Food Systems and Health

1
Food Systems and Health in Sub-Saharan Africa
Per Pinstrup-Andersen Cornell University
Presentation at the UN Headquarters in New York
and Organized by the UN University Office in New
York November 12, 2010
2
Life Expectancy
Source HDR 2006
3
Under Five Mortality Rate(per 1000)
Source HDR 2006
4
Prevalence of Underweight in Preschool Children?
Source UNICEF 2006
5
Prevalence of Low Birth Weight
Source UNICEF 2006
6
Health and Nutrition
Food Systems
Health and Nutrition
7
A Food System
8
Food System
HH Incomes - level - fluctuations -
composition - control Relative Prices Time
Allocation Care, Breastfeeding Preferences
HH and Individual Behavior
Health Status
9
Interactions Between Food Systems and Human
Health
Energy and Nutrient Balance
Growth Retardation Reduced Disease
Resistance Anemia Blindness Chronic Diseases
Food Systems
Health Status
10
Deaths Associated with Malnutrition
11
The Triple Burden of Malnutrition

• Energy and protein deficiencies Hunger
• Specific nutrient deficiencies Hidden Hunger
• Excessive net energy intake Overweight
  Obesity

12
Hunger Prevalence in Sub-Saharan Africa
Source FAO 2006
13
Change in the Number of Hungry People in SSA
Countries
Source FAO 2006
14
Interactions Between Food Systems and Human
Health
Energy and Nutrient Balance
Growth Retardation Reduced Disease
Resistance Anemia Blindness Chronic Diseases
Food Safety Water Safety Sanitation Hygiene

• Contamination
• Microbial
• Chemical
• Toxic Metals

15
Interactions Between Food Systems and Human
Health
Energy and Nutrient Balance
Growth Retardation Reduced Disease
Resistance Anemia Blindness Chronic Diseases
Food Safety Water Safety Sanitation Hygiene

• Contamination
• Microbial
• Chemical
• Toxic Metals

16
Agricultural Diversity
On-Farm Consumption
Availability in Local Markets
Relative Prices
Diet Diversity
Health and Nutrition
17
Interactions Between Food Systems and Human
Health
Energy and Nutrient Balance
Growth Retardation Reduced Disease
Resistance Anemia Blindness Chronic Diseases
Food Safety Water Safety Sanitation Hygiene

• Contamination
• Microbial
• Chemical
• Toxic Metals

18
Interactions Between Food Systems and Human
Health
Energy and Nutrient Balance
Growth Retardation Reduced Disease
Resistance Anemia Blindness Chronic Diseases
Toxins and Allergens
Food Safety Water Safety Sanitation Hygiene

• Contamination
• Microbial
• Chemical
• Toxic Metals

19
Interactions Between Food Systems and Human
Health
Energy and Nutrient Balance
Growth Retardation Reduced Disease
Resistance Anemia Blindness Chronic Diseases
Toxins and Allergens
Zoonotic Pathogens
Food Safety Water Safety Sanitation Hygiene

• Contamination
• Microbial
• Chemical
• Toxic Metals

20
Interactions Between Food Systems and Human
Health
Energy and Nutrient Balance
Growth Retardation Reduced Disease
Resistance Anemia Blindness Chronic Diseases
Toxins and Allergens
Zoonotic Pathogens
Drugs and Medicinal Plants
Food Safety Water Safety Sanitation Hygiene

• Contamination
• Microbial
• Chemical
• Toxic Metals

21
Interactions Between Food Systems and Human
Health
Energy and Nutrient Balance
Growth Retardation Reduced Disease
Resistance Anemia Blindness Chronic Diseases
Toxins and Allergens
Zoonotic Pathogens
Drugs and Medicinal Plants
Occupational Hazards
Food Safety Water Safety Sanitation Hygiene

• Contamination
• Microbial
• Chemical
• Toxic Metals

22
Interactions Between Food Systems and Human
Health
Energy and Nutrient Balance
Growth Retardation Reduced Disease
Resistance Anemia Blindness Chronic Diseases
Toxins and Allergens
Zoonotic Pathogens
Drugs and Medicinal Plants
Occupational Hazards
HIV/AIDS
Food Safety Water Safety Sanitation Hygiene

• Contamination
• Microbial
• Chemical
• Toxic Metals

23
Interactions Between Food Systems and Human
Health
Energy and Nutrient Balance
Growth Retardation Reduced Disease
Resistance Anemia Blindness Chronic Diseases
Toxins and Allergens
Zoonotic Pathogens
Drugs and Medicinal Plants
Occupational Hazards
HIV/AIDS
Food Safety Water Safety Sanitation Hygiene
Indoor Air Pollution

• Contamination
• Microbial
• Chemical
• Toxic Metals

24
Challenges to Achieve Intersectoral Collaboration

• Single-sector orientation of
• Policy making institutions
• Funding
• Training
• Research
• No incentive to focus on intersectoral issues
• Sector-specific paradigms

25
Challenges to Achieve Intersectoral
Collaboration(Continued)

• Competition between sectors
• Complexity and capacity constraints
• Source von Braun, Ruel and Gillespie (Chapter
  14)

26
Suggested Action

• Health-oriented food systems research and policy
• Biofortification
• Host-plant resistance
• IPM, ecological production methods
• Health implications of added chemicals post
  harvest
• Socio-economic and political economy analyses on
  trade-offs and multiple-wins
• Apply most appropriate research methods

27
Suggested Action(Continued)

• Institutional changes
• Inter-sectoral problem solving institutions
• Multidisciplinary training