Panel fan tuesday

Potential of Agriculture for Nutrition:Priorities and Sequencing

Shenggen FanDirector General

International Food Policy Research Institute

Global Conference on BiofortificationNovember 9, 2010

Shenggen Fan, IFPRI, January 2010

Agriculture and Nutrition

- Agricultural growth increases households’ income, so households can buy foods from markets or consume more from own production

- Diversification of production in households will provide more diversified diet for their own and for markets

- Agricultural growth lowers food prices, benefiting urban poor and rural food net buyers.

- Agricultural growth generates government revenues, so the government can use these revenues for targeted nutrition and social safety net programs

Shenggen Fan, IFPRI, November 2010

Why biofortification?

Sustainable and cost-effective intervention to improve nutrient content of staple crops and reduce micronutrient malnutrition One time investment and small recurrent costs Resistance to fluctuations in government policies Focus on staple foods Reach poor and undernourished segments in remote areas

Complimentary approach to fortification and supplementation

Important link between agriculture and health/ nutrition but not silver bullet


Growth patterns matter

Agriculture often considered as homogenous whole → ignore diversity of subsectors

Same growth rate could lead to different nutritional outcomes due to diverse growth patterns, including:

Smallholders vs. large farmsStaple vs. cash cropsFemale- vs. male-led householdsLess developed vs developed regions


Composition of agric. growth is important

Calorie-growth elasticity

Poverty-growth elasticity

Maize -1.9 -1.5Sorghum & millet -1.5 -1.5Pulses & oilseeds -1.8 -1.4Roots -1.1 -1.5Horticulture -1.0 -1.4Livestock -0.7 -1.3Export crops -0.8 -1.4

Source: Pauw and Thurlow 2010

Poverty-growth and calorie-growth elasticities, Tanzania (2000-07)


Priorities and sequences critical

Comprehensive approach: broad spectrum of interventions to improve health and nutrition Ranges from agricultural growth and nutritional

interventions to improved sanitation and internalization of cultural norms

How to set priorities and sequence interventions?Priorities and sequencing must vary by country or

even sub-region within the same country and may change over time


Changing dynamics in practice

China/Vietnam → Changing importance of policy instruments and investments over time: Initially agricultural growth was sharpest tool due to high occurrence

of poverty Move towards more targeted approach with focus on

disadvantaged regions and groups Recent growing challenge of overnutrition and obesity

India → Continued need for improved nutrition through: Higher agricultural growth, esp. vegetables, fruits and dairy products Improved status of women Improved rural infrastructure, including drinking water, rural roads,

health clinics, and sanitation Targeted nutritional interventions and social protection


National level accountability is key

Nutrition needs to be part of Ministries of Agriculture mandate

Ministries of Health need to treat agriculture as part of solution to nutrition and health problems

Greater interdisciplinary communication and coordination among government, non-profit, and private agencies Increase political support through public education on costs

of malnutrition and benefits of agricultural and other interventions

Accountability mechanisms and incentives must be established and strengthened


CGIAR reform and its link to nutrition and health

Improved nutrition and health as explicit goals in addition to food security and poverty reduction

Development of Mega Program (MP4) to link agriculture and health, with research focus on: Realizing potential of agriculture to improve nutrition

» Agriculture for improved food security, diet quality, and nutrition

» Biofortification of staple foods Managing multiple burdens of agriculture-associated diseases

Involvement of more than 10 CGIAR centers, national research institutes, and other partners


The conference will: bring together information on how to strengthen

linkages among agriculture, nutrition, and health

identify “best practices” in policies and programs

further knowledge and build consensus on priorities for appropriate action

facilitate networks amongst stakeholders

10

Panel fan tuesday

Health & Medicine

Transcript of Panel fan tuesday