The Biodiversity for Food and Nutrition InitiativeTeresa Borelli, Programme SpecialistSADC Meeting, Rome 27 February 2015

05 regional geographies35 countries17 offices

Agricultural biodiversity nourishes people and sustains the planet

Photo credit: LI-BIRD/A.Subedi

At the same time:

“9 out of the 15 SADC countries have overweight or

obesity prevalence of more than 30% among

adult womenReference: Nyovani J Madise & Gobopamang Letamo (2013)

Carbohydrate Protein Fat

Young children (1-3 years) 45-65% 5-20% 30-40%

Older children and adolescents (4-18 years) 45-65% 10-30% 25-35%

Adults (19 years and older) 45-65% 10-35% 20-35%

Bush meal 52% 15% 30%

Source: own depiction based on U.S. Department of Agriculture and U.S. Department of Health and

Human Services 2010, Institute of Medicine of the National Academies 2005, Roger et al. 2012

Recommended macronutrient proportions by age in comparison

to macronutrient content of “bush meals”

Why traditional crops?AffordableAccessibleResilientCulturally acceptableProvide nutrients for healthy growth

Food composition analysis comparing commonly consumed foods versus underutilized traditional foods (nutrients per 100g of food). Adapted from West African Food CompositionTable. FAO, 2012.

Bananas and beta-carotene

Cavendish Common Variety

<5 µg/100g pro-Vit A

carotenoid<8500 µg/100g pro-Vit A carotenoid

South Pacific banana varieties

Source: Burlingame, FAO (2013), Bioversity International, IFCP

PROVIDE EVIDENCE – Demonstrate the nutritional value of local BFN and the role it plays in promoting

healthy diets and strengthening livelihoods

INFLUENCE POLICIES - Use the evidence to influence policies and markets that support the conservation

and sustainable use of BFN for improved human nutrition and wellbeing

RAISE AWARENESS – Develop tools and best practices for scaling up the use BFN in development

programmes, value chains and local community initiatives.

•1/3 of the population is food insecure

•1.8 million children chronically

undernourished

ALVs, sorghum, millets, nuts and oil

crops, indigenous fruits and livestock

Undernutrition ↓

Overnutrition ↑

50% of adult population

overweight (80 million)

Plants for the Future

Project (70 spp.)

Non conventional leafy

vegetables

Undernutrition ↓

Overnutrition ↑

•31% overweight

•12% obese

28 spp. local edible

plant species

• Acute protein-energy

malnutrition

• Moderate Iron deficiency

anaemia and VAD

Native root and tuber crops,

traditional rice varieties, leafy

vegetables and native fruits

5 year project : 2012 - 2017

Project aim: Strengthen the conservation and

sustainable use of biodiversity with high nutritional

potential, by mainstreaming into nutrition, food

and livelihood security strategies and

programmes; develop markets and value chains

for nutritionally-relevant biodiversity.

1. Provide evidence

Harness traditional foods to broaden the food basket, create resilient food systems and provide livelihood options in the four partner countries

Sub-Saharan Africa Food System

2. Influence policies

What is mainstreaming biodiversity?

• Unprecedented biodiversity loss, degradation of ecosystems

• Since 1994, the CBD has called for the integration of relevant concerns related to biodiversity conservation and its sustainable use into sectoral or cross-sectoral policies and national decision-making mechanisms. This process is known as biodiversity mainstreaming

• Experiences and lessons learned largely confined to production sectors – agriculture, forestry, fisheries, mining – few examples of mainstreaming BFN

How it can be achieved

• