary nutrients. In this respect, children and women are most often left in a condition of undernourishment. The inevitable urbanization process is also characterized by a situation in which processed food is increasingly the main staple, thus decreasing the diversity of the diet. Furthermore, the impacts of the local food chain as a source of greenhouse gas emissions, nitrous oxide, and water use are explained to the readers. Growing emissions are a result of agricultural practices and changes in diets. The study suggests that actions such as adopting sustainable agriculture practices and diversifying the diet can be taken. These steps are designed to mitigate environmental degradation and enhance the health of Liberia’s population. The research then offers guidelines on how to solve the aforementioned problems. With the help of these methods, Liberia will be well-positioned to conduct new studies. The importance of efficient food systems in ensuring good nutrition and sustainable farming practices is also emphasized. According to the research, the only way to solve these two problems simultaneously is to form groups composed of diverse individuals. The future of Liberia lies in the joint efforts of the government, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), civil society, and the business community. Only in this way can there be a food system around the country that can completely withstand any shock, even that of a pandemic, and still ensure food safety, and, finally, the health of people can be increased.