المنتدى العالمي المعني بالأمن الغذائي والتغذية

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    • Proposed content discusses many relevant issues. Stratification of population into urban, peri-urban and rural assumes matured democratic processes operating in environment with distributed development and decentralised administration. Policy guidelines are not sufficient for countries with non-uniform development and large income disparity across the country both in the cities and urban and rural areas. Policy process guidelines covering policy design, policy implementation, policy administration and policy governance activities are required. Law makers unaware of the scope and limitations of each of these activities might influence the outcome to meet short term gains undermining the measurements representing policy process quality.

      A. Share your comments on the objectives and proposed content of this report as outlined above.

      Proposed content discusses many relevant issues. Stratification of population into urban, peri-urban and rural assumes matured democratic processes operating in environment with distributed development and decentralised administration. Policy guidelines are not sufficient for countries with non-uniform development and large income disparity across the country both in the cities and urban and rural areas. Policy process guidelines covering policy design, policy implementation, policy administration and policy governance activities are required. Law makers unaware of the scope and limitations of each of these activities might influence the outcome to meet short term gains undermining the measurements representing policy process quality.

      Some of the observations in the scope and rationale:

      “This policy incoherence insists on a general lack of coordination between policies and actors concerned with food security, agriculture, environment, etc., and urban planning, and it is exacerbated by the general dearth of city-level data, analyses and empirical evidence to inform decision-making on urban and peri-urban food policy. As such, it is difficult for policymakers to plan, prioritize, design and track urban and peri-urban food system interventions and ensure coherence across policies and sectors.”

      “Local markets multiplied, as did initiatives by family producers for home delivery of baskets of fresh food and initiatives for food donations to low-income communities. “

      “At the same time, urban and peri-urban areas are home to interesting innovations for food production, processing and distribution, such as vertical gardens, ethical purchasing groups and marketing innovations, which could be replicated in other contexts.“ CVK: Vertical gardens in densely populated areas? Insects, reptiles etc!!!

      “They also include investment in rural and urban infrastructure, the development of territorial markets and short supply chains.” CVK: territorial markets are often managed by mafia !!!

      “Economic deprivation is the biggest cause of food insecurity in urban areas. Moreover, the methods of measurement of this economic deprivation in urban areas are often inadequate. Absolute levels of poverty in cities tend to be moderate, depending on the locality. However, relative levels of poverty are always high due to the prevailing levels of income inequality. This makes food security schemes like the PDS less effective since PDS targets below poverty line households. In an absolute sense, a sufficient amount of the urban poor may not satisfy the BPL requirements but would still suffer from food insecurity due to the higher costs of living associated with urban areas- prices tend to be higher in urban areas due to higher demand, higher average incomes and high transportation costs. While those above the poverty line, with certain income constraints, are still eligible for the PDS programme, the amount due to them is much less.” [7]

      “The character of poverty would also be impacted by such differences, and interventions to alleviate urban poverty would need customisation to suit dissimilar requirements. In villages, internal distances are small and every village corner is easily accessible. In cities, intra-city travel gets more difficult to negotiate, traffic congestion multiplies and negotiating distances consumes more time and money. These have adverse implications on the income of the urban poor.”

      “The past practice of seeing all poverty in a rural light and applying rural solutions in urban conditions will not yield the expected results.” [8] 

      B. Share good practices and successful experiences on strengthening urban and peri-urban food systems in the context of urbanization and rural transformation, including in the case of emergencies or conflicts.

      "Every panchayat (Kerala has 941 in total) will have a phone number to which calls can be made to avail the food from the nearest community kitchen. None should go hungry," Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan had said while announcing the initiative on March 25.

      Reference: CORONAVIRUS: COMMUNITY KITCHENS DISH OUT 2.8 LAKH FOOD PACKETS A DAY IN KERALA, https://yourstory.com/2020/04/coronavirus-community-kitchen-kerela-food…

      C. Share recent literature, case studies and data that could help answer the following questions:

      5. How can national and municipal governments strengthen the potential for low-carbon, inclusive, relatively self-sufficient and resilient cities and towns to drive improved food security and nutrition in the wake of climate change and other crises?

      Response: Develop a coherent food security and nutrition policy process considering applicable context at national and sub-national levels.

      6. What are the most appropriate policies (and gaps in existing policies) along the rural-urban continuum to address issues of land tenure, urban expansion into farmland and the growing competition for natural resources?

      Response: Rural transformation leading to vibrant village atmosphere is necessary to bridge the urban- rural development gap. In several middle low income countries including India, the economic development is varying and is not uniform across the country, regions and states. There is a large disparity between urban and rural development. In [3] an analysis of consumer expenditure in India is given. It is indicated that In India monthly per capita consumption expenditure has increased in both rural and urban areas over the years. However, the increase in expenditure has been greater in urban areas compared to rural areas. This shows a wide rural-urban disparity in the monthly per capita expenditure. In [4] average monthly expenditure in rural India is analysed. During 2011-12 average urban MPCE- monthly per capita consumption expenditure at ₹2,630 was about 84% higher than average rural MPCE ₹1,430 for the country as a whole. In the average rural Indian household’s food consumption accounted for about ₹758. In the case of urban households, it accounted for ₹1120 of the average consumption budget. The most noticeable rural-urban differences in the 2011-12 survey related to spending on cereals (urban ₹176, rural: ₹154), rent (urban: ₹163, rural: ₹7.15) and education (urban: ₹184, rural: ₹50).  There is a wide disparity in education and accommodation expenditure.

      The NABARD All India Rural Financial Inclusion Survey (NAFIS) shows that average agriculture household income was a mere Rs 8,931 per month in 2016-17. Apart from a paltry income, farmers are facing rising indebtedness, lesser financial inclusion, and absence of insurance facility, according to the NAFIS report [5]. While cultivation is still a major source of income (35 per cent), followed by daily wage labourer (34 per cent), livestock rearing contributes only 8 per cent of their income.

       Agriculture value added per worker in India is 1669(constant USD), GDP per capita is 6516(USD, PPP) [6]. Agriculture produce is priced at international market price, where as the GDP per capita is based on country inflation. The agricultural worker / marginal farmer get paid less for produce, where as they have to pay higher price for the food they consume. Generally, villagers sell their agricultural produce in raw form to a middleman to meet their financial commitments. They ignore the significance of income generating activities around their agricultural produce. For example, there are two intermediate derivatives with cotton.  Cotton is generally sold in raw form. Separating seeds from cotton bolls and crushing the seeds to separate oil and pulp gives two intermediate derivatives.  Selling oil to soap manufacturers and pulp to farmers as organic fertilizer/ compost are good income generating activities.  Most of the agricultural produce has intermediate derivatives with significant economic value. Lack of information on potential opportunities is a major hurdle in maximising economic value of agricultural produce.

      Income generating activities in other domestic production sectors including handicrafts, handlooms, pottery, tailoring etc, adds to the list of potential opportunities for a villager’s income reaching national GDP (PPP).

      8. What are the potential benefits and challenges of territorial markets for strengthening food security and nutrition for urban populations?

      Response: Fresh blue food from local water bodies is likely to provide another income generating opportunity to youth living inland (non- coastal) and hill regions. 1) Small aqua farms in water bodies of villages (agricultural tanks not drains with chemicals) provide an opportunity for necessary nutrition security to the people living in villages. 2) Local blue food will reduce the emissions due to transportation of wet and fresh aqua food from coastal area to inland. Cold storage facilities and highspeed transportation adds to the current levels of emissions. 3)  Greenhouse gases emission from fish is less compared to chicken, pig and cattle. 4) Distributed development of fisheries across the country: wild catch from sea in coastal regions, fresh water aquaculture in inland/hill regions will lead to happy and healthy communities. 5) Unfair competition from big fisheries with big boats to small scale fishing community will be reduced.

      9. In what ways can the incorporation of climate resilient agricultural and circular economy practices in urban and peri-urban agriculture provide climate co-benefits for all and enhance climate resilience?

      Response: “Locally produced food can contribute to resilience of the vulnerable and resource-poor by increasing food availability, enhancing nutrition, improving farmers’ livelihoods and creating job opportunities for other disadvantaged groups. By adding value within local supply chains and markets, this approach contributes to improved local revenues”.[1]

      Farmer’s forum of India described ‘Nutritional resilience and production for self-consumption of rural communities with backyard poultry, home gardens & farmers’ & community markets. [2].

      10.         How can citizens be engaged and empowered to drive inclusive, transparent, participatory processes for urban transformations, ensuring synergies and complementarity with city councils?

      • Integrate long shelf -life food products with fresh local food items to meet special dietary requirement of aged and vulnerable.
      • As a part of ‘leave no one behind’ motivate small farmers in high value and labour-intensive food grains cultivation. Initiate steps to increase participation of small farmers, agricultural workers in food chain value addition (goods and services) to reach income at par with other manufacturing and service sectors.
      • Bridge the rural urban gap in the standard of living. Train and motivate rural youth in marketing, using digital technology and e-commerce in creating a vibrant atmosphere in villages. Trained youth provides information on food, health and education sectors as a paid service. Youth at village may partner with farmers, landless agricultural workers in micro and small enterprises to increase income level of self and other farmers and landless agricultural workers.
      • Encourage self-reliance. Distribute development and decentralize administration to ensure nutritious food to disadvantaged populations in epidemics and shocks due to natural disasters.
      • Promote ‘blue food’ (fresh water prawns and small fish like herrings). Blue food from fresh water bodies is likely to provide another income generating opportunity to youth living inland (non- coastal) and hill regions, nutrition security to the people living in villages, will reduce the emissions due to transportation of wet and fresh aqua food from coastal area to inland, reduce the need of cold storage facilities and highspeed transportation, reduce emissions. Greenhouse gases from fish is less compared to chicken, pig and cattle.

      11.         Which experiences of urban communities to increase access to fresh food and healthy diets can inspire broader public policies?

      Provide nutrition quality food with choice to all residents. Hot food ready to eat delivered at the preferred location in the coverage area. Delivery charges are according to the type of food delivered and distance from the preparation point.

      • Subsidized meal from government canteens.
      • Standard breakfast and lunch giving about 1380Kcal Energy, per person/per day.
      • Breakfast and lunch with fine variety grains giving about 1380Kcal Energy per person/per day at extra cost.
      • Breakfast and lunch with eggs in breakfast, fine variety grains and non vegetarian items giving about 1380Kcal Energy per person/per day at extra cost.
      • Hygiene prepared fresh non vegetarian food  items like boneless chicken/mutton, fish and other aqua food in small quantities like 100g/200g.
      • Semi prepared food items like boneless chicken/mutton, fish and other aqua food in small quantities like 100g/200g, such that interested household can add condiments as per family food habits/taste.

      References:

      1. Enhance local production for local consumption, Solution Cluster 5.2.1, UNFSS 2021.
      2. Nutritional resilience and production for self consumption of rural communities with backyard poultry, home gardens & farmers’ & community markets, 34, farmers' forum, India, Solution Cluster 5.2.1, UNFSS 2021.
      3. An Analysis of Consumption Expenditure in India, Dr. M. S. DESHMUKH, S. S. VYAVAHARE, EUROPEAN ACADEMIC RESEARCH, Vol. V, Issue 10/ January 2018. 
      4. Rs 1,413: Avg monthly surplus for rural India is just enough to buy a fan,  Shreehari Paliath  , Business standard, September 24, 2018.
      5. NAFIS Report Released by NITI AAYOG, 17 Aug 2018.
      6. FAO. 2019. World Food and Agriculture – Statistical pocketbook 2019. Rome.
      7. UNDERSTANDING URBAN FOOD INSECURITY IN INDIA, Riya Chaturvedi, Youth Policy review, June 30,2021
      8. How is urban poverty different from rural?, RAMANATH JHA, URBAN FUTURES, NOV 25 2020, Observer Research Foundation

       

    • Analysis of the complexities and practical problems associated with science-policy interfaces:

      • Do you have an understanding of how agrifood systems policy is enacted in your country or at the regional or international levels?

      Response: It is not transparent and often confusing. 

      • Are you aware of opportunities to contribute science, evidence and knowledge to policy at national, regional or global levels?

      Response: Scientific documents with published references (open access) are communicated to offices at all level through e-mail or open consultation like this from FSN team.

      • What kind of knowledge and evidence is privileged in such processes?

      Response: Questionable data quality (incomplete or inconsistent data), pseudo- science and belief- based evidence acceptable to the policy makers.

      • What are the strengths and weaknesses of the processes you are aware of?

      Response: strength-popular policies, weakness- not sustainable on long term.

      • What opportunities and challenges have you faced for drawing from sustainability science, interdisciplinarity and transdisciplinarity to inform policy?

      Response: Data consistency and completeness are two major challenges to analyse policies from sustainability point with independent view and lateral thinking.

      • How can power asymmetries among stakeholders be taken effectively into account in science-policy processes?

      Response: Percentage of people with income in a specific range like standard deviation  from average annual income, GDP-PP is a quantitative  measure of progress made in SDGs, which is  independent of power asymmetries and local policy making bodies .Gross Domestic Production per capita (GDP-PP) is a better measure of quality of life. Nations with small population might be having higher GDP-PP than nations with higher GDP and large population.

      Policy end point should be ‘quantitative’ but not ‘qualitative’ measure. For example, ratio of income of a person in a year including social security and GDP-PP is a quantifiable measure of ‘decent life’, ‘poverty status’, ‘inclusivity’ and ‘leaving behind’.

      Knowledge production for policy:

      • What actions do you take to align your research to problems and challenges faced by agrifood systems?

      Response: Scientific documents based on published references (open access) are communicated to offices at various levels through e-mail or open consultation like this from FSN team.

      • In what ways are the research questions in your sphere of work framed by academic interests and/or funders’ focus?

      Response: I am an independent voluntary information practitioner; funded research is not in the sphere of work.

      • To what extent do you feel research and policy-making communities in your sphere of work are united in their understanding of the challenges facing agrifood systems? 

      Response: There is conflict of interest between research and policy- making communities. Hardly any unity. Researchers focus on science part and policy-making communities focus on electoral gains.

      • To what extent do you work across disciplines and/or draw on expertise from academic and non-academic actors including Indigenous Peoples and small-scale producers?

      Response: Information available in public domain irrespective of its source is validated, verified and analysed for quality.

      • To what extent, and in what ways, is your research co-produced with other knowledge holders and non-academic-stakeholders important for informing policy in agrifood systems?

      Response: Information from other knowledge holders and non-academic actors is used in preparing document with focus on distributed development, de-centralized administration, inclusive development and leaving no one behind.

      Knowledge translation for policy making:

      • To what extent does your organization/university support you to produce and disseminate knowledge products to a range of audiences?

      Response: I am an independent voluntary information practitioner, not affiliated to any organisation or university.

      • How does it create/maintain institutional linkages between producers and users of research? Describe any dedicated resources for knowledge translation that are in place.

      Response: Institutional reports are used to analyse the links between producers and users. UN agencies technical reports and annual reports are used for validation and verification of the data.

      • Please describe any incentives or rewards in place for effective, sustained policy engagement, for example successfully conducting policy-relevant research and for its dissemination.

      Response: Not aware of any incentives or rewards. There should not be any incentives or rewards for maintaining neutrality of policy-relevant research.

      • Please tell us about any activities that you or your organization / university engage in to collate evidence for policy, such as evidence synthesis activities, or guideline development.

      Response: UN agencies technical reports and annual reports are used for validation and verification of the data.

      Assessing evidence:

      • What makes evidence credible, relevant and legitimate to different audiences, and how might we balance their different requirements?

      Response: Institutional reports are used to analyse the requirements of producers and users. UN agencies technical reports and annual reports are used for validation and verification of the data.

      • How can evidence be assessed in a rigorous, transparent and neutral manner?

      Response: Institutional reports of producers and users are assessed in a rigorous, transparent and neutral manner. UN agencies technical reports and annual reports are used for validation and verification of the data.

      • How can assessments of evidence best be communicated to all stakeholders?

      Response: Scientific documents based on published references (open access) can be communicated to offices at various levels through e-mail or open consultation like this from FSN team.

      See the attachments:

    • Thanks to FSN team for this open consultation. FSN team prepared a detailed document on a complex subject covering important points. Inputs from professionals with diverse backgrounds and lateral thinking will enrich the contents. Framework based on the Gini coefficients has limitations.

