Food Systems and HealthFood Systems and Healthin Sub-Saharan Africain Sub-Saharan Africa

Per Pinstrup-AndersenPer Pinstrup-AndersenCornell UniversityCornell University

Presentation at the UN Headquartersin New York and Organized by

the UN University Office in New YorkNovember 12, 2010

Life Expectancy

Source: HDR 2006

Under Five Mortality Rate(per 1000)

Source: HDR 2006

57

15 16

27 27 28

45

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

50

Per

cen

t o

f C

hil

dre

n 0

-5

CIS LAC E. Asia ME/NA Dev'ingAvg

S/ESSA

W/CSSA

S. Asia

Prevalence of Underweight in Prevalence of Underweight in Preschool Children?Preschool Children?

Source: UNICEF 2006Source: UNICEF 2006

Prevalence of Low Birth Weight

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

Per

cent

of

Bir

ths

OECD E. Asia LAT CIS S/ESSA

W/CSSA

Dev'ingAvg

SA

Source: UNICEF 2006

Health and Nutrition

Food Systems

Health and Nutrition

A Food System

Food System

HH Incomes - level - fluctuations - composition - controlRelative PricesTime AllocationCare, BreastfeedingPreferences

HH and Individual Behavior

Health Status

Food Systems

Energy and Nutrient Balance

Growth RetardationReduced Disease Resistance

AnemiaBlindness

Chronic Diseases

Interactions Between Food Systems and Human Health

Health Status

Deaths Associated with Malnutrition

The Triple Burden of Malnutrition:

1. Energy and protein deficiencies: Hunger

2. Specific nutrient deficiencies: Hidden Hunger

3. Excessive net energy intake: Overweight & Obesity

Hunger Prevalence in Sub-Saharan Africa

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

Per

cent

of

Pop

ulat

ion

Suff

erin

g fr

om H

unge

r

West Central East South

Source: FAO 2006

Change in the Number of Hungry People in SSA Countries

Tanzania

Ghana

Ethiopia

DR Congo

-10

-5

0

5

10

15

20

25

DR CongoCha

nge

in M

illi

ons

199

1-20

02

Source: FAO 2006

Food Systems

Health Status

Contamination•Microbial•Chemical

•Toxic Metals

Energy and Nutrient Balance

Growth RetardationReduced Disease Resistance

AnemiaBlindness

Chronic Diseases

Food SafetyWater Safety

SanitationHygiene

Interactions Between Food Systems and Human Health

Production and Processing Systems

Food Systems

Health Status

Contamination•Microbial•Chemical

•Toxic Metals

Energy and Nutrient Balance

Growth RetardationReduced Disease Resistance

AnemiaBlindness

Chronic Diseases

Food SafetyWater Safety

SanitationHygiene

Interactions Between Food Systems and Human Health

Agricultural Diversity

On-FarmConsumption

Availability in Local Markets

Relative Prices

Diet Diversity

Health and Nutrition

Water-borne Diseases

Production and Processing Systems

Food Systems

Health Status

Contamination•Microbial•Chemical

•Toxic Metals

Energy and Nutrient Balance

Growth RetardationReduced Disease Resistance

AnemiaBlindness

Chronic Diseases

Food SafetyWater Safety

SanitationHygiene

Interactions Between Food Systems and Human Health

Water-borne Diseases

Production and Processing Systems

Food Systems

Health Status

Contamination•Microbial•Chemical

•Toxic Metals

Energy and Nutrient Balance

Growth RetardationReduced Disease Resistance

AnemiaBlindness

Chronic Diseases

Food SafetyWater Safety

SanitationHygiene

Interactions Between Food Systems and Human Health

Toxins and Allergens

Water-borne Diseases

Production and Processing Systems

Food Systems

Health Status

Contamination•Microbial•Chemical

•Toxic Metals

Energy and Nutrient Balance

Growth RetardationReduced Disease Resistance

AnemiaBlindness

Chronic Diseases

Food SafetyWater Safety

SanitationHygiene

Interactions Between Food Systems and Human Health

Toxins and Allergens

Zoonotic Pathogens

Water-borne Diseases

Production and Processing Systems

Food Systems

Health Status

Contamination•Microbial•Chemical

•Toxic Metals

Energy and Nutrient Balance

Growth RetardationReduced Disease Resistance

AnemiaBlindness

Chronic Diseases

Food SafetyWater Safety

SanitationHygiene

Interactions Between Food Systems and Human Health

Toxins and Allergens

Zoonotic Pathogens

Drugs and Medicinal Plants

Water-borne Diseases

Production and Processing Systems

Food Systems

Health Status

Contamination•Microbial•Chemical

•Toxic Metals

Energy and Nutrient Balance

Growth RetardationReduced Disease Resistance

AnemiaBlindness

Chronic Diseases

Food SafetyWater Safety

SanitationHygiene

Interactions Between Food Systems and Human Health

Toxins and Allergens

Zoonotic Pathogens

Drugs and Medicinal Plants

Occupational Hazards

Water-borne Diseases

Production and Processing Systems

Food Systems

Health Status

Contamination•Microbial•Chemical

•Toxic Metals

Energy and Nutrient Balance

Growth RetardationReduced Disease Resistance

AnemiaBlindness

Chronic Diseases

Food SafetyWater Safety

SanitationHygiene

Interactions Between Food Systems and Human Health

Toxins and Allergens

Zoonotic Pathogens

Drugs and Medicinal Plants

Occupational Hazards

HIV/AIDS

Water-borne Diseases

Production and Processing Systems

Food Systems

Health Status

Contamination•Microbial•Chemical

•Toxic Metals

Energy and Nutrient Balance

Growth RetardationReduced Disease Resistance

AnemiaBlindness

Chronic Diseases

Food SafetyWater Safety

SanitationHygiene

Interactions Between Food Systems and Human Health

Toxins and Allergens

Zoonotic Pathogens

Drugs and Medicinal Plants

Occupational Hazards

HIV/AIDS

Indoor Air Pollution

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

Challenges to Achieve Intersectoral Collaboration

(Continued) Competition between sectors Complexity and capacity constraints

Source: von Braun, Ruel and Gillespie (Chapter 14)

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

Suggested Action(Continued)

Institutional changes Inter-sectoral problem solving institutions

Multidisciplinary training