Role of Research and Innovation to Address Hunger and Malnutrition Eija Pehu Science and Technology Adviser Agriculture and Rural Development Department April 23, 2009

World Development Report 2008: 75% of the world’s poor are rural and most are involved in farming. In the 21st century agriculture remains fundamental for poverty reduction, economic growth and environmental sustainability.

Increased per capita food consumption Source: FAO. World agriculture: towards 2015/2030. Summary report

Long-run Trends in Wheat Yields Investment in agricultural R&D has been a global success

A few specific examples US$9 billion- return on investment for the control of the cassava mealybug in 20 sub-Saharan African countries. US$147 million - from applying zero-tillage technology on more than 3.2 million hectares of land, by almost half a million farmers in India and Pakistan. For every US$1 invested in CGIAR research, US$9 worth of additional food is produced in developing countries, where it is needed most. Sources: i) Independent Review of the CGIAR System, CGIAR Independent Review Panel, 2008 ii) The CGIAR at 31: An Independent Meta-Evaluation of the CGIAR, The World Bank Operations and Evaluations Department (OED), 2003

But Crop Productivity Remains a Challenge

Continued food Insecurity World hunger is increasing. FAO’s most recent estimates put the number of hungry people at 923 million in an increase of more than 80 million since the 1990–92 base period. Source: FAO. The State of Food Insecurity in the World. 2008

Growth rates of yields for major cereals in developing countries is slowing

And, water stress is increasingly a key challenge for food production

Rainfall and maize yields in Eastern and Southern Africa Year Rainfall (mm) Maize yield (t/ha) Rainfall Maize yield

Relevance of Drought-Tolerance Technology to African Agriculture Africa is a drought-prone continent The World Food Program spent US$ billion of food emergency to respond to drought in Sub-Saharan Africa in 2003 Over 95% of cropland in Sub- Saharan Africa is rain-fed and will remain so in the near future The risk of drought inreases vulnerability or rural communities Yield stability is key Recorded droughts between 1971 and 2000, and the number of people affected

Productivity for sub-optimal conditions: CIMMYT drought tolerant (DT) maize Selection Natural genetic variation Selection under carefully managed drought conditions Number of hybrids and OPVs tested >3,000 entries p.a. With every year of investment: 100 kg/ha more grain under drought Working with partners Partnership during cultivar development Support in cultivar testing, release, and seed production

Drought-tolerant open- pollinated maize grown on 250,000 hectares in Southern Africa in 2004 Seed to sow 1 million hectares being produced Yields 30% or more than other popular varieties under dry and low soil fertility conditions Sustainable seed production systems targeted to smallholders Drought-tolerant Maize in Southern Africa - 200, , , ,000 1,000, Year Stress tolerant maize (ha) What farmers grow today Drought tolerant

Hidden Hunger Micronutrient Deficiency

Vitamin A 500,000 children each year Zinc Estimated 2 billion Iron Estimated 2 billion Iodine Estimated 1.5 billion A Massive Problem

Vitamin A Rice Pioneering Biotechnology Research by Ingo Potrykus

18 Change in texture, nutritional and visible traits need development together with the end users Dry matter content in orange flesh sweet potato --- weaning foods Educational programs with mothers

Inquilab 91Advanced Line (biofortified with Zinc) Pakistan, Peshawar 19

Schedule of Product Releases CropNutrients Countries of First Release Release Year* Sweet Potato Provitamin AUganda, Mozambique2007 BeanIron (Zinc)Rwanda/DR Congo2010 Pearl MilletIron (Zinc)India2011 CassavaProvitamin ANigeria, DR Congo2012 RiceZinc (Iron)Bangladesh, India2012 Maize Provitamin A Zinc (Iron) Zambia2013 WheatZinc (Iron)India, Pakistan2014 Approved for release by national governments after 2-3 years of testing; 20

Revitalizing yield growth in the intensive cereal systems of Asia ~ Potentially People reached: more than 3 billion Conducting climate change and adaptation research ~ Potentially People reached: 1.18 billion Scaling up biofortification ~ Potentially People reached: 672 million Developing and disseminating drought tolerant maize in Africa ~ Potentially People reached: 320 million Connecting agriculture and health ~ Potentially People reached: Global impact Ensuring women’s full participation in agricultural innovation ~ Potentially People reached: 200 million Promoting sustainable groundwater use in agriculture ~ Potentially People reached: 261 million Improving market information and value chains~ Potentially People reached: 45 million For more information, see - Development Challenges led Research

But food production only half of the story...

The other Side of the Problem WHO experts note that half of the consequences of malnutrition are attributable to environmental issues, especially poor water, sanitation and hygiene (Prüss-Üstun and Corvalán 2006) Poor nutritional status, especially in infants and young children, makes infections worse and more frequent (Scrimshaw et al., 1968; Caulfield et al., 2004; Brown 2003)

In climate change hotspots, reduced food availability is coupled with increased likelihood of infection as water becomes scarcer

Nepal: Second Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Project Mona Sur ARD

Start: Water and Sanitation project Promotion of sanitation in schools – Institutional latrines – Handwashing w/ soap Village health promoters – Healthy home surveys – Behavioral change communication

Evolution to: Enhancing livelihoods through community driven innovation Womens Technical Support Services – Skill enhancement training – Improved access to the formal credit system – Revolving loan fund Jeevika (livelihoods) – Access to finance – Strengthening value chains – Partnerships with the private sector

To summarize Rediscovering the importance of the agriculture sector Knowledge intensity in agricultural development – local and formal Combining productivity goals with nutritional and health goals Importance of working with rural and urban communities from discovery to adaptation to the use of the innovations Recognition of the diversity in needs, roles and responsibilities of rural communities and members of the households For development impact to reduce hunger and malnutrition need to combine agricultural production and nutritional goals with environmental health goals --- multi-sectoral coordination