Second International Conference on Nutrition (ICN2)

Improving Diets and raising levels of nutrition - Food-based approaches

Tue, 18 Nov 2014 00:00:00 GMT

The International Symposium on Food and Nutrition Security: Food-based Approaches for Improving Diets and Raising Levels of Nutrition was organized by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) to better document the contribution that food and agriculture can make to improving nutrition. FAO, a specialized agency [...]

Combating Micronutrient Deficiencies: Food-based Approaches

Mon, 17 Nov 2014 00:00:00 GMT

Micronutrient deficiencies affect more than two billion people in the world today. With long-ranging effects on health, learning ability and productivity they contribute to the vicious cycle of malnutrition, underdevelopment and poverty. Food-based approaches, which include food production, dietary diversification and food fortification, are sustainable strategies for improving [...]

Sustainable Nutrition Security - Restoring the bridge between agriculture and health

Sun, 16 Nov 2014 00:00:00 GMT

Good health depends on good nutrition. Good nutrition, in turn, depends on agriculture to provide the foods – cereals, pulses, vegetables, fruit, meat, fish, milk and dairy products – for a balanced diet that meets our needs for energy, protein, vitamins and minerals.
The founders of FAO were [...]

The development of global diets since ICN 1992: Influences of Agri-Food sector trends and policies

Sat, 15 Nov 2014 11:00:00 GMT

The scope of this report is to discuss dietary and nutritional changes and their causes since the International Conference on Nutrition (ICN) 1992, with particular reference to developments on international food markets and policies.

While the proportion of chronically hungry has been falling over the last two decades, the absolute number [...]

Framework for Action- Secretariat's Information note

Sat, 15 Nov 2014 01:00:00 GMT

Joint FAO-WHO ICN2 Secretariat

Documents of relevance to nutrition

Sat, 15 Nov 2014 00:00:00 GMT

Joint FAO/WHO Secretariat

A number of global documents, including those related to declarations, initiatives, recommendations, guidelines and legally binding instruments, contain agreed definitions and outline existing commitments relevant to nutrition. A list of such documents has been drawn up to accompany the Information Note on the Framework for Action prepared by [...]

The State of Food and Agriculture: Food systems for better nutrition

Fri, 14 Nov 2014 00:00:00 GMT

As the world debates the Post-2015 Development Agenda, we must strive for nothing less than the eradication of hunger, food insecurity and malnutrition. The social and economic costs of malnutrition are unconscionably high, amounting to perhaps $US3.5 trillion per year or $US500 per person globally . Maternal and child malnutrition [...]

Synthesis of Guiding Principles on Agriculture Programming for Nutrition

Thu, 13 Nov 2014 01:00:00 GMT

In the last few years, there has been heightened interest in leveraging agriculture to maximize nutrition impact. Many development institutions have published guidance notes about linking agriculture and nutrition, mainly intended to assist programme planners to understand and implement the linkages. Several other institutions have released public statements of their [...]

Nutrition-Sensitive Agriculture

Thu, 13 Nov 2014 00:00:00 GMT

Nutrition-sensitive agriculture is a food-based approach to agricultural development that puts nutritionally rich foods, dietary diversity, and food fortification at the heart of overcoming malnutrition and micronutrient deficiencies. This approach stresses the multiple benefits derived from enjoying a variety of foods, recognizing the nutritional value of food for good nutrition, [...]

Nutrition mainstreamed in FAO's Strategic Objectives

Wed, 12 Nov 2014 00:00:00 GMT

FAO’s Strategy and vision for Nutrition seeks to improve diets and raise levels of nutrition of low-income, resource poor, food insecure, socially excluded and economically marginalized, most nutritionally vulnerable households in gender-sensitive and sustainable ways.

The purpose of the Strategy is to reposition and prioritize FAO’s work in nutrition and to [...]

Why ICN2?

Thu, 10 Jul 2014 00:00:00 GMT

The Second International Conference on Nutrition (ICN2) is jointly organized by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Health Organization (WHO) to take place at FAO Headquarters in Rome, from 19-21 November 2014. The first International Conference on Nutrition, organized by FAO and WHO, was held in 1992, [...]

Why Nutrition Matters

Wed, 09 Jul 2014 00:00:00 GMT

Nutrition levels are not only an outcome of overall social and economic development, but also an essential input, impacting health, productivity and overall well-being. People who are malnourished have a weakened defence against disease, become ill more easily and more frequently and are less able to recover quickly and fully [...]

Concept Note on Non-State-Actors participation in the ICN2

Tue, 08 Jul 2014 00:00:00 GMT

The Second International Conference on Nutrition (ICN2) is a high-level ministerial meeting that will bring together senior national policymakers to propose a flexible policy framework to address today's major nutrition challenges and identify priorities for enhanced international cooperation on nutrition. Addressing malnutrition will require a multisectoral approach with participation from [...]

Communicating to Inspire Change: Dialogues on Nutrition

Mon, 07 Jul 2014 00:00:00 GMT

No matter how it is defined, nutrition is basically what we eat, the products of the food and agriculture sector.

We can improve our diets, our health and protect our natural resources by working on the food systems – on how we produce, collect, store, transport, transform and distribute foods. The [...]

The Zero Hunger Challenge and ICN2

Sun, 06 Jul 2014 00:00:00 GMT

The Second International Conference on Nutrition (ICN2) is well aligned with the Zero Hunger Challenge in its vision to eliminate hunger and malnutrition by improving diets and thereby raising levels of nutrition and to create a more sustainable, equitable food system. Both call for the commitment and participation of multiple [...]

Child and Maternal Nutrition

Sat, 05 Jul 2014 00:00:00 GMT

In the past two decades, child and maternal malnutrition has declined almost by half. Yet, child undernutrition and micronutrient deficiencies still impose the greatest nutrition related health burden at the global level. Undernutrition in children often results from poor quality diets in terms of variety, nutrient content and food safety [...]

Challenges and Issues in Nutrition Education

Thu, 04 Nov 2010 01:00:00 GMT

The first International Conference on Nutrition (ICN) was held in Rome in jointly sponsored by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Health Organization (WHO). A World Declaration and Plan of Action for Nutrition was adopted by delegates from 159 countries and the European Community who pledged to [...]

Healthy diet

Wed, 03 Nov 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Consuming a healthy diet throughout the life-course helps prevent malnutrition in all its forms as well as a range of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) and conditions. But increasing production of processed food, rapid urbanization and changing lifestyles have led to a shift in dietary patterns. People are consuming more foods high [...]

Obesity and overweight

Tue, 02 Nov 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Overweight and obesity are leading risks for global deaths. Around 3.4 million adults die each year as a result of being overweight or obese. In addition, 44% of the diabetes burden, 23% of the ischaemic heart disease burden and between 7% and 41% of certain cancer burdens are attributable to [...]

Promoting Healthy Diets Through Nutrition Education and Changes in the Food Environment: An International Review of Actions and Their Effectiveness

Tue, 07 Apr 2009 00:00:00 GMT

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), of the 57 million global deaths in 2008, 36 million, or 63%, were due to non-communicable diseases (NCDs), principally ca rdiovascular diseases, diabetes, cancers and chronic respiratory diseases (WHO, 2011a). Nearly 80% of these deaths occur in low-and middle-income countries. Deaths from NCDs [...]