Linking agriculture and nutrition: potential of value
chain approaches
Dr Corinna Hawkes
Addressing ACP nutrition security: the key role of agriculture: 23rd Brussels Development Briefing, June 15 20211
What is a value chain approach?
…to value chains for nutrition
$
From agricultural production for nutrition…
ConsumersConsumers
FarmersFarmers
ProcessorsProcessors
WholesalersWholesalers
TradersTraders
ConsumersConsumers
FarmersFarmers
RetailersRetailers
What do value chain approaches add to existing efforts to leverage
agriculture for nutrition?
Food consumption and diet quality
Inputs into production Crop breeders; extension services
Food production
Primary food storage and processing
Secondary food processing
Food distribution, transport, and trade
Food retailing and catering
Food promotion and labeling
Farmers, agricultural laborers,
Packers, millers, crushers, refiners
Processed foods manufacturers
Importers, exporters, brokers,
Informal retailers, supermarket chains,
Advertising agencies
Foodavailability
Foodaffordability
Foodquality
Foodacceptability
Activities Actors
1) Focus on meeting nutrition
goals through supply
2) … and demand
3) Enables identification of coordinated,
multisectoral solutions which we know are needed to address
malnutrition in all its forms
4) But also can help meet agricultural goals by identifying leverage
points where economic value for agriculture and value for nutrition can be created, while assessing
the trade-offs
Examples
Creating economic and nutritional value from OFSP, Mozambique
Source: Coote et al. In: Hawkes and Ruel, IFPRI 2020 Conference Background Paper #4, 2011
Inputs into production
Production
Post-harvest handling/storage
Processing
Marketing
Increase productivity, nutrient content, demand
for nutritious beans
Enhancing nutritional value & marketability of beans (Uganda)
Field trials with new varietiesSoil & terrain analysisFarmers trainings
Technologies to losses (insects)Nutrient retention analysis
Test sequencing + duration ofdifferent processing techniques(nutrient retention, anti-nutrients)
Analyze main market channelsDrivers of market decisionsPresence of nutrient-enhanced foods
Consumer surveysCooking trainings, Education,Behavior chance communications
Value Chain Steps Activities
Source: Mazur et al. In: Hawkes and Ruel, IFPRI 2020 Conference Background Paper #4, 2011
Why should we be developing and implementing value chain
approaches now?
• The current focus on value chain development for agriculture provides an opportunity to build in nutrition goals
• Now more accepted that malnutrition in all its forms will only be solved through actions beyond the health sector
• “Value chains can be developed to improve nutrition outcomes while also providing solutions to development challenges in other sectors, not least, in agriculture”
Thank you