      A system’s engineering approach to reduce unequal experiences of FSN would be to slow down the ‘engine of inequity’ such that it halts in a reasonable time. Framework proposed in the draft may take much longer time and may not give the expected outcome. Other approaches like stopping the engine immediately might result in unforeseen consequences.  Suggestion is to identify the determinants leading to unequal experiences of FSN and carry out ‘causal analysis’ to the systemic drivers and the corresponding root causes of FSN inequities. The current framework is very complex, it is better to delink inequities within food system from inequities in other systems.  In the first phase, develop solution(s) to FSN inequities by the year 2030.  In the second phase consider the inequities in other system impacting FSN equity and solve by 2050.

      Data collection and report by itself does not provide leads to solution(s). It only adds confusion due to lack of clarification. Pursuing ‘further research needs’ in (PROTEIN AND AMINO ACID REQUIREMENTS IN HUMAN NUTRITION, WHO technical reports series no 935) is necessary. Current report focus should be on ‘scientific progress’ on the globally valid nutrition issues published across the world. Necessary modifications to a member nation should be left to the ‘scientific community’ in the respective member nation. This reduces the possibility of applying dietary guidelines of high income countries in low income countries without understanding the consequences. Local scientific community is best equipped to modify the global guidelines to local and indigenous population (IP) traditions and food preparation practices.  

      Consider adding FSN standards or guidelines in the document (SOFI 2022 report on protein in diet does not cover this point). This will help those countries lacking their own standards and guidelines. In general, citizen’s tendency is to follow standards and guidelines laid down by global bodies ratified by local authorities.

       Some of the solutions for addressing FSN inequalities are given below. Documents giving details and references are attached.

      1. Exclusion of agriculture from GDP computation pushes the agriculture-based economies into low and low middle income countries. It is necessary to include monetary value of biofuel products like ethanol, biodiesel along with industry produced goods in computing GDP. Participation in cassava fuel ethanol production helps small farmers and landless laborers in reaching GDP per capita level by 2030. Cassava based biofuels will play an important role in poverty elevation and food security issues in low- and low-middle income countries. One tonne of cassava, produces about 350 litres ethanol. Globally, cassava production in 2020 is 303 million tonnes, which gives more than100 billion litre ethanol for blending with fossil fuel.
      2. Cassava fuel ethanol is (1) 98% pollution free, (2) biodegradable, (3) renewable, (4) there is no carbon left when ethanol burns in automobiles, (5) ethanol does not cause climate change, and (6) all the by-products in the production of ethanol are edible and non-toxic, providing a very good source for animal feedstock.
      3. Cassava is one of the most drought-tolerant crops, can be successfully grown on marginal soils, and gives reasonable yields where many other crops do not grow well. Cassava is well adapted within latitudes 30° north and south of the equator, at elevations between sea level and 2,000 m  above sea level, in equatorial temperatures, with rainfalls from 50 to 5,000 mm annually, and to poor soils with a pH ranging from acidic to alkaline. These conditions are common in certain parts of Africa and South America. Cassava plays a particularly important role in agriculture in developing countries, especially in sub-Saharan Africa, because it does well on poor soils and with low rainfall, and because it is a perennial that can be harvested as required.
      4. There are two aspects of cassava that are useful in meeting UN SDG’s.
      • If value of fuel ethanol produced from cassava is included in GDP calculation. Cassava fuel ethanol price varies with fossil fuel price in the global trade, synchronising farmer’s economic status with global trends. Contribution of agricultural worker in countries with large percentage of small farmers and landless workers will approach other sector workers leaving no one behind.
      • Exchanging fuel ethanol with nutritious food from other countries having surplus nutritious food and in need of fuel ethanol for blending fossil fuel with ethanol will address the food security and nutrition of vulnerable groups in cassava fuel ethanol producing countries.
      1. Review the daily intake suggestion of including ‘500gms’ vegetables and fruits is needed. Leaves and stem in vegetables and pulp in fruits are intermediate products in plant growth. Nuts and seeds are the end products that have large quantities of all micronutrients present in vegetables and fruits. Maintaining the current level of vegetables and fruits (200 grams in total) production and consumption is necessary to limit global greenhouse gas emissions and fresh water use. It is necessary to review the emphasis on increasing the global consumption of fruits and vegetables to double by 2050 to meet global nutrition targets. Many nutritionists encourage people to consume plenty of fruit and vegetables, five or more portions a day often being recommended. Vegetables and fruits consumption should be based on palatability and taste of individual, not driven by nutrition.

      There is no scientific evidence to support doubling the consumption of vegetables and fruits. Indians mostly vegetarians are also susceptible to Vitamin B12 deficiency. Moreover, there is insufficient evidence to support reduced vegetables and fruits increases health risks. In 14 of the 20 G20 countries, consumption of vegetables is less than 200 grams per day. Health risk due to low vegetables and fruits intake is not in the top 10 of reasons of death in the world and low income countries. It is ranked 8 and 7 for middle income and high income countries respectively.

      1. Gender inequality is created by us over the centuries. In several countries, communities have preferred boy over girl right from the childhood. There is significant difference in food energy and protein given to boys and girls in all age groups, nearly 40% more food energy is given to boys at 18 years age. Any sustainable solution to gender inequality should start with gradual reduction of difference in food energy intake of male and female. The food energy intake plays key role in physique, strength and confidence of a female. Male with higher food energy intake will dominate female. Increase in food energy intake by female in the age group 13-30 years will boost the physical strength and confidence levels of female in facing the domestic violence, household and child-care responsibilities, mental health, and economic impacts.
      2. Increase soya protein products for human consumption to reduce protein energy malnutrition. Globally, about 98 percent of soybean meal is used as animal feed. Increase human consumption of soybean meal, soy flour and other soybean products from current 2 percent.
      3. Integrate long shelf -life food products with fresh local food items to meet special dietary requirement of aged and vulnerable.
      4. FAO 2019 statistics indicates that there is nearly 8% increase in per capita consumption of dietary energy in the world between 1997 and 2017. There is more than 50% increase in the adult obesity rate during the same period. 
      5. Locally produced food can contribute to resilience of the vulnerable and resource-poor by increasing food availability, enhancing nutrition, improving farmers’ livelihoods and creating job opportunities for other disadvantaged groups. By adding value within local supply chains and markets, this approach contributes to improved local revenues.  Farmer’s forum of India emphasised ‘Nutritional resilience and production for self-consumption of rural communities with backyard poultry, home gardens & farmers’ & community markets.
      6. Income generating activities in villages improves standard of living that in turn leads to small farmer, landless agricultural workers income reaching national GDP (PPP). Food is a potential sector of income generating activities in villages. Village cottage industry producing farm fresh products with local flavor and food quality matching high volume big industry produced food goods at a comparable price will improve the availability of variety of food goods and services in the villages.
      7. Rural transformation leading to vibrant village atmosphere is necessary to bridge the urban- rural development gap. In several middle, low- income countries including India, the economic development is varying and is not uniform across the country, regions and states. There is a large disparity between urban and rural development. MPCE-Monthly Per capita Consumption Expenditure has increased in both rural and urban areas over the years. However, the increase in expenditure has been greater in urban areas compared to rural areas. This shows a wide rural-urban disparity in the MPCE.  During 2011-12 average urban MPCE at ₹2,630 was about 84% higher than average rural MPCE ₹1,430 for the country as a whole.
      8. Agriculture value added per worker in India is 1669(constant USD), GDP per capita is 6516(USD, PPP). Agriculture produce is priced at international market price, whereas the GDP per capita is based on country inflation. The agricultural worker / marginal farmer gets paid less for produce, where as they have to pay higher price for the food they consume.
      9. ‘Sustainability’ and ‘resilience’ are often misused terms. Currently there are no sustainable systems, there are no energy efficient resilient systems. Sustainability requires adaptation to evolution process which in turn depends on migration during adverse climate conditions. Resilience requires expensive energy to develop or maintain existing system under severe weather conditions like global warming.

       

       

       

      See the attachments:

    • HLPE 3 rd Note on Critical, emerging and enduring issues V0 draft for e-consultation

      Building resilient supply chains for FSN

      • ‘Sustainability’ and ‘resilience’ are often misused terms. Currently there are no sustainable systems, there are no energy efficient resilient systems. Sustainability requires adaptation to evolution process which in turn depends on migration in adverse climate conditions. Resilience requires expensive energy to develop or maintain existing system under severe weather conditions like global warming.
      • Evolution process: Evolution of life on the planet Earth is a continuous process. Evolution process of human activity (life) on the planet Earth is cyclic in nature. (Evolution process cycle diagram attached) Adapting to the current cycle of evolution process is the Necessity of every successful living organism. Necessity is the mother of Invention. Invention leads to Development. Development may trigger next cycle in the Evolution process.

