The study of long-term changes in subsistence strategies and related human diets offers the unique opportunity to investigate the adaptive dynamics of humans to climate and environmental change. Applying a transdisciplinary approach, this project aims to study subsistence strategies and dietary patterns in two prehistoric settlements in eastern Africa during a period of climatic variability (9k-1.5k BP) by using cutting-edge biomolecular analysis (stable and radiogenic isotopes and proteomics) on plant, animal and human remains. This will provide key data on agricultural strategies in arid environments. I will generate new knowledge on past sustainable food production to inform and improve current agricultural practices in drylands. This is today a key task with the current dramatic increase in aridity in many parts of the world. Understanding the virtuous link between what people ate (diet), how they procured it (subsistence economy) and what cultural and biological adaptations allowed creating sustainable systems can dramatically contribute to the well-being of present societies, including future sustainable food production and water security.