Examples from the CGIAR Research ProgramAgriculture for Nutrition

and Health (A4NH)

Agricultural Development, Nutrition and Health: Exploiting Synergies

Presentation at the AAEA C-FARE Organized Symposium on “Agricultural Development, Nutrition and Health: Synergies or Tradeoffs?”

August 6, 2013

Laurian UnnevehrSenior Research Fellow and

A4NH Theme LeaderIFPRI

CGIAR Research Agenda

Reframing Health-Ag Linkages

• One Health– • Animals, people, environment all interact to create health conditions. • Rapid changes in human environment, animal ag lead to new disease challenges.

• Nutrition and agriculture–• Beyond calorie availability and income growth• Increase emphasis on diet quality/diversity, women’s empowerment

Davos GRF

FAO SOFA

Examples of A4NH Research to Exploit Ag-Health-Nutrition Synergies• Biofortification• Aflatoxin control• Value chains for nutrition

2011

CassavaProvitamin ADR Congo, Nigeria

2012

BeansIron (Zinc)DR Congo, Rwanda

2012

MaizeProvitamin AZambia

2012

Pearl MilletIron (Zinc)India

2013

RiceZinc Bangladesh, India

2013

WheatZincIndia, Pakistan

Biofortification

Biofortification Synergies

• Ex-ante analysis shows high rate of return and cost-effectiveness of biofortification– Micronutrient deficiencies have high DALY cost– Biofortification cheaper than food fortification or

supplementation• Baseline and follow up surveys with roll out of

biofortified varieties test ex-post– OFSP results already in

• Mainstream nutrient analysis in crop breeding programs

A4NH Aflatoxin Research Agenda

• Research scope– Health

• Stunting

– Technologies• Host resistance• Biocontrol• Diagnostics

– Markets and Policies• Incentives• Standards

• Risk analysis approach– Entire chain– Control Points– Hot spots– Benefit – cost trade off’s– Communication

Supports

Aflatoxin Control Synergies

Health

Productivity

Market development

TradeImproved crop husbandry, storage management leads to increases in yields and reducedaflatoxins

Reduced aflatoxin levels support market development for processed foods, feeds

Reduced aflatoxins mean feweracute and chronic health effects

Reduced aflatoxinlevels supports expanded regionaland global trade

Value Chains, Market Failures, and Diet Diversity

• Consumer knowledge incomplete– nutrition, nutrient content/ safety of foods

• Supply constraints for nutrient rich foods– perishability, seasonality, variable nutrient

content, food safety• Result: Under-provision of improved nutrition

and food safety

Diet Diversification: Food Group Shares (kcal/cap/day)

2005

87

38 52

5

5385

130

24

Bangladesh

1596

10056

515

75

285

63

468

90

China

Starchy staples

Starchystaples

NutrientRich Foods

NutrientRich Foods

Fats and SugarsFats and Sugars

Data Source: FAO Food Balance Sheets, 2009

Inputs into production

Food production

Food storage and processing

Food distribution and transport

Food retail and labeling

Value Chain Approach

Consumer

Producer

Supply side

Develop and test solutions

Demand side

Characterize diets, market access and constraints to

consumption of nutritious, safe foods

Test solutions to improve demand for nutrition and

safety along the value chain

Identify production and market constraints to

improved nutrition and safety

Example: Increased seasonal availability of

fruit

Example: Nutrition education delivered by vegetable seed

supplier

Example: Create new value chain to deliver nutritious foods to school

lunches

Testing Value Chain Synergies

• New research projects• Develop markets for high value crops– Increase income– Reduce relative prices of nutrient rich foods– Increase consumer access

• Leverage market incentives to enhance nutritional outcomes from markets– Partnerships with private sector

Summing Up:A4NH Research to Exploit Synergies

Between Agriculture and Health/Nutrition

• Biofortification– Explicit attention to micronutrients in breeding is

cost-effective way to address inadequate intakes• Aflatoxin control– Improved productivity, health, market development

from reduced aflatoxins • Value chains for nutrition– Expanded production of high value crops supports

greater diet diversity and improved incomes, market performance