Those who deviate from a healthy diet soon notice the effects. An insufficient intake of certain nutrients can result in diseases, a weakened immune system or growth and developmental problems in children. For example, anemia arises from a lack of iron, whilst sight problems are the first sign of vitamin A deficiency. Specific deficiencies can even result in death. Conversely, an excess of energy through over-consumption of nutrients results in obesity, which brings with it an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases, joint problems and diabetes. Each year more than 2.5 million children under five die as a result of an unbalanced diet.1,2 The best way to fight nutritional deficiencies, is a varied diet rich in fruit, vegetables and grains, supplemented with animal products. Population groups that run the risk of nutritional deficiencies therefore benefit fully from the cultivation and consumption of a more diverse range of food crops, but for people who have an unbalanced diet as a result of poverty, this isn’t a given. For example, in Bangladesh rice comprises 80% of the daily calorie intake for the rural population.3 The fact that specific food crops are so dominantly present in certain areas has its reasons: they are adapted to the local conditions – made resistant to disease or drought – meaning that these crops offer increased harvest security. Traditions play a key role too: the cultivation of particular plants is often closely related to cultural identity.