Nutrition-sensitive agriculture

Nutrition-sensitive agriculture
Author: Ruel, Marie T.
Publisher: Intl Food Policy Res Inst
Total Pages: 80
Release: 2017-10-27
Genre: Political Science
ISBN:

A growing number of governments, donor agencies, and development organizations are committed to supporting nutrition-sensitive agriculture (NSA) to achieve their development goals. Although consensus exists on pathways through which agriculture may influence nutrition-related outcomes, empirical evidence on agriculture’s contribution to nutrition and how it can be enhanced is still weak. This paper reviews recent empirical evidence (since 2014), including findings from impact evaluations of a variety of NSA programs using experimental designs as well as observational studies that document linkages between agriculture, women’s empowerment, and nutrition. It summarizes existing knowledge regarding not only impacts but also pathways, mechanisms, and contextual factors that affect where and how agriculture may improve nutrition outcomes. The paper concludes with reflections on implications for agricultural programs, policies, and investments, and highlights future research priorities.

Building Evidence for Nutrition-sensitive Agriculture

Building Evidence for Nutrition-sensitive Agriculture
Author: Kathryn Ruth Merckel
Publisher:
Total Pages: 214
Release: 2020
Genre:
ISBN:

Background and Objectives Despite global progress on reducing malnutrition, micronutrient-inadequate diets still contribute to a large public health burden in many underdeveloped regions. These deficiencies are a product of both lack of sufficient affordable diverse foods in local food systems, as well as lack of demand for such foods by consumers. A dual approach may thus be taken in addressing micronutrient inadequacy of diet: supply-based agriculture interventions to increase the availability of micronutrient-rich foods, and demand-based nutrition education interventions to increase demand for those foods. Introduction of vitamin-A rich orange-flesh sweet potato (OFSP) to East African food system using both supply- and demand-based strategies has been shown to improve multiple markers of vitamin A (VA) status in women and children. These improvements have been seen even when the OFSP has been introduced without intensive nutrition education components. VA deficiency particularly in women and children remains a major problem in North India, however the potential of OFSP to improve VA intake in this context has never been examined. This study tests the effectiveness of an integrated agriculture-nutrition intervention on cultivation and consumption of OFSP and proper feeding for young children. Specifically, this study aims to: 1) Understand whether and how the integration of nutrition-specific and nutrition-sensitive interventions can work in synergy to improve the magnitude and sustainability of nutrition outcomes; 2) Demonstrate the extent to which OFSP promotion can overcome the challenges and seize opportunities for introducing new crops into rural value chains with the objective of improving diets; 3) Better explain the demand and supply constraints and opportunities for orange-flesh sweet potato in the Indian context to inform future interventions. Methods/ Approach Ten villages in northeast Uttar Pradesh with agroclimates suitable for OFSP production were provided with OFSP vines and 6 monthly field trainings on cultivation methods and simple messages on the health benefits of consuming OFSP (Ag-Only model). Five of these villages were randomly selected to also receive intensive monthly nutrition education programs targeted at caretakers of young children with messages designed based on previous observations of child feeding patterns (Ag+Nutr model). Five other villages were randomly selected to serve as control villages and received no intervention. Outcomes and indicators were assessed a survey on knowledge, attitudes, and practices that were delivered to every household in intervention (n=1120) and control (n=246) villages at baseline t, midline t+6 months, and endline t+12 months. From each village, 25 mother-child pairs were randomly selected and surveyed at the same three timepoints with 24-hour quantitative dietary recalls for both mother and child, and 7-day vitamin-A focused food frequency questionnaires for children. Outcomes were assessed at endline using difference in difference. Outcomes assessed were nutrition knowledge, persistence of OFSP cultivation, and maternal and child consumption of vitamin A. Findings and Interpretations We find both interventions groups to have significantly increased knowledge of OFSP, vitamin A, and infant and young child feeding practices as compared to control villages. Nearly all (94%) of households in the intervention villages were aware of OFSP, compared to 34.6% of control households. There was no significant difference between Ag-Only and Ag+Nutr village households in knowledge at any time point nor in change over time. In the first season 25.8% and 16.8% of households in Ag-Only and Ag+Nutr villages respectively cultivated OFSP versus zero baseline cultivation. In the second season one year later, cultivation declined to 8.6% and 5.1% of households. There was no significant difference in persistence of cultivation into the endline period between Ag-Only and Ag+Nutr villages.

