© T. M. Whitmore Today Especially vulnerable populations  Children 4 faces of hunger  Starvation/Famine  Malnutrition/Undernutrition  Micro-nutrient deficiencies  Nutrition-depleting illnesses Time trajectories of hunger Geographies of hunger

© T. M. Whitmore Especially vulnerable populations I Increased likelihood of malnutrition and more serious consequences Women in general due to cultural traditions that privilege food to males Pregnant women  Poor nutrition low birth weight babies  Developmental problems for baby physically and mentally  Reduced resistance to diseases  Less able to breast feed ( less resistance for the baby as well)

© T. M. Whitmore Especially vulnerable populations II Lactating women  Poor nutrition seldom greatly interferes with ability to produce milk  But, poor nutrition does deplete the mother's body of necessary nutrients  If nutrition is not better between end of lactation and next pregnancy spiral down to chronic anemia etc. Elderly  Ability to fend off infections is reduced with great age and malnutrition hurts that as well

© T. M. Whitmore Especially vulnerable populations III Children  Malnutrition in infants and children very problematic if timing coincides with critical growth processes  Up to age 5 risk is greatest  Especially at weaning age (approx 2 yrs)  Due to impure water used to make weaning foods (not sufficiently boiled due to lack of fuel) and general low hygiene =>  Kids die from diarrheal diseases and dehydration and malnutrition  Weaning foods are typically not nutrient- rich enough (e.g., maize gruels)not nutrient- rich enough

© T. M. Whitmore Four Faces of Hunger I I. Starvation/Famine  Widespread to complete lack of protein/calorie nutrition  A small percentage of global hunger – perhaps 1% at risk annually  Leads to increased mortality (usually to infectious diseases not starvation per se)  Great social disruption => increased problems with diseases and access to food  In any famine not all starve – the well off can buy food -- thus NOT usually only a simple shortage

© T. M. Whitmore Four Faces of Hunger II II. Malnutrition/Undernutrition  Seasonal or periodic P/C under-nutrition  Most serious effects on kids and special needs adults (pregnant and lactating women, the elderly)  measures of malnutrition in children  Stunting - stature too short for age/sex (adjusted for local norms) => chronic  Wasting – weight too light for age/sex (adjusted for local norms) => acute

© T. M. Whitmore Four Faces of Hunger III III. Micro-nutrient deficiencies  Vitamin and mineral shortages  Sometimes called “hidden hunger” IV. Nutrition-depleting illnesses  Secondary malnutrition  Most common nutrient depleting diseases are infant/weanling diarrheas – 5 million deaths annually world wide

© T. M. Whitmore Global Hunger Global situation late 1990s Data drawn from FAO’s SOFA report htm The International Food Policy Research Institute: The concept of “food security”

© T. M. Whitmore Global Trajectories of Hunger I Proportions undernourished (or food insecure) Proportions  Late 1970s ~ 28%  Late 1990s ~17%  Thus, some real progress  Millennium Development Goals and not met Millennium Development Goals Micro-nutrient deficiencies  Iron: 40% of global south  Iodine: 12% of global south  Vitamin A: 14% of kids in global south

© T. M. Whitmore Global Trajectories of Hunger II Absolute numbers undernourished (or food insecure) Absolute numbers  1970s ~ 900m; 2000 ~ > 800 m  => decrease of ~ 100m in absolute numbers (but smaller %) Children 1993 ~ 200 m; now ~ 175 m Children World food summit target (MDG) in 2015 => 400m World food summit target  Current trajectory => m by 2015  Progress in some places, regression in others Progress in some places

© T. M. Whitmore Regional differences malnourished or food insecure Global South (i.e., the global poor) Global South  Sub-Saharan Africa  E. Asia, SE Asia, & Pacific  South Asia  Latin America & Caribbean  Near East & N. Africa Developed Economies (mostly N America) Developed Economies

Source: FAO

Number of malnourished children, 1993, 2010, and 2020 Source: IFPRI IMPACT simulations.

Source: FAO SOFA 2007

Source: IFPRI Global Hunger Index 2007

Source: FAO SOFA 2007

Countries with food shortfalls – requiring assistance