Foro Global sobre Seguridad Alimentaria y Nutrición (Foro FSN)

Related to the theme "Reshaping the food system to improve people's health" under paragraph 9 a stronger emphasis on aquaculture is warranted. I suggest to include the following:

Aquaculture has a huge potential to ensure safe and healthy food in order to improve people’s nutrition. There is a substantial amount of nutrients available that can be utilized sustainably as feed resources for aquaculture produce. Thus, a better utilisation of available nutrients resulting from our current food systems by utilizing aquaculture for food production will lead to an increased production yielding high quality protein and important micronutrients locally, regionally, nationally and globally.

THE ROME ACCORD: ICN2 zero draft political outcome document for 19 November 2014. Why do we have to start from the end? Already a draft of the political declaration when so much discussing hast still to go on?

For what it is worth at this early stage, I offer some paragraph by paragraph, comments and edits [in blue, in the attachment, Ed].

Claudio Schuftan, Ho Chi Minh City

[email protected] 

Friends,

We have been asked to comment on the zero draft of a “political outcome document”. It seems to have been written in a mode that became fashionable in the Summits, including the food summits, that preceded the launch of the MDGs. And so it touches on almost every aspect of food and nutrition, often in rather bland language, but carefully sidesteps the making by governments of any commitments for the implementation of which they can be held accountable.

The authors may claim that the commitments made at ICN2 will relate to the proposed “Framework” and “Decade of Action”, referred to in the last paragraphs – but, even here, the language is vague. I quote “Recognizing that a framework for collective commitment, action and results is needed …… and agree to the following commitments:…..” And, here again, the listed commitments are ones of good general intent but non-monitorable!

I suspect the problem arises because, following not very convincing precedents, the draft political outcome document has been prepared separately and ahead of the Plan of Action. Surely what we need first is the Plan of Action and then the Political Outcome Document, which becomes the vehicle through which participating governments collectively and individually commit themselves to its implementation and indicate their willingness to be held accountable for results. The POD would thus become a very short statement of commitments, which would refer to the more detailed PoA.

I am raising this general point now because I believe that, if the eventual POD bears any semblance to the present draft, ICN2 will be perceived as a lost opportunity to get hard decisions taken on actions at international, regional, national, corporate and individual levels which will put an end to a situation in which, even though adequate food is produced, the health of more than half the human population is being damaged by bad nutrition. And this is happening when we know most of the solutions but lack the courage to apply them.

I would dearly like to see ICN2 become a turning point in the way in which the global community faces up to nutritional issues –in which countries, rich and poor, come together to address one of the greatest threats to humanity through committing themselves to joint and individual actions intended to maximise the global public good rather than to respond to narrow national or vested interests. We are the first generation of humans to live in a strongly globalised system – especially as it relates to food management – and we must do all in our power to make it work for everyone’s benefit – including for the wellbeing of future generations.

We must create a situation in which all people can eat healthily, with food produced sustainably.

We must never forget that the present food management system allowed 258,000 people to die in Somalia 3 years ago, and still leaves over 800 million people needlessly exposed to premature death because of our failure to apply proven solutions.

I propose that the Secretariat, which drafted the POD, put it aside for now and, instead concentrate all efforts on drafting a robust Framework and Decade of Action Programme – making this the centre of attention for the Conference and preceding consultations.  The POD would then be redrafted as a statement of political commitment to implement the proposed Framework/Decade.

In support of the previous call to amend Clause 19 to include “input industries” among those which are essential to reshaping the food system, I would like to add the following:

·         Mineral nutrients have two functions in human nutrition.

a)      First they are essential for crops and the fundament of higher yields and enhanced crop quality (content of sugars, vitamins etc.). That means you have to feed the crops before you can feed human beings.

b)      Secondly they provide via fertilizers and the soil minerals which are essential for human nutrition as well.

