EC, FAO, CTA and the World Bank Group launch framework for joint action on agriculture and nutrition

Agriculture and nutrition: A common future presents a framework for joint action by the European Commission, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Development (CTA) and the World Bank Group to promote agriculture for improving nutrition outcomes.

The framework lays out how the four organisations will align their efforts to deliver

 concrete actions that make a differe

nce to those most affected by malnutrition.

The world has made progress in reducing some aspects of under-nutrition in recent years, particularly in reducing stunting and wasting. But the problem is still rampant: more than 2 billion people suffer from micronutrient deficiencies, and 9 million people still die each year as a result of hunger and malnutrition. Paradoxically, o

Malnutrition hampers production and productivity, and also brings with it enormous economic costs: globally, child malnutrition costs the world economy more than US$100 billion per year.  besity is on the rise, even in developing countries.

The framework identifies three strate

gic priorities that the partners will address through their joint efforts:  

• Enhancing resource mobilisation and political commitment to strengthen the link between food and agricultural systems and nutrition
• Scaling up proven nutrition-sensitive food and agriculture interventions at country level
• Increasing knowledge and evidence to maximise the impact of food and agricultural systems on nutrition.

Resources:

• Framework for joint action "Agriculture and nutrition: A common future”
• Presentation of the framework by CTA’s Director, Michael Hailu, at CN2 Conference in November, 2014 http://ow.ly/EFDZQ
• To learn more about the framework, watch FAO's webcast of the CN2 Side-event on Agricultural Policies and Food Systems for Improved Nutrition and scroll to 36:53.

Additional resources:

• FAO publication "Food and nutrition in numbers"

vitis www.cta.int for more information