IFPRI, November 2008 Food price bubble, 2007-08 Source: Data from FAO 2008 and IMF 2008 Source: Data from FAO 2008 and IMF 2008

IFPRI, November 2008

Food price bubble, 2007-08Food price bubble, 2007-08

Source: Data from FAO 2008 and IMF 2008Source: Data from FAO 2008 and IMF 2008.


Sources and features of price increasesSources and features of price increases

1.1. Energy cost, biofuel policiesEnergy cost, biofuel policies

2.2. Income and population growthIncome and population growth

3.3. Climate shocksClimate shocks

4.4. Slow agricultural responseSlow agricultural response

5.5. Market and trade policyMarket and trade policy

6.6. SpeculationSpeculation

Agriculture, Health, Nutrition Agriculture, Health, Nutrition during Crisis during Crisis

Marie Ruel and Joachim von BraunMarie Ruel and Joachim von BraunInternational Food Policy Research InstituteInternational Food Policy Research Institute

Ministerial Forum on Research for HealthMinisterial Forum on Research for HealthBamako, November 17-19, 2008Bamako, November 17-19, 2008


Severe impacts of the food price crisisSevere impacts of the food price crisis

• Poor people spend 50-70% of income on food Poor people spend 50-70% of income on food and their wages do not adjust accordinglyand their wages do not adjust accordingly

• A 50% increase in food prices in Bangladesh A 50% increase in food prices in Bangladesh = 25% more prevalence of iron deficiency in = 25% more prevalence of iron deficiency in women and children (Bouis 2008)women and children (Bouis 2008)

• Irreversible effects: withdrawal of girls from Irreversible effects: withdrawal of girls from school, distress sale of productive assets, etc.school, distress sale of productive assets, etc.

Number of undernourished increased from 848 mil. Number of undernourished increased from 848 mil. in 2003-05 to 923 mil. in 2007 (FAO 2008)in 2003-05 to 923 mil. in 2007 (FAO 2008)


Financial crisis increasing the burdenFinancial crisis increasing the burden

• Short-term price relief from lower demand not Short-term price relief from lower demand not sufficient for the poorsufficient for the poor

• Credit crunch => less capital for agriculture Credit crunch => less capital for agriculture and higher debt burden for small farmersand higher debt burden for small farmers

• Policy attention diverted away from agriculturePolicy attention diverted away from agriculture

Food price crisis now much harder to resolve; Food price crisis now much harder to resolve; meeting the MGDs even more unlikelymeeting the MGDs even more unlikely


Agriculture-health linkagesAgriculture-health linkages

Agricultural Producers (farmers & workers)

Occupational health

Agricultural Systems

(type, method, practice, location)

Agricultural Outputs

(qty, qual, price, diversity)

Labor (energy, time,

amount)

Environment (water, air,

soil)

Income (amount, type,

control)

Access (food, med.,

health services)

Water-associated

vector-borne

diseases (e.g.

malaria)

Nutrition•Under-nutrition

•Diet-related chronic disease

Food-borne illnesses

HIV/AIDSLivestock-

related illnesses

Po

licy

an

d P

oli

cy P

roce

ss/G

ove

rnan

ce

Agricultural Supply Chain

Intermediary Processes

Health Outcomes

Source: Hawkes and Ruel, WHO Bull. 2006.Source: Hawkes and Ruel, WHO Bull. 2006.


• Originated with the CGIAR; now includes Originated with the CGIAR; now includes several health partners, incl. WHOseveral health partners, incl. WHO

• Goals:Goals:- Promote and coordinate scientific and policy Promote and coordinate scientific and policy

research on ag-health linkages research on ag-health linkages - Develop partnerships and draw on mutual strengths Develop partnerships and draw on mutual strengths

between sectorsbetween sectors- Develop tools to link ag-hlth in research, policy and Develop tools to link ag-hlth in research, policy and

practice; disseminate, communicatepractice; disseminate, communicate- Improve health and livelihood of the poorImprove health and livelihood of the poor


Research prioritiesResearch priorities

Identified as offering greatest opportunities Identified as offering greatest opportunities

for synergies between ag-healthfor synergies between ag-health

Low-cost, high-Low-cost, high-quality foodsquality foods

Diet and nutritionDiet and nutrition

Food-borne Food-borne diseasesdiseases

Value chain Value chain management of management of

food safetyfood safety

Water-borne Water-borne diseasesdiseases

Irrigation, water Irrigation, water qualityquality


Research Prioritie (cont.)Research Prioritie (cont.)

Agriculture and Agriculture and livelihoodlivelihood

HIV/AIDSHIV/AIDS

Zoonotic Zoonotic diseasesdiseases

LivelihoodsLivelihoods

Occupational Occupational health, child labor health, child labor

Labor, agriculture Labor, agriculture productivity, productivity, livelihoodslivelihoods


Examples of win-win solutionsExamples of win-win solutions

• BiofortificationBiofortification

• Homestead food production Homestead food production - Producing fruit/vegetable, animal Producing fruit/vegetable, animal

source foods for improved nutritionsource foods for improved nutrition- Empowering women Empowering women

• Local procurement of food assistance Local procurement of food assistance

- Create markets for small farmers - for maternal and Create markets for small farmers - for maternal and child health and nutrition or school feeding child health and nutrition or school feeding programsprograms


Getting the Research Agenda Getting the Research Agenda implemented: how?implemented: how?

1.1. Governments to formulate policies that create Governments to formulate policies that create incentives –financial and other- for inter-incentives –financial and other- for inter-sectoral collaboration that benefits more than sectoral collaboration that benefits more than single-sector policiessingle-sector policies

2.2. Bi- and multi-sectoral policy reviews to Bi- and multi-sectoral policy reviews to identify new policies that support cooperationidentify new policies that support cooperation

3.3. Health impact assessments to monitor health Health impact assessments to monitor health impacts of new agricultural project s and impacts of new agricultural project s and technologiestechnologies

4.4. Tracing food-agriculture-health links along the Tracing food-agriculture-health links along the food value chain in search of critical control food value chain in search of critical control pointspoints


ConclusionConclusion

• Strengthening links between ag-health Strengthening links between ag-health offers great opportunities for achieving offers great opportunities for achieving poverty reduction and health goalspoverty reduction and health goals

• But will require:But will require:- That agriculture and health experts look That agriculture and health experts look

beyond the bounderies of their traditional beyond the bounderies of their traditional areas of actionareas of action

- Create a holistic approach to human, plant, Create a holistic approach to human, plant, animal health that improves well-being of animal health that improves well-being of millions of peoplemillions of people

Documents

IFPRI, November 2008 Food price bubble, 2007-08 Source: Data from FAO 2008 and IMF 2008 Source: Data from FAO 2008 and IMF 2008