1 The Nexus of Healthy Food, Healthy Environments and Healthy People Monty Jones Executive Director Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa

Food Security all people, at all times, have; - physical, - social and - economic access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food which meets their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life The nutrition concepts adds caring practices i.e.; -health services -healthy environments termed Nutrition Security Maxwell and Frankenberger 1992 Herwig Hahn 2001 Is achieved if every individual has - physical - economic - environmental access To balanced diet that includes - the necessary macro and micro nutrients - safe drinking water - sanitation - environmental hygiene - primary health care - education so as to lead a healthy and productive life Nutrition Security Herwig Hahn 2001

Africa’s food, nutrition and health Agriculture accounts for 60% of labour 20% of total merchandise and 17% of GDP In 2000 Africa Received 2.8 million tons of food aid In million Africans required emergency food aid World Food Programme has spent 45% of its total budget or US$ 12.5 billion on food emergencies in Africa

Malnutrition in Africa the most prevalent and pernicious disease Absolute number of chronically hungry rose from 173 to 200 million peopleAbsolute number of chronically hungry rose from 173 to 200 million people Of 53 countries …Of 53 countries … –30 have 20% under nourished –18 have 35% chronically hungry 1/3 of children <5 in developing countries are stunted due to inadequate feeding and poor health1/3 of children <5 in developing countries are stunted due to inadequate feeding and poor health Although absolute numbers are decreasing, the numbers in Africa are increasing Ulrike Rötten 2001 Estimated Rates (%) and Numbers (10 6 ) of Stunted Pre-school Children from 1980 – 2005 (Food and Nutrition Seminar, May 2001)

Nutritional Deficiencies Micro nutrients Micro nutrients (vitamins & minerals) Calories and proteins Calories and proteins Can cause Disease and death Disease and death Impact negatively on intellect and education with long term effect on society Impact negatively on intellect and education with long term effect on society Undermines capacity for work, causes loss of productivity through sickness Undermines capacity for work, causes loss of productivity through sickness Reduces total lifetime working years Reduces total lifetime working years Herwig Hahn 2001, Foster 1992 Common deficiencies Effect Poor nourishment Weak immune system Prone to infections, parasites diarrhoea Vitamin A Infections Skin & eye diseases Growth retardation blindness Iodine Retarded mental development cretinism IronAnemia Reduced physical activity

Effect of malnutrition to the economy Studies shows malnutrition… –Predisposing cause for 50% of diseases –Reduces economic growth by 1% Under nutrition reduces productivity through –Lost physical and mental capacity –High morbidity Poor households and individuals are –Unable to achieve food security –Unable to utilize or contribute to the creation of resources for sustaining healthy life Herwig Hahn 2001, Foster 1992

Agricultural research for development multiple objectives Make food … more available –  more rice more affordable –> cheaper rice more nutritious –> better quality rice more dependable –> less risk from drought, diseases & pests more varied –> more cash to buy choice foods more safely produced –> less use of herbicides & pesticides Research on the New Rice for Africa (NERICA): a case study in nurturing hope

Sativa characteristics of NERICA strong upright growth to support heavy seed heads safely to harvest secondary branches giving over 400 grains per panicle compared with about 250 for glaberimas non-shattering grains respond to mineral fertilization Resulting to … More yield per unit input, land, labour, capital - without fertilizer NERICAs produce 25 –100% yield increases over sativa - with fertilizer NERICA doubles yield of glaberrimas more available –  more rice

Glaberrima characteristics of NERICAs Improved weed and pest control – Rapidly cover the ground with profuse tillering and leaf growth that shades out weeds – early maturity at 90–100 days, compared with upland sativas at 120–140 days in West Africa – resistant to African rice gall midge, the region’s most devastating insect pest – resistant to rice yellow mottle virus, a major disease in lowland rice – resistance to blast (pyriculose) disease Improved drought tolerance more dependable –> less risk from drought, diseases & pests more safely produced –> less use of herbicides & pesticides

Added characteristics of NERICAs over 70 % of the NERICAs have higher protein content than either parent ~ 10.5% more compared with 8% typical of sativa parent taste, aroma and other grain qualities favoured by African producers more nutritious –> better quality rice

NERICA’s direct impact to nutrition More varied food Higher yields increase profits of producers Results - additional income - increase purchasing power of farmers to buy greater variety of foods more varied –> more cash to buy choice foods

NERICA is just one example Improved nutritional quality of foods –Golden Rice –Quality Protein Maize –High beta carotene sweet potatoes Livestock production –Provide high quality readily available protein –Range of essential micro- nutrients which improve health, body size and cognitive capacity Research impact on food security and nutrition

Ongoing research in Africa Other crops resulted to - improved cassava, TC-banana, IR-Maize etc. Other areas livestock, fisheries and trees Focus on Reduce post harvest losses and storage Improve food processing, shelf life and food quality Improve markets - reduce the cost of marketing - improve access to markets for smallholders Improve the safety of food - reducing aflotoxin infections and improve food handling Research impact on food security and nutrition

Summary Food is the single most important influence on human health Without agricultural research, rural households in poor countries would be condemned to Hunger Stunted physical growth Impaired cognitive capacities Short life expectancy Perpetual under development In short … the lack of sufficient food of the right quality of food will keep poor people poor

15 Summary Impairment of livelihoods in developing countries … - is intolerable on humanitarian grounds - shuts off markets for US goods - damages the global environment …leads to despair and hopelessness with grave Global Security Repercussions