      There are different but important roles of several disciplines during the evolution process cycles. 1) Learning from the past mistakes, difficulties, disasters and natural calamities should drive research in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) to reduce the shocks in the future. 2) Research in STEM is not enough to tackle current problems like pandemics, new, unknown and unforeseen situations. Able administration and efficient management are necessary to provide scientific solution adoptable and acceptable to all players in systems. 3) There is need for economic and geopolitical equality in providing relief to effected people, leaving no one behind on the planet.

      • Adapting to predictable shocks is advantageous to food system actors over resilience. Extreme weather conditions, forest fires in dry season, heavy rain fall, massive floods in river basins during rainy season are predictable shocks. They occur year after year. Efficiency oriented food system approach may not be suitable for predictable shocks. Local, co-operative, people centric approach may be effective, it may not be as efficient as global food chain, necessary local food reaches the effected population quickly. Watchful local co-operatives/ NGOs integrate available global component with nearby local food in meeting the FSN of the effected population. Earth quakes, tsunamis are mostly unpredictable, there are no known methods to the recovery and transform stages of resilience to unpredictable shocks.  
      • Farmers gets paid less for their produce, where as they have to pay higher price for the food they consume. Farmers increase agricultural production using more chemical fertilizers and chemical pesticides. Their economic status hardly improves with enhanced production because of the increase in cost of fertilizers and pesticides. Income of small farmers and agricultural workers is vulnerable to weather changes and natural calamities.
      • Milk is produced in villages and transported to processing units located elsewhere. The milk after processing and packaging sold at higher price in the same village. Low cost equipment for milk cream extraction in small volume is available in the market. Milk after extracting cream can be given back to dairy farmer along with part of the cream. Dairy farmer will be getting back milk plus part of the cream. Cream may be sold or used in household for making some other food product. Cream extraction center can accumulate the cream collected in a day and sell it in the market. It is a win -win situation for dairy farmer and milk cream extraction center.
      • Encourage self-reliance. Distribute development and decentralize administration to ensure nutritious food to disadvantaged populations in epidemics and shocks due to natural disasters.
      • Integrate long shelf -life food products with fresh local food items to meet special dietary requirement of aged and vulnerable.
      • Value addition in food system has large potential in income generating activities in villages. Value addition to the food can be made with fresh, organic farm products like fruits, vegetables, eggs, fish and meat available in plenty in the villages. Value addition to food products with local cultural habits leads to increased consumption of goods and services in food sector. There is scope for innovation and increasing economic value in these activities. Investments in expensive infrastructure development, rapid transport of perishable goods and cold storage facilities are not required.
      • Promote ‘blue food’ (fresh water prawns and small fish like herrings). Blue food from fresh water bodies is likely to provide another income generating opportunity to youth living inland (non- coastal) and hill regions, nutrition security to the people living in villages, will reduce the emissions due to transportation of wet and fresh aqua food from coastal area to inland, reduce the need of cold storage facilities and highspeed transportation, reduce emissions. Greenhouse gases from fish is less compared to chicken, pig and cattle.
      • As a part of ‘leave no one behind’, motivate small farmers in high value and labour-intensive food grains cultivation. Initiate steps to increase participation of small farmers, agricultural workers in food chain value addition (goods and services) to reach income at par with other manufacturing and service sectors.

      Urban and peri-urban food systems  

      • Automation and work from home have brought a major change in food habits and lifestyle of people living in cities. Reduced physical activity and commuting to work spot resulted in sedentary life style and associated health issues. Excessive food consumption coupled with sedentary lifestyle increased obese people percentage in the world. People are aware of the problems with obesity and climate change, but have little information to act on. Aggressive marketing by few food manufacturers is only adding confusion. There is need for simpler food labelling to help the novice in making proper decisions regarding healthy meals.   
      • Current food labelling with nutrition information and contents needs a revision. Labelling each food packet with dietary energy in Kcal, total weight, carbo hydrates in grams, protein in grams and fat in grams, and ‘carbon foot print’ in CO2eq will increase the awareness about food, nutrition and climate impact of the food at hand. Simple instructions on every ready to eat meals with age group, vegetarian/ vegan/ standard, breakfast/ lunch/ snacks/dinner, add salt/sugar according to the taste, salad/ sauce/ cream included will be more convenient to busy office goers and tired house makers.
      • “Locally produced food can be easily made accessible to the vulnerable and resource-poor by increasing food availability, enhancing nutrition, improving farmers’ livelihoods in peri-urban and creating job opportunities in the urban areas. By adding value within local supply chains and markets, this approach contributes to improved local revenues” [1].
      • Integrate long shelf -life food products (including those from global food chains) with fresh local food items to make healthy and tasty meals following local food preparation habits and meeting dietary requirement in informal settlements.
      • Bridge the rural urban gap in the standard of living. Train and motivate rural youth in marketing, using digital technology and e-commerce in creating a vibrant atmosphere in villages. Trained youth at VLIC (Village Livelihood Information Consultation center) provides information on food, health and education sectors as a paid service. Youth at VLIC may partner with farmers, landless agricultural workers in micro and small enterprises to increase income level of self and other farmers and landless agricultural workers. (VLIC block diagram is attached)

      Conflicts and the fragility of food systems

      • Encourage self-reliance. Distribute development and decentralize administration to ensure nutritious food to disadvantaged populations in epidemics and shocks due to conflicts.
      • “Locally produced food can be easily made accessible to the vulnerable and resource-poor by increasing food availability, enhancing nutrition, improving farmers’ livelihoods and creating job opportunities for other disadvantaged groups. By adding value within local supply chains and markets, this approach contributes to improved local revenues” [1].
      • Integrate long shelf -life food products (mostly from global food industry) with fresh local food items to meet dietary requirement, local food habits of conflicts effected population.

      Revitalizing climate policies for FSN

      • Considerable research is required to understand the effect of climate changes on food system. Reducing carbon emissions in food system is only a part. Slope soil instability causing landslides, mudslides and devastating floods in agricultural fields needs to be studied. Root site-occupancy during the transition period from clear felling and replanted trees growth plays critical role in slope soil stability [2].  

      Recognizing the role and rights of food system workers:

      • Rights of food system workers can be ensured by motivating them in income generating activities. Per capita GDP is one indicator for additional income generating opportunities to women, food system workers, especially those in informal and seasonal contractual arrangements, small farmers, landless agricultural workers and other vulnerable groups.  It may be argued that not everyone reaches the per capita GDP. However, the national GDP will increase, those exceeding per capita GDP will have a higher target to achieve, those unable to achieve per capita GDP will be trained to take different opportunity. On the long run, national GDP will increase and there will be improvement in the working and living conditions of all.
      • A correlation coefficient of 0.84, which indicates a strong positive linear correlation, between GDP and CO2 emission is observed. This indicates that as GDP increases, CO2 emissions also increase almost proportionally. The estimation of GDP long-run equation indicated that that the CO2 emissions are negative related to the economic growth.[3]

      Building a meaningful interface for diverse knowledges and practices for FSN  

      • Food security and nutrition plays a key role in Sustainable Development Goal1(SDG1) of UN: ‘zero hunger’ and elimination of all forms of malnutrition. The difference between ‘food security’ and ‘protein adequacy’ is not clearly communicated. In many countries vulnerable groups consume more carbohydrates instead of protein to meet the dietary energy requirement. Cost of protein is much more than cost of carbohydrates. There are no protein foods being provided under most of the nutrition programmes– possibly due lack of availability, affordability and/or awareness on food groups and dietary adequacy and frequency [4,5].
      • In the WHO recommended healthy diet there are no guidelines on quality and quantity of protein [6]. Many countries are yet to prepare their own guidelines. Statistics reveal that 93% of Indian population are unaware of ideal protein requirement per day with pregnant ladies on the top (97%), followed by lactating mothers (96%) and adolescents (95%) [7]. Situation in other countries is not much different.
      • Animal studies indicates that “Maternal protein restriction leads to hyperresponsiveness to stress and salt-sensitive hypertension in male offspring” [8]. Further research on similar studies on PEM (protein energy malnutrition) in humans is required. It is necessary to study the possibility of PEM related malnutrition from pregnant ladies to male children. In the meantime, protein requirement guidelines of pregnant ladies should be prepared. There are several research reports with contradicting results on protein quantity and quality [9-14]. Currently, high pressure marketing effort is used about protein adequacy. The number of obese people worldwide is increasing.