·         Fertilizer is food for crops. It provides them with the nutrients they require to grow and become food for humans. Soils rarely contain sufficient nutrients to sustain crop production for extended periods of time. Mineral fertilizers provide a reliable, precise, efficient, and environmentally responsible way to supply nutrients to crops, thereby sustaining high and stable crop yields. Minerals, from a human and animal nutrition point of view, are inorganic elements that cannot be produced in the body. They play important roles in various bodily functions and are hence essential to sustain life and maintain optimal health.

Given the above arguments, my company K+S Kali strongly encourages the ICN2 to acknowledge the important roles played by input industries and particularly the fertilizer industry in addressing malnutrition and thus bettering the food system.

I think this is great document and have no suggestions for improvement.

Best wishes,

Jimmy

Prof Jimmy Volmink

Dean

Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences

Stellenbosch University

TYGERBERG 7505, South Africa

1. Do you have any general comments on the draft political declaration and its vision (paragraphs 1-3 of the zero draft)?  

• “micronutrient deficiencies have not improved” Is this correct, even with respect to IDD?

1. Do you have any comments on the background and analysis provided in the political declaration (paragraphs 4-20 of the zero draft)?   

• “Together with inadequate physical activity, dietary risk factors account for almost 10% of the global burden of disease and disability.” Hard to believe it’s that small.
• Congratulations on the wording of point 14. More explicit wording on actions needed to fight the promotion of unhealthy foods would be useful.

1. Do you have any comments on the commitments proposed in the political declaration? In this connection, do you have any suggestions to contribute to a more technical elaboration to guide action and implementation on these commitments (paragraphs 21-23 of the zero draft)?

I think the commitments below are too general, not actionable, too related to agriculture. There needs to be explicit mention of the need to switch from product-based nutrition programming (provision of vitamin A capsules and RUSF) to programming aimed at improving diets based on local foods.

Please provide your comments in the appropriate fields relating to these commitments:         

23. Commit to integrate the objectives and directions of the Ten Year Framework for Action into the post-2015 global development efforts.   

I don’t see the Ten Year Framework for Action explained anywhere—indeed the draft action document does not seem to be online.

Dear all,

Firstly thank you for making the zero draft open for consultation. The International Fertilizer Industry Association (IFA) proposes to amend Clause 19 to include  “input industries” among the actors whose contribution is essential to reshaping the food system.

Input industries such as the seed industry and the fertilizer industry can bring quantifiable and qualitative improvements to the availability of macro and micronutrients in the food we eat through genetic and agronomic biofortification.

Genetic biofortification such as that conducted by plant breeders from Harvest Plus who produced several orange sweet potato varieties with beta-carotene content of 30–100 parts per million (ppm), compared with the 2 ppm in local varieties can bring significant improvements to food and nutrition security. This beta-carotene is then converted to vitamin A in the body. Following a successful implementation and adoption campaign, vitamin A deficiency in children aged 12 – 35 months in Mozambique fell by 25-33% in Mozambique and by 31-34% among the same group in Uganda.

Agronomic fortification can be done from the ground (soil) up. By adding zinc or iodine to fertilizer blends, the fertilizer industry can help tackle micronutrient deficiencies, which in turn diminish an array of health conditions, including stunting. In an effort to eradicate health issues related to zinc deficiencies that were prevalent in Turkey, a project led by the Unversities of Cukurova and Sabanci increased levels of zinc in fertilizer for wheat crops in the Central Anatolian region. The results were staggering, with yields increasing as much as 500%. As the nutrients were passed from the soil, to the crop, to the people, levels of zinc deficiency in the population also dropped considerably.

These are only two of many examples of how simple agronomic and genetic solutions from the input industries can improve the food system. Therefore, we strongly recommend that Clause 19 be amended to read:

19. Recognize that eradicating malnutrition in all its forms depends on the active engagement of citizens working with committed, responsible and proactive governments, civil society and the private sector through interaction among stakeholders, often involving new modes. Scientists, educators, the media, community groups, input industries, food producers and processors, retailers, farmers, consumer organizations, and faith organizations need to contribute to the common agenda to reshape the food system. The United Nations system must work more effectively together to enhance international cooperation and solidarity to improve nutrition and support national efforts to accelerate progress against malnutrition.

Thank you.

