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