The Impact of Biodiversity and Bio-The Impact of Biodiversity and Bio-fortification on nutrition and health for fortification on nutrition and health for

the majority of the poorthe majority of the poorthrough mainstreamingthrough mainstreaming

Omo Ohiokpehai PhDOmo Ohiokpehai PhDLusike Wasilwa PhDLusike Wasilwa PhD

CIAT-TSBF, Kenya/KARICIAT-TSBF, Kenya/KARI..Regional workshop on Learning agro-biodiversity: Regional workshop on Learning agro-biodiversity:

options for universities in sub-Saharan Africaoptions for universities in sub-Saharan Africa21-23 January, 2009, ICRAF House, Nairobi, Kenya21-23 January, 2009, ICRAF House, Nairobi, Kenya

OutlineOutline• Background • Now …. What?• Markets/Food security• Information dissemination• Solutions proposed • Genetic and Agronomic bio-

fortification• Implementing a Food Systems

Strategy• Why school feeding?• Challenges and opportunities• The case we argue

Background Background

• 40% of infant and childhood death from malnutrition (NFNP, 2002)

• 64% of the children and 30% of the women of reproductive age are affected by iron deficiency anaemia

• 28% of the children and 54% of the women are affected by Vitamin A deficiency (UBOS, 2001)

• HIV infected population who were 3.6 million by 2005 are affected by food insecurity (UNICEF 2006)

Background Background

• Malnutrition affects the immune system by decreasing CD4 T - cells, and abnormal B- cell responses

• The immune suppression caused by protein – energy malnutrition is similar in many ways to effects of HIV infection

• Pre-existing malnutrition especially in resource poor areas compromises the immune system

• Malnutrition increases the likelihood of opportunistic diseases and hastens the onset of full blown AIDS and death

Causes of Death, GloballyCauses of Death, Globally

0 5,000 10,000 15,000 20,000 25,000

Diet-related diseases

Tobacco

Unsafe sex

Alcohol

Unsafe water, sanitation,hygiene

Occupational Safety

Ris

k F

acto

r

Number of Deaths (x 1000)

Most hungry and poor people live where water challenges pose a constraint to food production

Hunger Goal Indicator: Prevalence of undernourished in developing countries, percentage 2001/2002 (UNstat, 2005)

the semi-arid and arid tropics: 934 million malnourished people remaining

Distribution of zinc-deficient Distribution of zinc-deficient dietsdiets

(Map from USAID)

Global Micronutrient Global Micronutrient DeficienciesDeficiencies

> 3 billion people afflicted

NOW….what?NOW….what?

• Issues of policies…

Kenya for example: recently mainstreamed bio-diversity into the research and extension policies – July 2008 - Draft document

Draft of National Food Security and Nutrition Policy-May 2007 until it is passed it is MAIZE no accompaniments which contributes the micronutrients

Markets/Food security

• InfrastructurePeople – friendly regulations that effect

health affecting food quality and prizes

Accessibility and availabilityBio-diverse foods should be made

possiblebecause variety of foods make nutritious

foundation

Information dissemination

• Appropriate Information is necessary• Information channels must be

strengthened and coordinated• Coordination must be done by e.g.

Kenya Ministry of Agriculture, Department of Agriculture Information Resource Center (AIRC)

• Information must generated by the Assistant Director Crops, KARI

Progress monitoring

• Indicative data to include +ve changes in:– Dietary intake (quantity and quality), affecting

factors, needs, assets– Anthropometry, body composition analysis,BMI– Clinical data, including anemia– Living situation, disease status, Quality of life

indicators affecting or affected by nutritional well-being

– Food production to ensure continued adequacy of diet

• These should be based on initial baseline data and subsequent data collected at 1 month intervals

Proposed solutionsProposed solutions

Higher

productivity

Food security

Employment

Increased

incomes

Reduction in

poverty and

malnutrition

Technology & Business Incubation Centre (TBIC

Private Sector

Research & Development

Training-HH&community

level

CGIARs, Universities & NARS

Community based school feeding programs

Processing

Genetic and Agronomic bio-fortification of Genetic and Agronomic bio-fortification of staple food crops in Africa: a strategy to staple food crops in Africa: a strategy to increase Se, I, Zn, Vit A & Fe status of increase Se, I, Zn, Vit A & Fe status of

villagersvillagers Food Systems Food Systems

• Need to cover all nutrients deficient in a food system if we aspire to health outcomes

• Difficult in view of the numbers of essential nutrients, and the interactions among them

Implementing a Food Systems Strategy

• Increase the productivity of the main staple crops

• introduce high iron, zinc, provit A varieties

• Identify the nutritional problems in the population

• Additional to the above: selenium, iodine, thiamine, calcium, folate, B12…

• On area spared from main staples, introduce balance:

• New, but traditional crops, particularly legumes, carotenoids crops, vegetables, fruits, and others

• Measure wellbeing, mental and physical capacity

Why school feeding?Why school feeding?

• Good nutrition and good health are important at the very early ages of life

• Facilitate pupils to achieve adequate education and thus get to acquire technical skills.

• Eradicate malnutrition at early ages which was linked to lower level of cognitive development and impaired ability,

• Improved school attendance. • Improved educational attainment, work

productivity among adults and increased earning potential.

• Contribute to increased enrolment, reduced drop-out rates in schools

• Improve the attention span and learning capacity of school kids by alleviating short term hunger and by contributing to the alleviation of micronutrient deficiency

• Sensitize and build capacities of communities

Why school feeding? contd

Challenges and Challenges and opportunitiesopportunities

• Income generation vs. food security (farmers, markets, etc)

• Consumer behavior – difficult to change

• Multidisciplinary approach; (Health, nutrition and agriculture)

• Different agro-ecological zones (climatic conditions, altitude, soils, preferred crops in different regions, pest management (IPM)

• HIV/AIDS is complex not a single event (diff. effects)

• Integrated awareness creation with partner intervention programs (UNICEF’s micronutrient supplementation, WFP food distribution centers, ICRAF/FAO school garden program, CIAT Legume program, Water Catchment initiatives)

• To facilitate effective action we need to Build bridges between, public health specialists, nutritionists, food scientists and agriculturists

The case we argueThe case we argue

• The world is overpopulated, ecologically• Modern food systems were evolved to cope with this• They are fine for energy but not for nutrients• AAs, VA, Zn, Se, I, B1, B2, B12, folate, Ca, Fe• Our nutrition strategies are flawed

– dominantly single factor thinking• A Food Systems approach is multifaceted• Need for roobost agro- forest- biodiversity