***For more information about biofortification please see the following resources:

http://www.fertilizer.org/HomePage/LIBRARY/Publication-database.html/Fertilizing-Crops-to-Improve-Human-Health-A-Scientific-Review.html

http://www.harvestplus.org/sites/default/files/HarvestPlus_OFSP_Brief_English_2012_v2_small.pdf

Buenos días, desde Colombia!

Les cuento que nos gusta mucho el documento y además vemos muy clara la ruta, de hecho los bancos de alimentos venimos evitando el desperdicio para conectar con el acceso de alimentos con la población vulnerable. Uno de nuestro logros de la mano con el gobierno local es la política pública de seguridad alimentaria que les compartimos en el adjunto, pues se tiene una mirada integral de la seguridad alimentaria y por ende se asignan recursos para los programas municipales.

[English translation]

Greetings from Colombia!

We have to say that we really like the document, and clearly see the way forward. In fact, in the food banks we have been avoiding food waste, allowing food access to vulnerable populations. One of our achievements –hand in hand with the local government- is the public policy of food security attached. It has a comprehensive view of food security, and hence resources for municipal programs are allocated.

It is true that malnutrition is an imperative for ethical, political and economic reasons. It is urgently required to address the chain of food system to improve the people's nutrition. The varieties of agriculture and horticulture Crops grown in the field, should contain all the nutrients required for scaling up nutrition and the produce needs to be certified by the concerned agency or Agriculture Officer, who is responsible for the area  for extension, development and research. All the Countries, may be suggested to promote nutrient rich varieties of all crops. In India, initially 100 no. of malnutrition districts have been selected for promoting nutrient rich varieties for addressing malnutrition.A concept of integrated farming is also very important to uplift the socioeconomic status of the poor people as well as to address the malnutrition.

Thanks and regards. 

Dr.P.K.Saha

Deputy Commissioner (Crops)

Department of Agriculture & Cooperation

Ministry of Agriculture,Krishi Bhawan

New Delhi-110014

1. Do you have any general comments on the draft political declaration and its vision (paragraphs 1-3 of the zero draft)?  

I would like to request inclusion of the following points under praragraph 2:

• reduction in undernourishment has gone to wealthiest section of population while the prevalence among poorer sections has gone up, thus illustrating strong connections between economic and nutritional disparities;
• processed foods and drinks of questionable quality are marketed aggressively often using unsubstantiated health claims and misleading advertisement tactics; [comment: many of these tactics resemble those employed by the tobacco industry until recently]
• agricultural  lands are being abused for construction and other commercial purposes, further disparities in land ownership and use continues to widen;
• agricultural workforce is diverted to other occupations owing to shrinking economic returns of labour

1. Do you have any comments on the commitments proposed in the political declaration? In this connection, do you have any suggestions to contribute to a more technical elaboration to guide action and implementation on these commitments (paragraphs 21-23 of the zero draft)?

Please provide your comments in the appropriate fields relating to these commitments:

I would like to request inclusion of the following commitments under praragraph 21:

• protecting people from unethical marketing of processed foods and drinks, infant formula, and other forms of packaged products of questionable quality and safety;
• integrating food and nutrition programmes into larger efforts on addressing the causes of inequalities in social, economic and political structures and processes;
• ensuring people’s right to land and seed sovereignty thereby enabling an environment conducive for food sovereignty;
• protecting food and agricultural systems from corporate activities associated with creating dependence on seeds, fertilisers, pesticides and technologies that farmers cannot sustains on their own;
• ensuring nutritional interventions are designed and implemented in the spirit of local self-reliance and sustainability so as to prevent any dependence on external aid
• ensuring quality and safety of nutritional interventions on matters related to health consequences; food culture, and acceptability;

I would like to make the following comment:

Overall, integrating the objectives and directions of the Ten Year Framework for Action in the approaches outlined in the Alma-Ata declaration, 1978, and the recommendations made by the Commission on Social Determinants, 2008 will enhance the likelihood of achieving sustainable improvement in nutrition by addressing causes that produce the determinants of nutritional outcomes.