A Paradigm Shift In IAR&T

Agricultural Research For

Food & Nutrition Security

Veronica OBATOLU (PHD)

Director IAR&T, Ibadan

Thursday, 4TH July, 2019

What is a Paradigm

The general or a typical example or pattern of something at particular time -Standard (Web Definition)

In research, it’s simply a belief system guiding the way we do things, or more formally, established a set of practices

Paradigm shift is a fundamental change in approach or underlying assumptions.

o A change from one way of thinking to another

o A radical change in underlying beliefs

In Science it could happen through

o discovery or

o invention

2

3

Awareness

/Curiosity

Adjusting the

Paradigm

Paradigm Shift

How do Paradigm Shift happen?

• Discovery

4

Awareness

Persistent

failure to

solve the

puzzle

Existence

of Crises

Awareness

of Crises

Loosening of

impact stereotype

End of crisis

(Paradigm

Shift)

How do Paradigm Shifts happen?

• Intervention

Why Agriculture?

Agriculture forms the backbone of the economies of most developing

countries

Majority of the population depending directly or indirectly on agriculture

and allied occupations.

This is particularly the case in Nigeria, where over 70% of the population

depend on agriculture for their livelihood and money from oil drastically

declined.

Most of the world's poor are rural-based and, even when they are not

engaged in their own agricultural activities, they rely on nonfarm

employment and income that depend in one way or another on

agriculture.

Often, actual models of agricultural intervention equate measures of

production or yields with “food security” when these are indicators only of

the “availability” dimension of food security.

5

Factors shaping Agricultural paradigm

Global and national policies in relation to agriculturally

goals

ACHIEVING FOOD & NUTRITIONAL SECURITY

Moving from subsistence to agricultural productivity

Clear understanding of the structures needed at different level for agricultural research

Meeting ever increasing food demands,

Private sector focus on crops that would generate profitable returns

6

Drivers of Agricultural Research in Africa

1. Agricultural Productivity & Innovation

2. AR4D Finance

3. Changing Food systems

4. Climate change

5. Conflicts, crisis and natural disasters

6. Demography: population growth,

urbanization, migration and ageing

7. Economic growth, investment & trade

8. Food losses and waste

9. Governance for AR4D

10.Competition for natural resources

11.Migration and agriculture

12.Nutrition & health

13.Poverty, inequality and food security

14.Structural change and employment

15.Transboundary pests and diseases

2003 Maputo Declaration--(10% budget to agric. within

5 yrs)

Africa completely

missed the

Maputo target on

public investment

in agric.

2010

2014 Malabo Declaration—(7 ambitious targets by 2025)

2006

Abuja Declaration

3 Fs Summits

Strategic Commodities

Food Fertilizer Fish

MDG 1: 1/2 proportion

of people suffering

hunger. 1990-2015

SDG 2: End hunger

2015-2030

The trend of budget allocation for agriculture over

the last 3 years shows an increase from 1.25% in

2016 to 1.82% in 2017 and 2.23% in 2018 of the

overall annual budget;

The 2019 proposal allocation dropped to 1.56% of

the overall annual budget;

