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
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Agriculture, Food Policy and NCDs in the Caribbean Region
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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
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 consumer-oriented 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 nutrition-focused 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.