Agriculture, Food Policy and NCDs

in the Caribbean Region

Ballayram

Food Economist

Caribbean Food and Nutrition Institute/

Pan American Health Organization

Leverhulme Centre for Integrative Research on Agriculture & Health

Brunei Gallery, School of Oriental & African Studies (SOAS)

University of London

July 2-3, 2012

Outline of Presentation 1. The agriculture-food-nutrition-NCD Context

2. Caribbean’s approach to Agri-policies, nutrition and NCDs

3. Examples of ongoing/completed research/activities on agriculture-nutrition-NCD link

4. Propose priority areas in agriculture for future research in

the Caribbean

1. The agriculture-food-nutrition-NCD Context

The Caribbean region is faced with critical challenges that relate to the four pillars of food security:

•Food availability

•Food access: Unequal income distribution, poverty, hunger

•Nutritional adequacy: Overweight/Obesity and NCDs

•Stability: Natural disasters and global impacts

824

489 455

288 255 191 174 160

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

800

900

US$M

Major Food Imports (US$2.8billion/yr)

TOTAL REGIONAL FOOD IMPORT BILL ~US$ 4 BILLION/YR

Current

Staples

39%

Legumes

2%Food from

Animals

20%

Fats/Oils

14%

Fruit

6%

Sugar

17%

Vegetables

2%

Recommended

Staples

47%

Legumes

6%

Food from

Animals

15%

Fats/Oils

10%

Fruit

6%

Vegetables

8%

Sugar

8%

Deficits: (1) Staples (8%); (2) legumes (4%); (3) Vegetables (6%);

Excess: (1) Food from animals (5%); (2) Fats/oils (4%); (3) Sugar (9%)

QUESTION: WHAT CAN AGRICULTURE DO TO SHIFT FROM CURRENT TO RECOMMENDED?

Where we are NOW

Where we want to GO

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

(%)

1970s 1980s 1990s 2000s

Male Female

Trends in Overweight & Obesity

in the Caribbean (%)

Main Causes of Death in the Caribbean

1980 (%)

1. Heart Disease* - 20

2. Cancer * - 12

3. Stroke* - 11

4. Injuries - 8

5. Hypertension* - 6

6. ARI - 5

7. Diabetes * - 4

*Food/Nut related = 53%

2000s (%)

1. Heart Disease * - 16

2. Cancer * - 15

3. Stroke * - 10

4. Diabetes * - 10

5. Injuries - 7

6. HIV/AIDS - 6

7. Hypertension * - 6

*Food/Nut Related = 57%

2. APPROACH TO AGRI-FOOD AND NUTRITION

The Caribbean

FOOD AVAILABILITY

FOOD ACCESSIBILITY

FOOD CONSUMPTION

NUTRITIONAL

& HEALTH

STATUS

Effort

(Past)

Effort

(Future)

FOOD POLICY

(Local Agri & Imports)

Recent accommodating frameworks for complementing agriculture to address NCDs

1.CARICOM HOG Declaration on NCD--2007

•PAHO/WHO 2011-2015 Strategic Plan of Action on NCDs

•Regional NCD Secretariat established

•A model NCD Plan developed for countries

•NCD Commissions established in some countries

•Healthy Caribbean Coalition on NCDs established

•Regional Food & Nutrition Security Strategy and Action Plan

endorsed

•National Food and Nutrition Security Policy and NPAN in some countries

NOTE: The NCD problem cannot be the remit of only one sector—it requires multisectoral partnerships to reap mutual benefits. Some core sectors:

•Education/health for promotion;

•Trade to re-orient imports and exports;

3. Ongoing agriculture-nutrition research/

activities in the Caribbean

1. FAO –CARICOM Special Program for Food Security:

• Phase 1--2002-2006

2. McGill-UWI project--ongoing

3. Caribbean Farmers’s Network Initiatives--ongoing

Chart 2Project Components: Vertical and Horizontal

Vertical Component(Country-Specific)

Horizontal Components(Regional)

Trade Facilitation

Food SecurityAssessments

Community NutritionEnhancement

Food Security policyIntegrationOn-Farm Demonstrations

of Irrigation/Water Resource Management

Marketing Support

Training of Extensionists,Technicians and Farmers

FAO—PHASE 1

McGill-UWI Project: ($5M CAD)

Improving the nutrition and health of

CARICOM populations (4 countries)

The potential of this project for advancing the food and nutrition security agenda in the Caribbean rests upon two pillars:

1. Conceptual and theoretical framework. This framework

• Recognizes the need for a CARICOM food security framework where the drivers of food production are more closely linked to market needs, consumer health and wellness, environmental sustainability, and gender equality;

• Embraces the “farm to fork” food supply chain, where farmers respond to market signals and opportunities, profitability and improved livelihoods. (i.e no conflict in mandates of farmers and contributing to health and nutrition)

McGill-UWI Project (con’d)

2. Project has 2 intervention points:

1. Community nutrition and health: How to reduce the prevalence of overweight, obesity and under-nutrition in CARICOM and improve food and nutrition.

2. Agricultural diversification and food production. This

theme addresses issues of production, productivity and

food import replacement and the integration of domestic

food and consumption patterns.

Caribbean Farmers’ Network 1. CaFAN—A FARMERS’ net-work representing over 500,000 small

scale farmers in the region

2. CaFAN’s focus: Value chain approach to producing, marketing and promoting roots, tubers, legumes, fruits and vegetables guided by Recommended Food Goals (EU & FAO funds)—healthy foods

3. This project focuses on how a production-oriented activity (small farm food production) can be leveraged to advance a consumer-oriented concern, viz., health and nutrition in the region

4. CaFAN’s initiative is an example of how to catalyze a new approach to effectively advance the food-nutrition-health agenda.

5. CaFAN maintains strong partnerships with many stakeholders

4. Propose priority areas for future research on agri-NCD link in the Caribbean

1. Many countries have Food and Nutrition Policy and Action Plans coordinated by a multi-sectoral body:

•Getting this multi-sectoral body to function effectively has been elusive--we need research to find answers to this problem

2. Integrating agriculture food production and school feeding

programs has great potential to advance nutrition.

•More research is needed on how to design/implement nutrition-focused feeding programs;

•Similar programs are scarce or not sustained after pilot programs. We don’t know why.

3. Research is urgently needed on how fiscal and regulatory instruments can be designed to support production and consumption of healthy food.

4. Rigorous food consumption studies are needed to identify the drivers of eating patterns and food preferences and household disease profiles.

5. Related to (4) evidence-based interventions based on social marketing techniques and other principles are required for influencing behavior change, food choice and preferences.

Thank You