Agricultural assets
Feeding hunger and insecurity. Food analysis of volatile global food commodity process, food security and child malnutrition
Has volatile food prices led to child malnutrition in the world?
Authors:
S., H. Swan (ed); S. Hadley (ed); B. Cichon (ed)
Publisher:
Action Against Hunger, 2009
This report outlines the underlying causes behind the recent rising food prices and analyses who is most vulnerable. The authors also note what kind of strategies have been taken to tackle the challenge as well as what more needs to be done in order to reverse the food price trends globally. The report indicates that the crisis is not over. Even though global food prices are falling, local prices continue to increase or have remained at their inflated level in most vulnerable countries, putting millions of people at risk.
The report asserts that despite no clear statistically significantincrease in acute malnutrition, globally there is cause for concern. Findings from Ethiopia show that in some regions, food insecurity is translating into higher rates of malnutrition. In other areas, households have consistently reduced the quality and quantity of food consumed in response to higher food prices. This may have adverse effects on micronutrient status, as well as impacting the physical and mental development of children. Should high food prices persist, and coping strategies become more damaging, vulnerability to future shocks and seasonal price fluctuations will increase. The authors assert that if action is not taken now, high food prices will trap millions of children in a downward spiral of poverty and malnutrition.
The report recommends that fundamental changes need to be made to the global aid architecture and political attitudes towards malnutrition and poverty in general. Similarly, the following initiatives need to be implemented:
- hunger and malnutrition must become a priority
- more funding to be provided for food security and nutritional programs
- the right to food must be established and enforceable by those suffering from hunger
- surveillance of food security and malnutrition must improve and be linked to implementation
- politics of malnutrition must be understood, accepted and included in policy design
