This is a fine document, very detailed and well- illustrated. Congratulations to the contributors. It would be interesting to know what the precise objectives, uses and targeted users of the document are.
My primary field is nutrition and not agriculture although food systems and food security are an integral part of nutrition. The few comments I have are therefore more directly connected with nutrition:
My Comments:
Recommendation 1, p. 9:
What are « small or medium farms »? Is it their size or their methods that are addressed? Please clarify.
Recommendation 2, p. 9:
I am not sure that SFS is to be introduced in primary schools. In contrast, it is important to emphasize the need for SFSs to be introduced in the public health training curriculum. Conversely, more attention should be paid to appropriate nutrition training in agriculture schools and universities.
Recommendation 5, p. 10:
Let’s not forget traditional and minor crops which contribute to food diversity hence security, and to better nutrition. I would also see mentioned here the importance of introducing the concept of nutrition value chains. Additionally, it may be useful to clarify here the concept of “nutrition sensitive” agriculture even if it is further discussed under 2.3.7.
Recommendation 7, p. 11:
Would it not be relevant to advertise for, or promote, locally produced foods as an additional means of linking rural producers and urban consumers? (See on this my discussion paper on urban food patterns for FAO http://www.fao.org/docrep/U3550t/u3550t05.htm#TopOfPage
Food security and nutrition, p. 14:
Under “access” is also included access to information about food outlets, about the nutritional value of food and about food and nutrition programs. Access to information is included in the FAO’s definition of food security.
P. 15: Does “approach to FSN” really need to be defined?
P. 25: It is interesting to read that one of the principles of agroecology is to “develop healthy, diversified, seasonally and culturally appropriate diets”.
P. 34, box 7: Other issues that could be considered is overfishing, as well as food processing, and the problem with ultra-processed foods.
P. 68, box 11: Adding the caloric requirements on a per capita basis would help understand this.
P. 73, Fig. 11: It is surprising not to see here wars and social unrest, as well as disease (such as HIV) as determinants of hunger. Other sources list these.
P. 77: GMOs: A major issue is that the risk is not taken by those who reap the benefits of GM... And that research is often proprietary.
Warmest regards,
Hélène Delisle, Ph.D.
Hélène Delisle