      Further research is required to

      • Ascertain the role of slope soil stability during rainstorm. It will be of significance because the agencies/ countries benefitting from timber trading, clear-felling of trees and reforestation could be different from the effected communities/ countries with human habitats in the nearby region due to frequent landslides, mudslides and catastrophic floods [15-22].
      • Study the role of protein quantity and quality such that the risk of obesity, adiposity, and associated NCD (Non Communicable Diseases) in the world decreases.

      References:

      1. Enhance local production for local consumption, Solution Cluster 5.2.1, UNFSS 2021.

      2. Root strength, growth, and rates of decay: root reinforcement changes of two tree species and their contribution to slope stability: Alex Watson, Chris Phillips and Michael Marden, Plant and Soil 217: 39–47, 1999.

      3. Rafał Kasperowicz “Economic growth and CO2 emissions: the ECM analysis ”, Journal of International Studies, Vol. 8, No 3, 2015, pp. 91-98. DOI: 10.14254/2071-8330.2015/8-3/7

      4. A Look at Indian Protein Deficiency. And how to fix it. Heal with Priyanka, Aug 5, 2017

      5. India’s protein deficiency and the need to address the problem, SHOBA SURI, HEALTH EXPRESS, OCT 16 2020.

      6. Home/ Newsroom/Fact sheets/Detail/Healthy diet, World Health Organization, 29 April 2020.

      7. The Effects of Protein Deficiency The Importance of Amino Acids, Darla Leal, June 04, 2021, Verywellfit.

      8. Maternal protein restriction leads to hyperresponsiveness to stress and salt-sensitive hypertension in male offspring, Robert A. Augustyniak,  Karan Singh, Daniel Zeldes, Melissa Singh, and Noreen F. Rossi, American Journal of Physiology ,  MAY 2010, https://doi.org/10.1152/ajpregu.00848.2009

      9. The science of protein, British Nutrition Foundation.

      10. High protein intake in young children and increased weight gain and obesity risk; Berthold Koletzko, Hans Demmelmair, Veit Grote, Christine Prell, and Martina Weber, Am J Clin Nutr 2016;103:303–4.

      11. Protein needs early in life and long-term health, Kim F Michaelsen and Frank R Greer, Am J Clin Nutr 2014;99(suppl):718S–22S.

      12. Dietary energy density as a marker of dietary quality in Swedish children and adolescents: the European Youth Heart Study, E Patterson, J Wa¨rnberg, E Poortvliet, JM Kearney and M Sjo¨stro¨m, European Journal of Clinical Nutrition (2010) 64, 356–363

      13. Overweight and Obesity and their Association with Dietary Habits, and Sociodemographic Characteristics Among Male Primary School Children in Al-Hassa, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Tarek Tawfik Amin, Ali Ibrahim Al-Sultan, and Ayub Ali, Indian J Community Med. 2008 Jul; 33(3): 172–181. Doi: 10.4103/0970-0218.42058

      14. Protein intake from 0 to 18 years of age and its relation to health: a systematic literature review for the 5th Nordic Nutrition Recommendations, Agneta Hörnell, Hanna Lagström, Britt Lande, and Inga Thorsdottir, Food Nutr Res. 2013; 57: 10.3402/fnr.v57i0.21083. doi: 10.3402/fnr.v57i0.21083

      15. Dominik Paprotny , Antonia Sebastian, Oswaldo Morales-Nápoles  & Sebastiaan N. Jonkman; Trends in flood losses in Europe over the past 150 years, NATURE COMMUNICATIONS  (2018) 9:1985, DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-04253-1

      16. Global fatal landslide occurrence from 2004 to 2016 Melanie J. Froude and David N. Petley, Nat. Hazards Earth Syst. Sci., 18, 2161–2181, 2018 https://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-18-2161-2018

      17. FAO. 2020. Global Forest Resources Assessment 2020 – Key findings. Rome. https://doi.org/10.4060/ca8753en

      18. THE STATE OF THE WORLD’S FORESTS 2020 IN BRIEF, BIODIVERSITY AND PEOPLE

      19. de Vries, S.M.G., Alan, M., Bozzano, M., Burianek, V., Collin, E., Cottrell, J., Ivankovic, M., Kelleher, C.T., Koskela, J., Rotach, P., Vietto, L. and Yrjänä, L. 2015. Pan-European strategy for genetic conservation of forest trees and establishment of a core network of dynamic conservation units. European Forest Genetic Resources Programme (EUFORGEN), Bioversity International, Rome, Italy. Xii + 40 p.

      20. SUSTAINABLE FOREST MANAGEMENT TOOLBOX, COMMITTEE ON FORESTRY, FAO, Rome, Italy, 23-27 June 2014

      21. FAO. 2015. Towards effective national forest funds, by Matta, R. FAO Forestry Paper No. 174. Rome, Italy.

      22. Konnert, M., Fady, B., Gömöry, D., A’Hara, S., Wolter, F., Ducci, F., Koskela, J., Bozzano, M., Maaten, T. and Kowalczyk, J. 2015. Use and transfer of forest reproductive material in Europe in the context of climate change. European Forest Genetic Resources Programme (EUFORGEN), Bioversity International, Rome, Italy. Xvi and 75 p.

      Dr. C V Kameswara Rao, M. Tech, Ph.D

      Information Practitioner (voluntary)

      Health, food, nutrition and climate change

    • Q1. In my view, effort by government is welcome but not necessary to for matching grant programmes. Matching grant projects/programmes should be based on sustainability and possibility of increasing the income generating opportunity of first-degree relatives of the migrant to GDP per capita level of the country to which a person migrated or native country of the migrant.   

      The government may have other priorities. The income generating path for first-degree relatives of the migrant in agriculture/ animal husbandry/ dairy farming/ fisheries/ forestry may not be in the government’s priorities list.

      Like minded volunteers (NGOs, academia) promote first-degree relatives of the migrant partnering with local (honest) youth working on rural transformation with access to finance, skill and experience sharing/knowledge transfer.

      Q2. Matching grant programmes are suitable for first-degree relatives of the migrant with well settled migrants having reasonable income.  Refugees, migrants returning under unusual conditions may not be having cash at hand to match grant.  Usually, first-degree relatives of the migrant labourers invest the remittances in house, agricultural land or gold for security reasons. They will be at mercy of local money lenders for cash.

      Matching grant programmes are best suited for scaling the existing agricultural activity/ business of first-degree relatives of the migrant to meet the demand of preferred agricultural products in the country where the migrant is working. Migrant, donor, first-degree relatives of the migrant and local youth can form a team to achieve required quality standards of preferred agricultural products.

      Partnering with local youth to meet the domestic market is better than matching grant. Partnering with local youth will be less risky and more adoptable to local cultural and traditional practices.

      Q3.  investment in Information Practice (IP) is a preferable alternative. Convincing the farmers of best practices elsewhere in the world yielding high valued agricultural products or value addition to agribusiness is necessary. Increasing the first-degree relatives of the migrant’s income to GDP level is a reasonable target. Adopting efficient agricultural practices needs support from local ‘Village Livelihood Information Consultant’.

      See the attached note on ‘Information Practice in matching grant programmes’

      Q4. We do not work directly in matching grant programmes. Our charitable activity is focussed on PWDs (persons with disabilities). Our area of operation is more than 30 adjacent villages with about 50,000 population and more than 10,000 households in East Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh, India. We, limit scope of our activities to proof-of-concept (POC) leaving the scaling and impact part to the successful beneficiaries. Sustainability of the idea is verified before initiating the POC.  

      Inclusion criteria for programmes

      Contribution in cash from beneficiary may become a barrier for some first-degree relatives of the migrant. They may end up in borrowing cash from local money lender pledging gold or agricultural land. Some may not be interested in venturing matching grant programmes with borrowed money.

      See the attachments:

    • Request HLPE to consider the following feedback:

      1. Animal studies indicates that “Maternal protein restriction leads to hyperresponsiveness to stress and salt-sensitive hypertension in male offspring”1. Further research on similar studies on PEM (protein energy malnutrition) in humans is required. It is necessary to study the possibility of PEM related malnutrition from pregnant ladies to male children. In the meantime, protein requirement guidelines of pregnant ladies should be prepared.

