Agriculture, Food Policy and NCDs in the Caribbean Region Ballayram Food Economist Caribbean Food and Nutrition Institute/ Pan American Health Organization Leverhulme Centre for Integrative Research on Agriculture & Health Brunei Gallery, School of Oriental & African Studies (SOAS) University of London July 2-3, 2012
Outline of Presentation 1. The agriculture-food-nutrition-ncd Context 2. Caribbean s approach to Agri-policies, nutrition and NCDs 3. Examples of ongoing/completed research/activities on agriculture-nutrition-ncd link 4. Propose priority areas in agriculture for future research in the Caribbean
1. The agriculture-food-nutrition-ncd Context The Caribbean region is faced with critical challenges that relate to the four pillars of food security: Food availability Food access: Unequal income distribution, poverty, hunger Nutritional adequacy: Overweight/Obesity and NCDs Stability: Natural disasters and global impacts
900 800 700 600 500 US$M 400 300 200 100 0 824 TOTAL REGIONAL FOOD IMPORT BILL ~US$ 4 BILLION/YR 489 455 288 255 191 174 160 Major Food Imports (US$2.8billion/yr)
Where we are NOW Current Where we want to GO Recommended Vegetables 2% Fruit 6% Fats/Oils 14% Sugar 17% Staples 39% Vegetables 8% Fruit 6% Fats/Oils 10% Sugar 8% Staples 47% Food from Animals 20% Legumes 2% Food from Animals 15% Legumes 6% Deficits: (1) Staples (8%); (2) legumes (4%); (3) Vegetables (6%); Excess: (1) Food from animals (5%); (2) Fats/oils (4%); (3) Sugar (9%) QUESTION: WHAT CAN AGRICULTURE DO TO SHIFT FROM CURRENT TO RECOMMENDED?
(%) 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0 Trends in Overweight & Obesity in the Caribbean (%) 1970s 1980s 1990s 2000s Male Female
Main Causes of Death in the Caribbean 1980 (%) 1. Heart Disease* - 20 2. Cancer * - 12 3. Stroke* - 11 4. Injuries - 8 5. Hypertension* - 6 6. ARI - 5 7. Diabetes * - 4 *Food/Nut related = 53% 2000s (%) 1. Heart Disease * - 16 2. Cancer * - 15 3. Stroke * - 10 4. Diabetes * - 10 5. Injuries - 7 6. HIV/AIDS - 6 7. Hypertension * - 6 *Food/Nut Related = 57%
NUTRITIONAL & HEALTH STATUS 2. APPROACH TO AGRI-FOOD AND NUTRITION The Caribbean Effort (Past) FOOD POLICY (Local Agri & Imports) Effort (Future) FOOD AVAILABILITY FOOD ACCESSIBILITY FOOD CONSUMPTION
Recent accommodating frameworks for complementing agriculture to address NCDs 1.CARICOM HOG Declaration on NCD--2007 PAHO/WHO 2011-2015 Strategic Plan of Action on NCDs Regional NCD Secretariat established A model NCD Plan developed for countries NCD Commissions established in some countries Healthy Caribbean Coalition on NCDs established Regional Food & Nutrition Security Strategy and Action Plan endorsed National Food and Nutrition Security Policy and NPAN in some countries NOTE: The NCD problem cannot be the remit of only one sector it requires multisectoral partnerships to reap mutual benefits. Some core sectors: Education/health for promotion;
3. Ongoing agriculture-nutrition research/ activities in the Caribbean 1. FAO CARICOM Special Program for Food Security: Phase 1--2002-2006 2. McGill-UWI project--ongoing 3. Caribbean Farmers s Network Initiatives--ongoing
FAO PHASE 1 Chart 2 Project Components: Vertical and Horizontal Vertical Component (Country-Specific) Horizontal Components (Regional) Food Security Assessments On-Farm Demonstrations of Irrigation/Water Resource Management Training of Extensionists, Technicians and Farmers Food Security policy Integration Community Nutrition Enhancement Trade Facilitation Marketing Support
McGill-UWI Project: ($5M CAD) Improving the nutrition and health of CARICOM populations (4 countries)
The potential of this project for advancing the food and nutrition security agenda in the Caribbean rests upon two pillars: 1. Conceptual and theoretical framework. This framework Recognizes the need for a CARICOM food security framework where the drivers of food production are more closely linked to market needs, consumer health and wellness, environmental sustainability, and gender equality; Embraces the farm to fork food supply chain, where farmers respond to market signals and opportunities, profitability and improved livelihoods. (i.e no conflict in mandates of farmers and contributing to health and nutrition)
McGill-UWI Project (con d) 2. Project has 2 intervention points: 1. Community nutrition and health: How to reduce the prevalence of overweight, obesity and under-nutrition in CARICOM and improve food and nutrition. 2. Agricultural diversification and food production. This theme addresses issues of production, productivity and food import replacement and the integration of domestic food and consumption patterns.
Caribbean Farmers Network 1. CaFAN A FARMERS net-work representing over 500,000 small scale farmers in the region 2. CaFAN s focus: Value chain approach to producing, marketing and promoting roots, tubers, legumes, fruits and vegetables guided by Recommended Food Goals (EU & FAO funds) healthy foods 3. This project focuses on how a production-oriented activity (small farm food production) can be leveraged to advance a consumeroriented concern, viz., health and nutrition in the region 4. CaFAN s initiative is an example of how to catalyze a new approach to effectively advance the food-nutrition-health agenda. 5. CaFAN maintains strong partnerships with many stakeholders
4. Propose priority areas for future research on agri- NCD link in the Caribbean 1. Many countries have Food and Nutrition Policy and Action Plans coordinated by a multi-sectoral body: Getting this multi-sectoral body to function effectively has been elusive--we need research to find answers to this problem 2. Integrating agriculture food production and school feeding programs has great potential to advance nutrition. More research is needed on how to design/implement nutritionfocused feeding programs; Similar programs are scarce or not sustained after pilot programs. We don t know why.
3. Research is urgently needed on how fiscal and regulatory instruments can be designed to support production and consumption of healthy food. 4. Rigorous food consumption studies are needed to identify the drivers of eating patterns and food preferences and household disease profiles. 5. Related to (4) evidence-based interventions based on social marketing techniques and other principles are required for influencing behavior change, food choice and preferences.
Thank You