Thank you for this opportunity to provide comments on the Issue Note on the new HLPE report on Nutrition and Food Systems.
Feeding 9 billion people by 2050 with the optimal nutrition to lead an active and healthy life requires a holistic approach to the food system across the entire value chain. There are significant pressure points in the food system that need to be addressed if we are to continue meeting our nutrition needs without depleting water tables, degrading soil and reducing land availability. The Issue Note already outlines a series of crucial questions however, in my opinion agriculture should be addressed more explicitly in the Report as it is the foundation for food and nutrition security. Despite the advances in agricultural production, progress has focused only on yield. Nutritional value has been largely ignored and staple crops do not provide sufficient micronutrients. Crop plants and their cultivation are the fundamental building blocks for a food secure world. Whether these are grown for food or feed for livestock, they are the foundation of food and nutrient security. Science will be necessary for increasing food production, and for ensuring healthful dietary patterns, in ways that are sustainable. There is still much to learn about the impact that dietary recommendations, and food choices have on agriculture and the environment.
Many of the challenges for the future of food will be faced where the crop are grown—on the farm. Farmers need to plant the right crops and create the right conditions to maximise productivity (yield) and quality (e.g. nutritional content), whilst maintaining the environment, and earning a living. Across the globe, the average age of farmers is increasing, with the continued migration to urban areas who will constitute the next generation of farmers? New advances in science and technology can provide the tools and know-how that will, together with a more entrepreneurial approach (“agripreneurs”), help farmers to meet the inexorable demand for the sustainable production of nutritious foods for future generations. It is clear that scientific and technological advances, especially those that promote sustainable practices in agriculture, will be essential to ensure a nutritious food supply for future generations.
The scale of the problem is immense and no one institution, government, company or NGO can possibly deliver alone on such an agenda. Partnerships are absolutely crucial and in my opinion the Report should specifically address how to promote the formation of cross-sector partnerships and highlight successful case studies.
Ref: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/jsfa.7554/pdf
Anne Roulin
VP: Nutrition, Health & Wellness & Sustainability
Nestlé
Switzerland
Anne RoulinAnne Roulin