Agriculture for improved nutrition: Seizing the momentum

Agriculture for improved nutrition: Seizing the momentum
Author: Fan, Shenggen
Publisher: Intl Food Policy Res Inst
Total Pages: 233
Release: 2019-02-28
Genre: Political Science
ISBN: 1786399318

Agriculture's vast potential to improve nutrition is just beginning to be tapped. New ideas, research, and initiatives developed over the past decade have created an opportunity for reimagining and redesigning agricultural and food systems for the benefit of nutrition. To support this transformation, the book reviews the latest findings, results from on-the-ground programs and interventions, and recent policy experiences from countries around the world that are bringing the agriculture and nutrition sectors closer together. Drawing on IFPRI's own work and that of the growing agriculture-nutrition community, this book strengthens the evidence base for, and expands our vision of, how agriculture can contribute to nutrition. Chapters cover an array of issues that link agriculture and nutrition, including food value chains, nutrition-sensitive programs and policies, government policies, and private sector investments. By highlighting both achievements and setbacks, Agriculture for Improved Nutrition seeks to inspire those who want to scale up successes that can transform food systems and improve the nutrition of billions of people.

Building the evidence base on the agricultural nutrition nexus

Building the evidence base on the agricultural nutrition nexus
Author: Mushagalusa Nachigera, G.
Publisher: CTA
Total Pages: 62
Release: 2017-11-15
Genre:
ISBN:

The provinces of North-Kivu and South-Kivu are located in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), and both have been marred by conflict over the past two decades. This led to population displacement and instability, which in turn resulted in the abandonment of agriculture, food insecurity and severe malnutrition (UNICEF, 2012). To build evidence on the agricultural-nutrition nexus, a rapid scan was carried out in North-Kivu and South-Kivu provinces between July and November 2015.

Natural resource tenure and governance for human nutrition and health: Linkages and priorities for agricultural research and development

Natural resource tenure and governance for human nutrition and health: Linkages and priorities for agricultural research and development
Author: Johnson, Nancy L.
Publisher: Intl Food Policy Res Inst
Total Pages: 7
Release: 2021-11-24
Genre: Political Science
ISBN:

Rapid transformations are occurring in food systems around the world with significant economic, health, and environmental implications. As part of this change, the focus of agricultural production needs to transition from quantity of food production to quality of diets. This brief begins by summarizing evidence from nutrition-sensitive agriculture and explaining how resource tenure and governance issues relate to the production of nutrient-rich foods. The brief then explores the importance of resource tenure and governance issues for diets and health in the context of food system transformation: this section focuses on supporting healthy diets in traditional food systems, meeting the global demand for nutrient-rich foods, and managing and mitigating disease risks in intensifying agricultural landscapes.

Researcher-implementer partnerships in nutrition-sensitive agriculture programming: Lessons from IFPRI’s work with Helen Keller International and the World Food Programme

Researcher-implementer partnerships in nutrition-sensitive agriculture programming: Lessons from IFPRI’s work with Helen Keller International and the World Food Programme
Author: Sproule, Katie
Publisher: Intl Food Policy Res Inst
Total Pages: 66
Release: 2021-12-21
Genre: Political Science
ISBN:

Researcher–implementer partnerships are frequently mentioned as key components of agricultural research for development (AR4D) programs. However, there is little information about what these types of partnerships look like, how they perform, and what factors facilitate and/or constrain their performance. By documenting and analyzing two partnerships in detail, including their history, formation, outputs, and outcomes, this study seeks to raise awareness about and improve understanding of long-term researcher–implementer partnerships. The lessons learned from these partnerships can be used by both the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) and its implementing partner organizations, as well as other research and implementing organizations interested in engaging in or supporting such partnerships for AR4D in the future. The study was carried out through four case studies. Case 1 focused on a long-term partnership between IFPRI and Helen Keller International (HKI), documenting how it was formed, how it operated, and what outputs it produced. Case 2 looked at the evidence generated by this partnership on the effectiveness of homestead food production (HFP) programs on nutrition-related outcomes and its use by funders, implementers, and researchers. Case 3 looked at how and to what extent the approaches developed by the partnership for the design, implementation, and evaluation of programs — specifically the program impact pathway (PIP) approach — have influenced the broader field of program evaluation. Case 4 examined a partnership between IFPRI and the World Food Programme (WFP), documenting how it was formed, how it operated, and what outputs it has produced to date. The four case studies were completed through a series of in-depth interviews (IDIs) with key informants from a number of research, implementer, and funder organizations. Data from the IDIs were complemented by document and literature reviews.

