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