      2. A holistic ‘people centric’ approach to food, health and nutrition is required to address issues beyond food systems. Data collection and reporting tools should be supplemented with causal analysis and monitoring tools. Best practices in the world (health care) should be considered to eliminate all forms of malnutrition. For example, two ultrasound examinations during pregnancy (normal cases) in Switzerland is one such measure to monitor the health of a pregnant lady and would be born baby. “Maternity: Pregnancy: Your basic insurance covers the cost of seven routine antenatal examinations carried out by a doctor or a midwife and two ultrasound examinations (one between the 11th and 14th weeks of pregnancy and one between the 20th and 23rd weeks). In high-risk pregnancies your insurance will cover as many examinations and ultrasound examinations as necessary.”2Low cost mobile scanners are available now (suitable for LMICS). With wide spread mobile connectivity telemedicine/ virtual consultation / video consultation with specialist is a call away.

      3. In the WHO recommended healthy diet there are no guidelines on quality and quantity of protein3. Many countries are yet to prepare their own guidelines. Statistics reveal that 93% of Indian population are unaware of ideal protein requirement per day with pregnant ladies on the top (97%), followed by lactating mothers (96%) and adolescents (95%) 4. Situation in other countries is not much different.

      4. Food security and nutrition plays a key role in Sustainable Development Goal1(SDG1) of UN: ‘zero hunger’ and elimination of all forms of malnutrition. The difference between ‘food security’ and ‘protein adequacy’ is not clearly communicated. In many countries vulnerable groups consume more carbohydrates instead of protein to meet the dietary energy requirement. Cost of protein is much more than cost of carbohydrates. There are no protein foods being provided under most of the nutrition programmes– possibly due lack of availability, affordability and/or awareness on food groups and dietary adequacy and frequency5,6

      5. Meal maker is a by-product of soya bean oil extraction and refining process. Pulp remaining after extracting the oil from soya beans is converted into small chunks  looking like small meat pieces and are often referred as vegetable meat. Meal maker is rich in proteins, 100 grams of meal maker has about 52 grams proteins, four times that of a boiled egg costing much less than four eggs.

      Protein cost per gram in Indian Rupee (₹) Hyderabad, India,12 April 2022:  Meal maker- 0.23; Rice- 0.53; Wheat- 0.42; Milk- 1.62; Boiled egg- 0.38; Chicken meat- 1.78; Mutton- 2.5; Fish-1.3 to 3.0

      6. Supplementing diet with Meal Maker Protein Powder (MMPP) is a cost- effective pathway to reduce PEM. Soya bean is one of the major crops cultivated across the world. It is grown under several weather conditions. In 2019 global production of soya bean is 334million tonnes. Approximately 85% of the world's soybean crop is processed into soya bean oil and soya bean meal. More than 95% of soya bean meal is used as animal feed. That is, about 284 million tonnes soya meal is produced in 2019, and about 270 million tonnes is used as animal feed. Increasing human consumption of meal maker is a sustainable approach to reduce protein deficiency. A small fraction of produced soya meal, that is less than10 million tonnes can provide 25 grams soya meal per day per person to reduce PEM of 1 billion undernourished people in the world for one year.

      References:

      1. Maternal protein restriction leads to hyperresponsiveness to stress and salt-sensitive hypertension in male offspring, Robert A. Augustyniak,  Karan Singh, Daniel Zeldes, Melissa Singh, and Noreen F. Rossi, American Journal of Physiology ,  MAY 2010, https://doi.org/10.1152/ajpregu.00848.2009.

      2. The compulsory health insurance in Switzerland Your questions, our answers, Published by the Swiss Federal Office of Public Health, Article No.: 316.950.ENG

      3. Home/ Newsroom/Fact sheets/Detail/Healthy diet, World Health Organization, 29 April 2020.

      4. A Look at Indian Protein Deficiency. And how to fix it. Heal with Priyanka, Aug 5, 2017

      5. India’s protein deficiency and the need to address the problem, SHOBA SURI, HEALTH EXPRESS, OCT 16 2020.

      6. The Effects of Protein Deficiency The Importance of Amino Acids, Darla Leal,  June 04, 2021, Verywellfit.

      Dr. C V Kameswara Rao, M. Tech, Ph.D

      Information Practitioner (voluntary)

      Health, food, nutrition and climate change

    • Protein is an important part of a healthy diet, but an estimated one billion people worldwide suffer from protein deficiency. The problem is most severe in Central Africa and South Asia, where about 30 percent of children consume too little protein. Protein deficiency leads to malnutrition. Availability and accessibility of quality protein are two key factors in achieving ‘zero hunger’ in the world. In the WHO recommended healthy diet there are no guidelines on quality and quantity of protein. Many countries are yet to prepare their own guidelines. Statistics reveal that 93% of Indian population are unaware of ideal protein requirement per day with pregnant ladies on the top (97%), followed by lactating mothers (96%) and adolescents (95%). Situation in other countries is not much different.

      Food security and nutrition plays a key role in Sustainable Development Goal1(SDG1) of UN: ‘zero hunger’ and elimination of all forms of malnutrition. Supplementing diet with Meal Maker Protein Powder (MMPP) is a cost- effective pathway to achieve zero hunger by 2030.

      Meal maker is a by-product of soya bean oil extraction and refining process. Pulp remaining after extracting the oil from soya beans is converted into small chunks  looking like small meat pieces and are often referred as vegetable meat. Meal maker is rich in proteins, 100 grams of meal maker has about 52 grams proteins, four times that of a boiled egg costing much less than four eggs.

      Soya bean is one of the major crops cultivated across the world. It is grown under several weather conditions. In 2019 global production of soya bean is 334million tonnes. Approximately 85% of the world's soybean crop is processed into soya bean oil and soya bean meal. More than 95% of soya bean meal is used as animal feed. That is, about 284 million tonnes soya meal is produced in 2019, and about 270 million tonnes is used as animal feed. Increasing human consumption of meal maker is a sustainable approach to reduce protein deficiency. A small fraction of produced soya meal, that is less than10 million tonnes can provide 25 grams soya meal per day per person to 1 billion undernourished people in the world for one year.

      Soya meal has a long shelf life, it can be transported from anywhere in the world to remote regions through inexpensive transport. There is no need for cold storage and rapid transport. It costs much less than other animal-based protein requiring rapid transport and cold storage facilities.

      MMPP is ready to use in combination with several other food items. For example, MMPP can be added  to butter or jam and used as spread, can be added to porridge ,mixed with idli/dosa batter in making protein rich breakfast, can be added to wheat flour in making protein rich bread. MMPP can be made to suit local food habits and culture of the region. MMPP can be included in various Public Distribution System (PDS) schemes including school lunch programs.

      MMPP is made by powdering soya meal maker first and then dry roasting the powder. It is necssary to remove residual chemical (Hexane) used in the soyabean oil extraction process. Removal of Hexane residue from different sizes meal maker chunks requires extensive cooking.  Powdering before dry roasting ensures uniform heating of meal maker.

      Currently, soya meal maker is not popular amongst the house holds for two reasons. 1) Preparation of food items using meal maker are time consuming, not suitable for working days. 2) Removal of residual chemicals in the meal maker production requires extensive cooking process.                                                       

      The proposed idea is tried as proof-of-concept with limited number of volunteers. Availability, accessibility and sustainability are considered in idea formation but scalability needs to be evaluated. FAO team review and FSN forum members feedback will be used in refining the idea.

      Dr. C V Kameswara Rao, M. Tech, Ph.D

      Information Practitioner (voluntary), 70+age group Electronics engineer with systems engineering specialisation. 

      See the attachments:

    • Feedback

      Are there any major omissions or gaps in the V0-draft?

      CVK: National guidelines for food security and nutrition will help the member states unable to prepare such guidelines on their own. There are several reports, some are annual published by WHO, FAO, UNICEF covering the data on food production, food security and nutrition and analysis[1-19]. Several academic research teams around the globe are publishing the role of healthy diets and nutrition[20-40]. There is no national guidance on pathway to reach Sustainable Developments Goals 2.1 and 2.2. WHO global guidance needs to be tailored to the specific member state’s requirements considering local situation (geopolitical, economic, armed conflicts etc.). Non-member states may consider guidelines of the nearest neighbouring member state.