It is important to note that non of these allocations

is close to Maputo Declaration of 10% national

allocation to Agriculture

Trend of Budget Allocation

10

Global challenges to agricultural research,

innovation and development systems

Adapting to and mitigating the effects of climate change to

agriculture

Controlling the spread of trans-boundary animal, zoonotic and

plant diseases and pests

The sustainable use of natural resources, especially land and

water, for agriculture and forestry, and controlling environmental

degradation

Managing agricultural biodiversity

Improving agricultural products, commodities trade and market

chains especially for food safety and quality

11

National challenges to agricultural research, innovation and development systems

Contributing to solving the global challenges

Managing urban food supply

Creating sustainable livelihoods and rural employment, especially

of educated youth

Increasing real incomes such as through lower food driven

economic inflation

Correcting malnutrition: enabling access to quality, affordable,

safe, nutritious food and reducing wastage

Sustainability and resilience of agri-food systems with meeting

environmental concerns

12

Trend of Government Agricultural

Intervention

National Accelerated Food Production (NAFPP) – 1972 -1973

Operation Feed the Nation (OFN) -1976 -1979

Green Revolution: 1979- 1983

Back to Land Programme: 1983 -1985

Directorate of Food & Rural Road Infrastructure (DFRRI): 1985 -

1990

National Food Security Programme (NFSP): 2008 -2010

Agricultural Transformation Agenda (ATA): 2011-2015

AGRICULTURAL PROMOTION POLICY (APP): 2016 -2020

13

Agricultural Promotion Policy (APP): 2016 -2020

Agriculture as a business

Agriculture as key to long-term economic growth and

security

Food as a human right

Value chain approach

Prioritizing crops

Market orientation Factoring Climate change and

Environmental sustainability –

Participation and inclusiveness Policy integrity –

Nutrition sensitive agriculture Agriculture’s Linkages with

Other Sectors

14

Concept of Food & Nutrition Security

United Nations World Food Summit in Rome 1974:

Food Security is “the availability at all times of

adequate world supplies of basic foodstuffs,

primarily cereals, so as to avoid acute food

shortages in the event of widespread crop failures

or natural disasters, sustain a steady expansion of

production and reduce fluctuations in production

and prices (FAO, 1974)”.

15

16

United Nations World Food Summit in Rome 1996:

“Food security exists when all people, at all times, have physical and

economic access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food that meets

their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy

life” (FAO 2006).

Availability Stability

Utilisation

17

Nutritional Status

of Individuals

Aceess to Food

Puechasing Power

Market Integration

Market Access

Stability of Food (availability)

House Income

Social Entitlement

Price and weather

Availability of Food

Production

Imports

Food Balance

Health & Sanitation

Food Safety

Water Quality Sanitation

Food Utilization

(Trends & Levels

Energy & Micro Nutrients

intake

Care Practices

Nutrition Education

Child Care

Food Preparation

Socio Economic, & Political Environment Affecting F&NS outcome

Population, Household Xteristics, Education, Livelihood, Macro-economy, Markets, Agriculture,

Culture attitudes, Climate etc.

Food Economy

GLOBAL HUNGER (lack of sufficient food)

Low

Moderate

No data Alarming

Serious

19 Hidden Hunger in School Children

20

Source: 2015 Global Hunger Index (https://www.ifpri.org/sites/defaul)

Source: World Health Organization (WHO) children under 5 prevalence data

Severity of Micronutrient Deficiencies: Vitamin

A, Iron, and Zinc

Hidden Hunger

Micronutrient deficiencies impair range of functions

Micronutrien

t deficiency

Effects Number of

people

affected

Iodine Brain damage in newborns, reduced mental

capacity, goiter

~1.8 billion

Iron Anemia, impaired motor and cognitive

development, increased risk of maternal

mortality, premature births, low birth weight, low

energy

~1.6 billion

Vitamin A Severe visual impairment, blindness, increased

risk of severe illness and death from common

infections such as diarrhea and measles in

preschool age children; (in pregnant women)

night blindness, increased risk of death

190m PS age

children; 19m

pregnant

women

Zinc Weakened immune system, more frequent

infections, stunting

1.2 billion

22

People with low iodine intake can become dull, listless and easily get tired

Hidden Hunger

+Malnutrition

9 mil

HIV/AIDS

1.8 mil Tuberculosis

1.3 mil Diabetes

1.3 mil

Road

Accidents

1.2 mil

malaria

0.4 mil

Diabetes

1.3 mil

People dying due to hidden hunger vs. other causes

Deaths per year from various causes

Data Source (: Jack Bobo, Biotechnology Advisor, US Department of State; Slide Courtesy: M. Acevedo, DDGW,

Cornell/ Hans Brown, CIMMYT

Crawfword Fund, 2014

According to World Bank, annually, Nigeria loses over US$1.5 billion in

GDP to vitamin and mineral deficiencies. Scaling up core

micronutrient interventions would cost less than US$188 million per

year.

http://siteresources.worldbank.org/NUTRITION/Resources/281846-1271963823772/nigeria.pdf

The estimated impact of malnutrition on the global economy could be as high

as US$3.5 trillion per year, or US$500 per individual (FAO, 2013, Food systems for

better nutrition. 2013 Rome, Italy)

Hidden Hunger: An important economic burden

Fighting Human Malnutrition with Plant

Nutrition Hidden Hunger: Micronutrient Deficiencies

(Zn, Fe, Se, Vitamin A, iodine deficiencies)

