Global forum on food security and nutrition

82.Dhanya Praveen, Environment Protection Training and Research Institute, Hyderabad, India

As part of supporting the UN Decade we would like to focus on technical support in evaluating the efficacy of national and state governments schemes on nutritional improvement of children, lactating mothers, and old aged populations in our country.

83.Patrick Webb, Tufts University, United States of America

In the context of discussion regarding the high priority needing to be placed on enhacing diet quality for all, allow me to point members to the new report on Food Systems and Diets: Facing the Challenges of the 21st Century. This was prepared by the Global Panel on Agriculture and Food Systems for Development.  First launched at FAO in Rome in September, it had a North America launch yesterday in Des Moines in the context of the World Food Prize. It is free to download here: http://www.glopan.org/foresight. Also attached to this message.
The key message is that poor quality diets now contribute the greatest share of risk factors to the global burden of disease. This means that a lack of diversity, adequacy, key nutrients, safety, etc. underpin not only undernutrition but diet-related NCDs that often go hand-in-hand with overweight and obesity. No country in the world is immune to one or other form of malnutrition; hence every country in the world needs to place a high policy priority on addressing diet quality issues to achieve nutrition (and health) goals. 

Cheers

Patrick

Attachment:

http://www.fao.org/fsnforum/sites/default/files/discussions/contributions/ForesightReport_web.pdf

84.Manuel Castrillo, Proyecto Camino Verde, Costa Rica

English version

Hello everyone. Measures taken from the beginning of the Decade of action on nutrition, will be achieved to the extent that real commitments are taken by strategic stakeholders. Political and economic factors are vital from the field nationally and globally. The mechanisms of international trade must establish reasonable fees to facilitate the access of food to countries and sensitive areas and highisk. International speculation of prices and availability of infrastructure affect access and distribution of food, besides the waste remains an element important to consider.

In the nutritional field there are plenty of options to provide basic diets and containing the necessary nutrients to the population in general - with an emphasis on children and women in gestation -. According to is what is raised in the statement.

Interaction with other areas is vital, and undoubted, but synergies get lost or diluted in the coordination, in the case of the problem of landholding, health centres, assistance (extension) agricultural, soft loans and access to markets for small producers, whose role in a local production of robust and constant, will give options to the communities and will boost growth (sustainable) based on resources available in the locations, reducing the ecological footprint, benefiting everyone. Agricultural assistance should provide knowledge regarding the nutritionally necessary and vital foods that can be planted by farmers, according to their land and climate conditions.

Actually, financial resources are plenty! If they are not used to buy weapons and to allow land concentration and market manipulation. Supermarkets and fast food chains cancontribute to campaigns and make more social use of foods not eaten, weight - without beating or consumed –, industrial producers must continue to innovate on food without so many harmful additives and here the universities and researchcenters can provide guidance.

Then we find more, to a situation of will political and of sensitivity human (Moral?) - lack of resources or instruments - and therefore, think that the goal could - and should - be done before.

Best regards!

Spanish version

Hola a todos. Las medidas tomadas a partir de los principios de el Decenio de la Acción sobre la Nutrición, serán logradas en la medida que los actores estratégicos involucrados asuman compromisos reales. Los factores políticos y económicos, son vitales desde la esfera nacional y global. Los mecanismos de comercio internacional deben establecer cánones razonables para facilitar el acceso de alimentos a países y zonas sensibles y de alto riesgo. La especulación internacional de precios y disponibilidad de infraestructura afectan el acceso y distribución de alimentos, además el desperdicio sigue siendo un elemento importante a considerar. 

En el campo nutricional existen multitud de opciones para brindar dietas básicas y que contengan los nutrientes necesarios para la población en general - con énfasis en los niños y las mujeres en gestación - . según se a planteado en la declaración.

La interacción con otras esferas es vital - e indiscutible -, pero se pierden o diluyen las sinergias en la coordinación, sea el caso del problema de tenencia de tierras, centros de salud, asistencia ( extensión ) agrícola, créditos blandos y acceso a mercados para los pequeños productores, cuya función en una producción local robusta y constante, dará opciones a las comunidades e incentivará crecimiento ( sostenible ), con base a recursos disponibles en las localidades, disminuyendo la huella ecológica, beneficiando a todos. La asistencia agrícola debería aportar conocimientos en cuanto a los alimentos nutricionalmente necesarios y vtales que se pueden sembrar por los agricultores, según las condiciones de sus tierras y clima. 

Realmente, recursos financieros sobran !! Si no se utilizara en tanto armamento y se permita la concentración de tierras y manipulación del mercado. Las cadenas de comidas rápidas y supermercados pueden contribuir con campañas y hacer un uso más social de los alimentos no consumidos - sin vencer ni consumidos -, los productores industriales deben seguir innovando en alimentos sin tantos preservantes dañinos y aquí las universidades y centros de investigación pueden dar la pauta. 

Entonces nos encontramos más, ante una situación de voluntad política y de sensibilidad humana ( Moral ? )- que falta de recursos o instrumentos - y por lo cual, pienso que la meta podría  - y debería - lograrse antes.

Saludos !

Attachments:

http://www.fao.org/fsnforum/sites/default/files/discussions/contributions/Facilitating%20innovation%20platforms%20to%20trigger_0.pdf

http://www.fao.org/fsnforum/sites/default/files/discussions/contributions/GU%C3%8DA%20PARA%20LEGISLAR%20SOBRE%20EL%20DERECHO%20A%20LA%20ALIMENTACI%C3%93N_0.pdf