      Are topics under- or over-represented in relation to their importance?

      CVK: Data science, data collection, data-based approach and data analysis is over represented in relation to their importance. In food security and nutrition, newly collected data and analysis may not be adding value, moreover matching newly collected data with already reported data from FAO may lead to controversies. One of these two could be incomplete, inaccurate, not current, or may not be a reliable indicator of what it is intended to represent. Data collection and analysis does not change consumer behaviour. For example, the COVID-19 pandemic might have worsened the situation of children with undernourishment, but the number of children with undernourishment has been increasing even before pandemic[41]. Data-driven approach play an important role in “business analytics.”[42] but not to food security and nutrition. Data collection and analysis should be followed with an action plan to change consumer behaviour. Game theory provides a mathematical framework for determining what behaviour is rational for agents interacting with each other in a partially observable environment43. Multiple Agents Influence Diagrams (MAID)[43], a tool in game theory is useful in goal-oriented approach. Exploring MAID role in progress towards SDG2 by 2030 is worth an attempt.

      CVK: Conceptual framework in v0-draft is not connecting global targets to national and subnational consumer behaviour, businesses, and other local actors. Sensible consumption, sustainability, resilience to climate change and weather fluctuations, leaving no one behind, availability, accessibility, gender equality are some of the important topics in the food system design. These are under- represented in the proposed framework. In many countries the data collection priorities are changed with the change of regime effecting the quality of the data.

      Are there any redundant facts or statements that could be eliminated from the V0-draft?

      CVK: Success stories and examples- Reported success stories/examples should be scalable to SDG 2 which requires sustainability, availability, access, utilization and stability. Problems in few nations like armed conflicts, draughts should be analysed with specific agents in MAID for respective country/neighbouring countries /region. Many programs depending on funding from international organisations end the moment funding ends.

      Are any facts or conclusions refuted, questionable or assertions with no evidence-base?

      “Food systems have failed us”

      CVK: Above statement is questionable.

      “The scientific targets for healthy diets and sustainable food systems are integrated into a common framework, the safe operating space for food systems, so that win-win diets (ie, healthy and environmentally sustainable) can be identified. We propose that this framework is universal for all food cultures and production systems in the world, with a high potential of local adaptation and scalability. Application of this framework to future projections of world development indicates that food systems can provide healthy diets (ie, reference diet) for an estimated global population of about 10 billion people by 2050 and remain within a safe operating space. However, even small increases in consumption of red meat or dairy foods would make this goal difficult or impossible to achieve. Within boundaries of food production, the reference diet can be adapted to make meals that are consistent with food cultures and cuisines of all regions of the world.”[44]

      Total production of primary crops in 2018 is 9.1 billion tonnes. With about one-third of the total, cereals were the main group of crops produced in 2018, followed by sugar crops (24 percent) and vegetables (12 percent). Oil crops, fruit, and roots and tubers each accounted for 9 to 11 percent of the total (Source: FAOSTAT https://doi.org/10.4060/cb1329en-fig20 ).

      Production of cereals, roots and tubers far exceeds human requirement for projected10 billion population by 2050. Rice, wheat, corn, potatoes and tubers production in 2018 is about 4800 billion Kg whereas the requirement for 10 billion people (adults) at 232 grams per day or about 85 Kgs per head per year amounts to 850 billion Kg. About one third of 4800 billion Kg, that is 1600 billion Kg is used as animal feed. Modifying the plant product processing to direct human consumption (retaining nutrients in tact) will reduce the animal feed production. Reducing 5% production of cereals, roots, tubers and sugar every year till 2030 reduces global greenhouse gas emissions and fresh water use by 50%. [45]

      References:

      UN agencies publications:

      1. WORLD FOOD AND AGRICULTURE 2020 STATISTICAL YEAR BOOK, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations Rome, 2020

      2. UNICEF/WHO/World Bank Group – Joint Child Malnutrition Estimates 2019 edition.

      3. FAO. 2018. The State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture 2018 meeting the sustainable development goals. Rome. Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO.

      4. OILCROPS, FOOD OUTLOOK, 5 JUNE 2020.

      5. Development Initiatives, 2018. 2018 Global Nutrition Report: Shining a light to spur action on nutrition. Bristol, UK: Development Initiatives.

      6. Global action plan on physical activity 2018–2030: more active people for a healthier world, World Health Organization 2018.

      7. Physical activity; November 2020, WHO.

      8. FAO, IFAD, UNICEF, WFP and WHO. 2020. The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2020. Transforming food systems for affordable healthy diets. Rome, FAO. https://doi.org/10.4060/ca9692en.

      9. Plates, pyramids and planets Developments in national healthy and sustainable dietary guidelines: a state of play assessment Carlos Gonzalez Fischer & Tara Garnett, Published by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and The Food Climate Research Network at The University of Oxford, 2016.

      10. Global Recommendations on Physical Activity for Health, 5–17 years old, World Health Organization 2011.

      11. Recommendations for data collection, analysis and reporting on anthropometric indicators in children under 5 years old, World Health Organization and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), 2019.

      12. FAO/WHO Scientific Update on carbohydrates in human nutrition: introduction, C Nishida and F Martinez Nocito, European Journal of Clinical Nutrition (2007) 61 (Suppl 1), S1–S4.

      13. World health statistics overview 2019: monitoring health for the SDGs, sustainable development goals. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2019 (WHO/DAD/2019.1). Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO

      14. Joint WHO/FAO Expert Consultation on Diet, Nutrition and the Prevention of Chronic Diseases (2002 : Geneva, Switzerland) Diet, nutrition and the prevention of chronic diseases: report of a joint WHO/FAO expert consultation, Geneva, 28 January -- 1 February 2002. (WHO technical report series; 916)

      15. WHO Global Database on Child Growth and Malnutrition, WHO/NUT/97.4 HO/NUT/97.4, WHO Geneva,1997.

      16. Mensink, RP. Effects of saturated fatty acids on serum lipids and lipoproteins: a systematic review and regression analysis. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2016.

      17. WHO healthy_diet_fact_sheet_394

      18. Essential nutrition actions: mainstreaming nutrition through the life-course. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2019. Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO

      19. Guidelines on food fortification with micronutrients/edited by Lindsay Allen ... [et al.]. World Health Organization and Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations 2006.

      Research publications:

      20. The healthiness and sustainability of national and global food based dietary guidelines: modelling study, Marco Springmann, Luke Spajic, Michael A Clark, Joseph Poore, Anna Herforth, Patrick Webb, Mike Rayner, Peter Scarborough, BMJ2020;370:m2322.

      21. Alternative projections of mortality and disability by cause 1990-2020: Global Burden of Disease Study , Christopher J LMurray, Alan D Lopez, Lancet 1997; 349: 1498–1504.

      22. Healthy diets from sustainable food systems A Bioversity International Initiative. Bioversity International Headquarters Maccarese (Fiumicino), Italy.

      23. Strategies and interventions for healthy adolescent growth, nutrition, and development, Dougal Hargreaves, Emily Mates, Purnima Menon, Harold Alderman, Delan Devakumar, Wafai Fawzi, Geva Greenfield, Weeam Hammoudeh, Shanshan He, Anwesha Lahiri, Zheng Liu, Phuong Hong Nguyen, Vani Sethi, Haijun Wang, Lynnette M Neufeld, George C Patton, Published Online November 29, 2021 https://doi.org/10.1016/ S0140-6736(21)01593-2.

      24. Global, regional, and national estimates and trends in stillbirths from 2000 to 2019: a systematic assessment; Lucia Hug, Danzhen You, Hannah Blencowe, Anu Mishra, Zhengfan Wang, Miranda J Fix, Jon Wakefield, Allisyn C Moran, Victor Gaigbe-Togbe, Emi Suzuki, Dianna M Blau, Simon Cousens, Andreea Creanga, Trevor Croft, Kenneth Hill, K S Joseph, Salome Maswime, Elizabeth M McClure, Robert Pattinson, Jon Pedersen, Lucy K Smith, Jennifer Zeitlin, Leontine Alkema, as members of the UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation and its Core Stillbirth Estimation Group, Lancet 2021; 398: 772–85

      25. Future Food Systems: For people, our planet, and prosperity, SEPTEMBER 2020.

      26. Credit Evaluation System Based on Blockchain for Multiple Stakeholders in the Food Supply Chain, Dianhui Mao, Fan Wang , Zhihao Hao and Haisheng Li Beijing Key Laboratory of Big Data Technology for Food Safety, School of Computer and Information Engineering, Beijing Technology and Business University, Beijing 100048, China; Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15, 1627; doi:10.3390/ijerph15081627.