Hunger: lack of food

(FOOD SECURITY)

Hidden Hunger: lack of vitamins

& minerals in food

(NUTRITION SECURITY)

26

800 Million

affected

2 Billion affected

ROOT CAUSE: Soil & Crop Deficiency of Micronutrients and

Inadequate Dietary Intake

Global Soil Zinc Deficieny

Alloway, 2007; IZA Publications

40 % of the cultivated soils globally affected from Zn deficiency

+Zn -Zn

Zinc Deficiency in soil and plant

Grain Zn:

12 mg kg-1

Grain Zn:

30 mg kg-1

High Consumption Cereal Based Foods with Low

Micronutrient Concentrations

In number of developing countries, cereals contributes nearly 75 % of the daily calorie

intake.

Major Reason: Low Dietary Intake

Intensification of Farming and Increases in Yield

Nutrient Depletion in Soils and Nutrient Dilution in the

Harvested Products

Increasing grain yield potential of new varieties

results in large dilution of seed-nutrients

Cultivation of high yielding cultivars under continuous monoculture or intensive cropping systems leads to depletion of nutrients in soils.

The nutrients depleted should be replenished to sustain high yields under continuous cropping systems; however this is, often, not the case.

High yielding cultivars may cause unbalanced crop nutrition

and dilution of nutrients

For a better zinc nutrition of human beings, cereal grains should contain around

40-60 mg Zn kg-1

Cakmak et al, 2017, Plant Soil; Cakmak and Kutman, 2018, Eur. J. Soil Sci.

Current Situation: 20-30 mg kg-1

For a better selenium (Se) nutrition of human beings, cereal grains should contain around

200-600 µg kg-1 Se

Lyons et al., 2005, Plant Soil; HarvestZinc Project

Common grain concentration of Se:

40 to 80 µg kg-1

For a better iodine nutrition of human beings, cereal grains should contain at least

100-150 µg kg-1 iodine

Common grain iodine conc. : 10-20 µg kg-1

HarvestZinc Project

•Supplementation

•Food Fortification (may not be affordable in low income countries)

Nutritionists tend to emphasize medical approaches to solve malnutrition problems

Solutions

Right To Food

Everyone has the right to adequate food in a quantity and quality sufficient to satisfy their dietary needs. one of the key challenges going forward is to shine a light on food quality, to address hidden hunger.

it is unacceptable that 162 million young children are still suffering from chronic undernutrition. (United Nations, 2014)

Like under-nutrition, micronutrient deficiency or hidden hunger is a violation of a child’s right to a standard of living adequate for the child’s physical and mental development. (United Nations, 2013)

Due to extremely low selenium (Se) intake in Finland, an official law

was made in 1984 to enrich NPK fertilizers with Se

Almost all fertilizers used in Finland since 1985 contain Se. Currently all

crop fertilizers contain 15 mg Se/kg.

Finnish Story

"Success Stories" demonstrating key role of fertilizer strategy in fighting

against hidden hunger globally

Where do we Start – Crop Nutrition

Mineral nutritional status of crops is often ignored or unrecognized in practical agriculture and even in breeding programs

Problems associated with chemical control: -Threat to ecosystem and human health, - Increases in production costs and -Induction of pathogen resistance to chemicals

following their long- term use.

39

Agriculture is the primary source of all nutrients entering human food systems Agriculture must play an important role in fighting malnutrition

Health comes from the farm, not from the pharmacy !

Welch et al., 2008, FAO Publication

Fertilizer Strategy

41

Agricultural

Innovation and

Development Centre (AIDC)

RESEARCH

EXCELLENCE Goals

TECHNOLOGY

INNOVATION

Demand-driven

appropriate research,

technology transfer,

innovations, knowledge

and approaches that

will contribute to an

improved quality of life

for all Nigerians

o Deliver disruptive

technological solutions

for value chain system

o Stimulate

entrepreneurship,

growth and

employment at all

stages of

crop/livestock value

chain process

o Secure safe and adequate

food for the growing

population with decreasing

rural labour force.

o Provide enabling

technologies for

environmentally sustainable

vale chain process and

adaptable to climate

change

IA&RT

The Paradigm Agricultural Research

Shift in IAR&T

Focus: on the efficiency and effectiveness of technologies.

