Linking food and nutrition security: past lessons and future opportunities

dc.creatorBouis, Howarth E.
dc.creatorHunt, Joseph
dc.date1999-01
dc.date2025-01-29T12:57:57Z
dc.date2025-01-29T12:57:57Z
dc.date.accessioned2026-06-27T15:40:58Z
dc.descriptionTraditional food security strategies are reviewed and generally found to have a weak impact on lowering child malnutrition. Unless these programs are properly targeted and linked to employment and micro-credit opportunities for women, they are unlikely to be effective or sustainable. The links between food policy and nutrition security require greater attention to dietary quality through agricultural research and technology, directed to reducing both undernutrition and overnutrition; social security polices that protect poor women and children; and food aid polices that are developmental in intent and impact.One element in the final solution to malnutrition is to provide increased consumption of a range of non staple foods. To reach the poor, this will require a relatively large investment in agricultural research and other public and on-farm infrastructure over several decades. In the medium run, a much smaller investment in improving the nutrient content of food staples through plant breeding can make a major contribution to reducing deficiencies in selected micronutrients. The role of women is central to nutrition outcomes through child care, so that policies and programs must consider how to enhance women's decision-making power in the household, how they affect time demands on women, and how to increase women's education and nutritional knowledge. Finally, community-based programs, which are central to the RETA strategy for improved nutrition, should be used to monitor the nutrition effects of agricultural policies and programs and to provide feedback to agricultural policymakers as to how to enhance the positive effects and minimize the negative effects of agricultural policies and programs.
dc.formatapplication/pdf
dc.identifierhttps://hdl.handle.net/10568/171279
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/123456789/111589
dc.languageen
dc.publisherWorld Scientific Publishing
dc.rightsOpen Access
dc.sourceBouis, Howarth E.; Hunt, Joseph. 1999. Linking food and nutrition security: past lessons and future opportunities. Asian Development Review 17(1/2): 168-213. https://doi.org/10.1142/S0116110599000068
dc.subjectnutrition
dc.subjectagricultural policies
dc.subjectcommunity involvement
dc.titleLinking food and nutrition security: past lessons and future opportunities
dc.typeJournal Article

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