Frugality and cross-sectoral policymaking for food security

Highlights• The need for a cross sectoral policymaking is suggested to better achieve food security in local contexts.• Frugality thinking in policymaking is an important way to achieve such cross-sectorality.• Frugality can offer a theoretical framework for discourses on grassroots innovations and Sustainable Rural Livelihood.• A frugality lens can ensure diagnosis of local institutions needed for policymaking.• Two Kenyan cases were discussed as an illustration.