Innovative thinking: to address institutional barriers to technological change

Main approach:

o multi-stakeholder innovation platform (IP) multi-disciplinary research approach

o linkages between all value chain agricultural systems and FNS

42

Key features in our Research Paradigm

Shifts Charateristics Conventional Paradigm Proposed Paradigm

Driving Motive Efficiency: maximize

Productivity & Profit

Productivity, achieving food and

nutrition security, poverty alleviation,

ecological sustainability & equity

Assumed Causes

of problems

Crop/commodity specific

monoculture, uniformity with

efficiency focused on limited

variables (soil, Capital, yield)

Agro-ecosystem, polycultures multiple

and value chain focused (holistic view of

productivity for soil/animal to human)

and resource management

Institutional

Relations

Top-down/down top

technology development &

transfer of research to SMS to

farmers

Interactive systemic forum: agricultural

innovation system involving private

sectors

Main Beneficiary

Focus

ADPs, Farmers, formal

Institutions

Public Interests, communities (especially

the poor women , children vulnerable

groups

43

Key features in our Research Paradigm

Shifts

Charateristics Conventional Paradigm

Proposed Paradigm

Focus of Innovation Single technologies (seed,

soil fertility, agro-chemical,

bio-tech.) Production

technologies

Across and linkages of value

chain technologies.

Main types of

Research

Unidisciiplinary Multidisciplinary research

planning, Action Research

Required skills Specialization in

technology- bio-

technology, agronomic,

Soil, animal science, food

science

Biological linkage system

Agricultural devpt. is best

promoted when the component

in a system interact effectively

44

Demands and Imperatives of the S3A

Sustainable Development Goals

AU Agenda 2063

Feed Africa

CAADP / Malabo STISA TAAT etc

IAR&T: APPs, NARS, CGIAR/IARCs, FARA , CORAF, AGRA,

FAO, USAID, IFDC, OCP Africa etc

AU-

EU

FNSS

A

Agricultural Research Big Picture

Our Paradigm Shift

Partnerships Knowledge and

information exchange

Advocacy for

research and

innovation

Capacity strengthening of

research systems

A Case of Critical Disconnect – Project level

Project 1

Project 2

Project 3

SDGs

IAR&T Goals

Country Policy Goals

Project level outputs

and integration

Upper-level goals on

agriculture (govt.

policy instruments)

Apparent Solid

Impenetrable

Red line

Bridging the Disconnect through Alignment

Project 1

Project 3

Project 4

Country Policy Goals / SDGs

Project level

outputs and

integration

Upper-level goals on

agriculture (country /

SDGs) Food and

Nutrition

Security

Job

Creation

Economic

Diversificatio

n

Import

Substitution

Aggregate

Outcomes

Nutrition

Sensitive

Agric.

Project 2

Conclusion

Sample (The Paradigm Shift)

Integration of legumes into sustainable smallholder farming systems and agricultural landscapes

Integration of legumes within local/regional market

systems, including trade

Analysis of sociocultural and/or economic motivators or barriers to legume utilization at various stages and

scales within production and market systems

50

Analysis Of Sociocultural And/Or Economic Motivators Or

Barriers To Legume Utilization At Various Stages And Scales

Within Production And Market Systems

Baseline survey – All Disciplines

Site Selection and rhizobia analysis (to identify enough rhizobia for N fixation) – Soil Surveyors, & Soil Microbiologists

Soil Analysis and Adequate nutrient in the soil to avoid depletion and dilution through uptake – Soil Fertility Specialists

Appropriate Fertilizer usage –Agronomist/ Soil Fertility Specialists

Right variety (different variety for grain and fodder usage) – Breeders & Seed Scientists

Good agronomic practices (GAP) from planting to harvesting – Agronomists

Disease and Pest Control – PLANT HEALTH SPECIALISTS (Pathologists, Entomologists, Virologists & Weed Scientists)

Postharvest usage and utilization (human or animal feed) – Agricultural Engineers, FOOD & ANIMAL SCIENTISTS

Technology Dissemination and adoption – Extensionists & Rural Sociologists

Impact Assessment – Agro Economists

Thank you for your

attention