UNDERNUTRITION Chapter2 The magnitude and trend of Nutritional Problems Prof. Dr. P. Kolsteren International Course in Food Science and Nutrition

Nutrition “You are what you eat” result of class differences but also the active search for being different Strong cultural link Social function Socially belonging to a group Strongly founded on tradition

Nutrition = food = economy “Food regimes” Relation production-distribution-social organisation- national and international politics Period 1800 to to 1970 After 1970

Period to 1914 Wealth = land, small farmers lease and tenants: self sufficient farming Colonies “white settlers” –Big landowners, large farms, –Cheap labour –export: exotic foodstuffs: rice, cacao, the, coffee, spices, 1880 refrigerated ships : increased capacity In Europe: from basic material to finished product, large profits in Europe

Period to 1914 (2) End of 19 century: industrialisation, labourers : dependence from purchases and thus from market economy Basic food = cereal wheat, bread Import control (taxes) on wheat decrease Switch to potatoes as primary food source: more yield per surface area: poor people food. In Europe general food shortage, famine and riots for food  1800 Kcal pp people are hungry

Second period Industrialisation is central inputs: fertilisers, mechanisation, efficiency increase with bigger farms, small farms disappear, more labourers Big production companies, food is a product for profit de-colonisation. Companies take over the production lines, changes to production as aim  basic product changes, soy, animal food, Traditional food production lines disappear

Second period (2) Independence of Dev countries: Pressure on foreign currency, export directed production lines are taken over. “The grain complex” –  production USA : subsidised export, USAID –Grain on the international market bought by Dev Countries to compensate for food shortages, they are financed by export –European protectionism: no import of grain, but much soy from the US for animal feeds Investment in animal husbandry in Dev Countries Protectionism is central Food production excess in north with subsidised export DC must borrow to purchase food on international market

Third period Oil crisis is central, subsidies for agriculture are revisited USA-USSR wheat agreement. Wheat shortage on the international market, price increases  Food shortages Larger companies, multinationals to transnationals of globalisation Control of production to outlets of sale De-regularisation ; free market States loose control

Layout 1.Nutritional problems in developing countries 2.Estimating chronically undernourished 3. P.E.M. 4.Micro-nutrient deficiencies 5.Diet related non communicable diseases

Nutritional problems in developing countries

Estimating chronically undernourished