Building the evidence base on the agricultural nutrition nexus

Building the evidence base on the agricultural nutrition nexus
Author: Anyangwe Angaba, F. F.
Publisher: CTA
Total Pages: 99
Release:
Genre: Political Science
ISBN:

People are at the centre of development and more so if development is to be sustainable. According to the Open Working Group for Sustainable Development Goals, individual wellbeing is essential to sustaining the inter-generational gains in health, productivity and social engagement that underpin the sustainable development agenda. Food and nutrition security (FNS) is currently high on the policy agenda of most African countries including Cameroon. The goal of this study is to generate context-specific knowledge for informing policy processes and the development of strategies to support the attainment of FNS goals in Cameroon.

Nutrition sensitive food systems in conflict affected regions: A case study of Afghanistan

Nutrition sensitive food systems in conflict affected regions: A case study of Afghanistan
Author: Babu, Suresh Chandra
Publisher: Intl Food Policy Res Inst
Total Pages: 43
Release:
Genre: Political Science
ISBN:

The food systems approach can contribute to food security and reduced malnutrition levels by identifying key investments and policies throughout the food system, including production, processing, marketing, and consumption of food. However, in countries facing fragility and conflict, it has proven difficult to implement such an approach and achieve the desired results. This has been the case in Afghanistan, where high levels of malnutrition stem in part from an undersupply of nutritious food. Multi-sectoral approaches to promote nutrition sensitivity and achieve diet-based solutions have also had only limited impact. This paper reports on an analysis of the nutrition sensitivity of food systems in Afghanistan using multi-sector consultations and gap analyses to examine two key food and nutrition policies, the National Comprehensive Agriculture Development Priority Program and the Afghanistan Food Security and Nutrition Agenda. It highlights gaps in the policies and identifies investment priorities to make food systems more nutrition sensitive. The results show that instilling nutrition sensitivity into the operation of Afghanistan’s food systems can only be accomplished if certain key measures are incorporated into the food system. These include addressing the absence of knowledge in the population regarding healthy diets, the lack of sufficient food for vulnerable populations, weak irrigation systems, capacity constraints at individual and institutional levels, data challenges, and weak natural resource management. In addition, the above weaknesses are compounded by the continued violence and conflict-induced insecurity, weak government, and inadequate investments. Given the role of different sectors in contributing to improved nutrition, appropriate and effective multi-stakeholder coordination and collaboration is paramount to such efforts.

Nutrition-sensitive agriculture and food systems in practice-Revised edition

Nutrition-sensitive agriculture and food systems in practice-Revised edition
Author: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
Publisher: Food & Agriculture Org.
Total Pages: 102
Release: 2018-03-09
Genre: Technology & Engineering
ISBN: 9251099456

This publication provides a list of food system-based intervention options to improve nutrition and a set concrete entry points for maximizing the impact of each intervention. Developed through leveraging different expertise in FAO, it is a key resource to assist professionals involved in different areas - from breeding to production; from food transformation and packaging to transportation and trade; from marketing and value chain to food safety; from food labelling to consumer education - to u nderstand the linkages with nutrition, and to increase their contribution for a world free from malnutrition in all its forms.

The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2018

The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2018
Author: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
Publisher: Food & Agriculture Org.
Total Pages: 278
Release: 2018-09-14
Genre: Political Science
ISBN: 9251305722

New evidence this year corroborates the rise in world hunger observed in this report last year, sending a warning that more action is needed if we aspire to end world hunger and malnutrition in all its forms by 2030. Updated estimates show the number of people who suffer from hunger has been growing over the past three years, returning to prevailing levels from almost a decade ago. Although progress continues to be made in reducing child stunting, over 22 percent of children under five years of age are still affected. Other forms of malnutrition are also growing: adult obesity continues to increase in countries irrespective of their income levels, and many countries are coping with multiple forms of malnutrition at the same time – overweight and obesity, as well as anaemia in women, and child stunting and wasting.