      27. A Global Review of Food-Based Dietary Guidelines; Anna Herforth, Mary Arimond, Cristina Álvarez-Sánchez, Jennifer Coates, Karin Christianson, and Ellen Muehlhoff; Adv Nutr 2019;10:590–605; doi: https://doi.org/10.1093/advances/nmy130.

      28. Health and nutritional aspects of sustainable diet strategies and their association with environmental impacts: a global modelling analysis with country-level detail Marco Springmann, Keith Wiebe, Daniel Mason-D’Croz, Timothy B Sulser, Mike Rayner, Peter Scarborough; Lancet Planet Health 2018; 2: e451–61.

      29. Ultra-Processing or Oral Processing? A Role for Energy Density and Eating Rate in Moderating Energy Intake from Processed Foods Ciarán G Forde,1,2 Monica Mars,3 and Kees de Graaf; Curr Dev Nutr 2020;4:nzaa019.

      30. Food systems transformations, ultra-processed food markets and the nutrition transition in Asia; Phillip Baker and Sharon Friel, Globalization and Health (2016) 12:80 DOI 10.1186/s12992-016-0223-3.

      31. Nutritional Benefits of Dairy Proteins, Published by: Dairy for Global Nutrition c/o U.S. Dairy Export Council.

      32. Affordability of the EAT–Lancet reference diet: a global analysis, Kalle Hirvonen, Yan Bai, Derek Headey, William A Masters, Lancet Glob Health 2019, Published Online, November 7, 2019

      33. Diets for a Better Future: Rebooting and Reimagining Healthy and Sustainable Food Systems in the G20, EAT report, 2020.

      34. “Food Planet Health: Healthy Diets From Sustainable Food Systems”, Summary Report of the EAT-Lancet Commission, 2019

      35. Dietary energy density as a marker of dietary quality in Swedish children and adolescents: the European Youth Heart Study, E Patterson, J Wa¨rnberg, E Poortvliet, JM Kearney and M Sjo¨stro¨m, European Journal of Clinical Nutrition (2010) 64, 356–363

      36. Enhance local production for local consumption, Solution Cluster 5.2.1, UNFSS 2021.

      37. Nutritional resilience and production for self consumption of rural communities with backyard poultry, home gardens & farmers’ & community markets, 34, farmers' forum, India, Solution Cluster 5.2.1, UNFSS 2021.

      38. National, regional, and worldwide estimates of low birthweight in 2015, with trends from 2000: a systematic analysis Hannah Blencowe, Julia Krasevec, Mercedes de Onis, Robert E Black, Xiaoyi An, Gretchen A Stevens, Elaine Borghi, Chika Hayashi, Diana Estevez, Luca Cegolon, Suhail Shiekh, Victoria Ponce Hardy, Joy E Lawn*, Simon Cousens*, Lancet Glob Health 2019 Published Online May 15, 2019 http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/ S2214-109X(18)30565-5

      39. Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME). Findings from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2017. Seattle, WA: IHME, 2018.

      40. Health effects of dietary risks in 195 countries, 1990–2017: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2017 GBD 2017 Diet Collaborators, Published Online April 3, 2019 http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/ S0140-6736(19)30041-8.

      41. The Sustainable Development Goals Report 2021, United Nations.

      42. Simchi-Levi: OM Forum—OM Research: From Problem-Driven to Data-Driven Research Manufacturing & Service Operations Management 16(1), pp. 2–10, 2014.

      43. Multi-agent influence diagrams for representing and solving games ; Daphne Koller , and Brian Milch; Games and Economic Behavior 45 (2003) 181–221; www.elsevier.com/locate/geb

      44. Food in the Anthropocene: the EAT–Lancet Commission on healthy diets from sustainable food systems, Walter Willett, Johan Rockström, Brent Loken, Marco Springmann, et al, Lancet 2019; 393: 447–92.

      45. Mission Food System 2030: A Disruptive Transformation to Meet Sustainable Development Goals, Kameswararao Chiruvolu, January 2022. (attached).

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    • Flexible diets are one of the priority actions on nutrition for the next five years. A flexible diet is a healthy diet with adjustable dietary energy density.  A balanced diet is healthy. A balanced diet should provide around 50-60% of total calories from carbohydrates, preferably from complex carbohydrates, about 10-15% from proteins and 20-30% from both visible and invisible fat. Dietary Energy Density is defined as food energy in Kcal (Kilocalories) per unit mass (gram).  Dietary energy density can be modified according to the need by increasing or decreasing the ratios of macronutrients: carbohydrates, protein and fatty acids within the limits of recommended dietary allowance.  A healthy diet is an ideal diet if it meets the needs of a person. Dietary energy requirement of a healthy adult depends on the level of physical activity and type of work. Dietary energy requirement of a child or teenager depends on the level of physical activity and participation in games and sports.

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    • Vegetables are parts of plants that are consumed by humans and other animals as food. Vegetables refer to all edible plant matter, including the flowers, fruits, stems, leaves, roots, and seeds. Vegetables can be eaten either raw or cooked and play an important role in human nutrition, being mostly low in fat and carbohydrates but are bulky and filling.  Many nutritionists encourage people to consume plenty of fruit and vegetables, five or more portions a day often being recommended. It is necessary to review the emphasis on increasing the global consumption of fruits and vegetables to double by 2050 to meet global nutrition targets. Vegetables and fruits consumption should be based on palatability and taste of the individual, not driven by nutrition. Protein, fats and dietary energy density in vegetables and fruits is far less than the human requirement. The minerals and vitamins that are present in most of these vegetables and fruits is a small fraction of the daily values. In most of the countries, food is fortified with micronutrients. Other plant products such as nuts and seeds are rich in many nutrients present in vegetables and fruits. Cost of the vegetables and fruits is very high compared to other food groups. Reducing the consumption of vegetables and fruits will reduce the global green-gas emissions and fresh water use. Modifying processes in making long shelf life plant products like soya meal to suit human consumption (retaining nutrients intact) will increase the availability of affordable nutrients to vulnerable people in low and middle income countries.

       

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    • Excessive food consumption in the world is one of the reasons for increased global warming and increased global burden of diseases. It is necessary to reduce the food consumption immediately to halt further damage to human and planet health and meet global nutrition targets. FAO 2019 statistics indicates that there is nearly 8% increase in per capita consumption of dietary energy in the world between 1997 and 2017. There is more than 50% increase in the adult obesity rate during the same period.  Estimated Energy Requirement (EER) of the dietary energy used all over the world for the past several decades is an over estimate. Empirical equations are used for estimating EER. Weight, height and age data are included in the formulation of these equations. Increase in height or weight increases the EER irrespective of the work or learning environment. Increase in EER made people increase food intake, which in turn increased weight. This spiraling pattern of weight increase resulted in obesity, overweight and other non communicable diseases in the children as they become adults. Some of the countries reduced protein intake levels in their national level dietary guidelines . Energy is a conserved quantity; the law of conservation of energy states that energy can be converted in form, but not created or destroyed. Dietary Energy is expended from the body through excretory organs or retained as chemical energy in the body. Excreted thermal energy is diffused into the surrounding environment causing global warming. Retained chemical energy is deposited in various organ tissues of the human body resulting in chronic Non Communicable Diseases (NCDs).

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    • Dear FAO, Forum Members,

      This message is from an independent scientist based in Hyderabad, India. I am an electronics engineer with systems engineering specialization from Linkoping University Sweden. Currently, my research focus is on food, health and nutrition. I feel that the current food system capacity is more than the nutritious food requirement of world population. Current food system can be modified to meet the requirements of all income groups in most of the countries in the world. There is no need for disruptive food system transformation. It is possible to achieve ‘Zero Hunger through Soya Beans Supplements to Local Food’ and ‘Hot, Healthy and Nutritious Food Delivered @ Home’. My study is in initial stages, but gave promising results. I am trying two different approaches to scale my models. 1) As a volunteer in an NGO active in rural transformation. 2) A group of like minded engineering professionals interested in ‘giving back to the society’.

      C V K Rao

      Independent Scientist

      Hyderabad, India

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