On behalf of DAI, thank you to the HLPE Steering Committee for opening the floor to comments. This report comes at a critical time and the key questions it seeks to address will help ground the global conversation on the multidimensionality of food systems and nutrition and the root causes of malnutrition. As part of the dialogue we also need to consider how market systems and value chains interact with food systems.
Although value chains within the worlds’ food systems will be addressed through the driving dynamics of consumption patterns, we think it is vital that this report examine the broader challenges associated with key aspects of food and market system needs along the lifecycle – particularly complementary foods. The existing body of research indicates malnutrition in the first 1000 days of a child’s life has significant, long-term consequences on educability, adult work productivity, and ultimately income and national capacity. Furthermore, we now know that stunting and its negative impacts are not easily reversed. As a result, complementary foods and feeding practices are fundamental in addressing child malnutrition and food and nutrition within this 1,000 day window are critical in addressing undernutrition within the context of malnutrition.
DAI’s work up to this point tells us that some of the most significant challenges for the promotion of complementary feeding practices exist at the value chain level. In many of the neediest markets there is a minimal supply of processed, fortified complementary foods (PFCFs) at affordable prices. There are also opportunities within the value chain to better engage and empower women as producers, processors, and consumers of complementary food. To help rectify these deficiencies, DAI suggests that this report incorporate and research market-based pragmatic solutions to increase access to PFCFs.
This report will be a great resource to help further investigate the multidimensionality of food systems and the root causes of malnutrition, we suggest that the HLPE Steering committee incorporate research surrounding market systems, in particular foods tied to the development life-cycle and 1,000 day window.
Thank you!
Elizabeth Elfman