Sharing experiences between Asia, Africa and the Near East: Harnessing local agriculture production system for healthy diets

FAO

Sharing experiences between Asia, Africa and the Near East: Harnessing local agriculture production system for healthy diets

Concept Note and Agenda

Year of publication 2021

Place of publication Rome, Italy ;

Pages 6p.

Author FAO

Publisher FAO ;

Product type Brochure, flyer, fact-sheet

Edition 1

Full item page

Synopsis (short abstract) Conventional agri-food system has to be transformed and diversified to promote dietary and production diversity. Local agricultural production systems offer high potentials for agriculture diversification. Transformation and diversification of agriculture production system will require science-based solutions to support decisive and effective policies, well-targeted investment and use of science to guide practice. Agriculture production that supports and promotes healthy diets, will need a multi-level, multi-actor, multisector and multidisciplinary approach that brings agriculture, environment, natural resources, food, health, trade, economics, rural development agenda together. Under the framework of its Regional Network on Nutrition-sensitive Food System, FAO Regional Office for Near East and North Africa (FAORNE) is co-organizing a special virtual event on “Harnessing local agriculture production system for healthy diets” - Sharing experiences between Asia, Africa and the Near East”, with FAO Regional Offices for Asia and the Pacific (FAORAP) and for Arica (FAORAF). The meeting will take place virtually and it is expected to have leaders and experts from different regions to share and learn on science and research based solutions, innovation and technology in agriculture to ensure access to affordable, safe and nutritious diets for all. It will also discuss science based effective multistakeholder policies and investments that can harness potential of agriculture production system to deliver healthy diet. The meeting will explore opportunities for collaborative work between three regional offices on nutrition-sensitive food system.

Language English

Related items

Showing items related by metadata.

Brochure, flyer, fact-sheet

Proceedings of the nature-based solutions webinar
Hand in hand with nature: Understanding nature-based solutions in agriculture through GIAHS - 1 December 2020
2021

Also available in:

No results found.

The adverse effects of anthropogenic-induced climate change on the sustainability and resilience of agri-food systems at inter-regional scales calls for a substantial reorientation and sectoral transformation of the existing production and governance systems. In this context, FAO’s Regional Office for Europe and Central Asia convened a webinar on 1 December 2020 under the theme “Hand in Hand with Nature: Understanding Nature-Based Solutions in agriculture through GIAHS”. The main thrust of the webinar was to open a debate on the potentialities of nature-based solutions (NbS) to support agri-food systems in the Europe and Central Asia region. The dialogue also sought to develop a multi-stakeholder platform for upscaling NbS in agriculture based on real cases, tools and science-based shreds of evidence in ECA countries. The two-hour virtual session encompassed keynote presentations, interactive dialogues, and panel discussions covering the concepts of NbS and the Globally Important Agriculture Heritage Systems (GIAHS). NbS are measures taken to sustainably conserve, restore and manage ecosystems in order to meet societal challenges in an effective and adaptable manner while also benefiting life on Earth. GIAHS is a major FAO programme that aims at identifying, supporting and safeguarding remarkable agricultural, forestry and fisheries production systems, with their livelihoods, agrobiodiversity, landscapes, knowledge systems and cultures around the world. Through this first webinar, FAO provided a revision of nature-based solutions in agriculture with real and time-tested examples coming from GIAHS.
Document

FAO/ WHO Multi-stakeholder Policy Workshop: Leveraging food systems to combat obesity in the Near East and North Africa region. Draft report
23-24 September 2019, Cairo, Egypt
2020

Also available in:

No results found.

A food systems approach is acknowledged to be key to efforts to combat obesity and eliminate other forms of malnutrition in the countries of FAO’s Near East and North Africa Region (NENA) and WHO’s Eastern Mediterranean Region. A two-day regional multi-stakeholder consultation workshop, entitled Leveraging Food Systems to Combat Obesity in the Near East and North Africa Region, held in Cairo on 23-24 September 2019, brought together a range of stakeholders to discuss food systems for healthy and sustainable diets. The workshop identified a series of conclusions and recommendations, with a strong emphasis on the need for multi-sectoral and multi-stakeholder approaches. It is also clear that close cooperation and networking between Member States is important, in collaboration with FAO, WHO and UNICEF and other international partner organizations. Robust policy responses, many of which have already been agreed internationally, are needed to transform food systems, create healthy food environments and ensure access to healthy, sustainable diets for all. The UN Decade of Action on Nutrition 2016 - 2025 presents a key opportunity to focus political attention on these efforts. Key challenges that were identified include a lack of leadership and of coordination, undue influence of vested interests, difficulties in convincing other sectors and actors of their relevance and/or role, a lack of infrastructure and investment, as well as addressing long-term health challenges in a crisis context. Support needs expressed included support to develop clear argumentation on the social and economic case for action and technical support from FAO/WHO to help countries
Project

Promoting Nutrition-Sensitive Food Systems through a Multistakeholder Approach - GCP/GLO/712/JPN 2020

Also available in:

No results found.

Eliminating malnutrition in all its forms is imperative to breaking the intergenerational cycle of poverty and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030. To ensure that food systems support healthy diets and better nutrition, it is necessary to strengthen the knowledge base and capacities of key stakeholders. With funding from the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) of Japan, FAO is implementing a project in Ghana, Kenya and Viet Nam, with the overall goal of developing the capacities of relevant academic institutions and Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in these countries to promote and adopt nutrition-sensitive approaches that contribute to making food systems conducive to healthy diets. The three expected Outputs can be summarized as follows: (i) to improve capacities of nutrition- and food science-oriented universities to transfer skills and competencies on nutrition-sensitive food systems and value chains; (ii) to scale up the capacities of SMEs to adopt nutrition-sensitive business approaches and practices through multistakeholder collaboration, including the private sector, Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), Non-governmental Organizations (NGOs), and academia; and (iii) to develop an e-learning course targeting SMEs for the improvement of knowledge and skills on nutritionsensitive food systems, which will be disseminated in the targeted countries and worldwide.