food security, food aid, and health Flashcards
key messages
- globally, food environments are changing but at the same time converging
- changes are shaped by varied factors including socioeconomic changes, globalization, trade, economics
- consumption of unhealthy diets have significant health implications
- system wide approach that creates enabling environments to encourage healthy eating are needed
the nutritional transition
the process by which, as societies become richer, diets alter towards more complex, sweeter, fattier, processed foods
this generates diet-related ill-health patterns associated with affluence
– transitioning from traditional diets to ‘western diets’ (more processed food)
spending less energy (less exercise) – moving towards western diet
the nutrition paradox: the double burden
coexistence of malnutrition (stunting, malnutrition) and overweight
have to deal with both undernutrition and overweight
some people are overeating and some people are starving
food security
where all people, at all times, have physical, social, and economic access to sufficient, safe, and nutritious food to meet their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life
overweight people: no access to nutritious food or exposed to abundance of unhealthy foods
– concern about food is cultural acceptability
levels of food insecurity
food security to mild food insecurity
* uncertainty regarding ability to obtain food
Moderate food insecurity
* compromising on food quality and variety
* reducing food quantity, skipping meals
severe food insecurity
* no food for a day or more
food sovereignty
emphasises the rights of food producers, distributors and consumers to have control over the food system, as opposed to corporations and market institutions
right of peoples to healthy and culturally appropriate food produced through ecologically sound and sustainable methods, and their right to define their own food and agriculture systems
do locals have control over their food and is it culturally appropriate
acute food security
- manifests at a specific point in time
- sudden changes or shocks that negatively impact food insecurity
- temporary
- short term assistance may be required to help people cope
chronic food security
- long-term or persistent
- results from poverty and lack of assets
- requires long term development and structural measures to address
child stunting and wasting – malnutrition
insufficient intake of calories, protein, vitamins and minerals
overweight and obesity – malnutrition
inexpensive, high-calorie, low-nutrition foods
metabolic adaptations to food deprivation
what drives hunger and influences what people eat?
socioeconomic status matters
- wealth
- maternal education
- sex of child
- place of residence
what drives what people eat: the power of corporation matters
- the power of infant-feeding lobby
- the power of commercial seed transaction lobby
- the power on international grain companies
what drives hunger and influences what people eat? climate variations and extremes matter
- climate variability and exposure to extreme climates are threatning to erode and reverse gains made in ending hunger and malnutrition
key driver behind the recent rise in global hunger and one of the leading causes of severe food crises
severe droughts = undernutrition at the global level
hunger is significantly worse in countries with agricultural systems that are highly sensitive to rainfall and temperature variability and severe drought, and where the livelihood of a high proportion of the population depends on agriculture
what drives hunger: the power of policy makers to effect change matters
- the power to use legislation and taxes to influence choice
- the power to boost food production
- the power to protect consumers
- food aid and developmental aid
international food aid
provision of food by one country to another
– free of charge
– or under highly concessional terms
– to assist the country in meeting its food needs
types of food aid
* relief food aid
* project food aid
* program food aid
good to solve acute food insecurity but doesn’t solve the root causes so can’t solve chronic food insecurity
