Better nutrition is a story that can change a lifetime: GAIN Executive Director | Spiked.co.zw

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Dr. Lawrence Haddad, the Executive Director of the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) has said nutrition is a story that can change a lifetime.

Speaking on the progress of food systems in Africa during the launch of the Africa Agriculture Status Report (AASR), Dr. Haddad said stakeholders on the continent have lots of actions to improve nutrition via food systems.

“We know what to do. But we need nutrition to be a political priority. It is pleasing to note that the Government of Rwanda is a leader, placing nutrition as one of its top priorities in its new National Strategic Plan. However, in most cases, food systems are not working for good nutrition because the “controls” are not set for them to do that. We need to change the control incentives (policy, investment, prices) to direct resources to better nutrition.

“Food systems need to leverage other systems – food as medicine, social protection stimulating local production of nutritious foods, the school as a place where kids can learn about the importance of food. The private sector is key. Some companies are doing great things for nutrition, some not. We need to support the former and call out the latter. Finally, communication is key. We have to address lots of complex terms, jargon, and acronyms in nutrition. I liked the phrase “Living with malnutrition is like living in the air that is low in oxygen.” So let’s change lives and lifetimes, let’s supercharge economies, let’s invest in nutrition. Let’s oxygenate!” Dr Haddad said.

Dr. Johan Swinnen, the Director General of the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) and Managing Director, Systems Transformation Science Group, Consortium of International Agricultural Research Centers (CGIAR) said adopting the “food systems for sustainable healthy diets” framework helps position consumers and their food environments in the global agenda.

“Anchoring sustainable healthy diets as one of the key outcomes of food systems transformation helps prioritize diets as a critical entry point to tackle all forms of malnutrition but will require greater coordination among food systems actors. For sustainable healthy diets to translate into optimal nutrition and health, food systems will need to coordinate with other systems that address the underlying determinants of malnutrition (such as health, social protection, education, and women’s empowerment).

“Methods, tools, and indicators for measuring consumer behavior and food environments are urgently needed to evaluate and monitor food system solutions for sustainable healthy diets. For policymakers, using the food systems paradigm creates new opportunities to revamp national food-based dietary guidelines to incorporate health and environmental considerations and provides an opportunity to address all forms of malnutrition and incorporate multi-duty actions in national nutrition plans,” Dr. Swinnen said.

The 2024 IFPRI Global Food Policy Report examines approaches to improving healthy diets and nutrition from a food systems perspective. It draws on many years of research from IFPRI and partners on nutrition, providing a basis for moving forward. It delivers evidence on policies and interventions, especially those promoting inclusion and equity for vulnerable groups.

The report notes that globally, 2 billion people are affected by micronutrient deficiencies; 2,2 billion are overweight or obese (40% of all men and women); 148 million children under the age of 5 are stunted; 48 million children under the age of 5 are wasted; 1,2 billion people have increased blood pressure; and half-a-billion people have diabetes.

“Poor-quality diets are the primary contributor to all forms of malnutrition and the leading cause of disease worldwide. One in five lives could be saved each year by improving diets. Micronutrient deficiencies affect around two-thirds of adult women. As women have entered the workforce and spend more time outside the home, they continue to bear the primary burden of care for their families including ensuring healthy diets.

“Adolescent girls and women face special nutritional needs that should be addressed related to their growth and development, reproductive status, and health. Nutrition-sensitive policies (eg agriculture programs, social protection, and biofortified or fortified foods) have proven effective in improving dietary diversity and consumption of micronutrient-rich foods among women and children. Achieving women’s empowerment in food systems can help improve food security, household nutrition, and dietary diversity,” said Dr Swinnen.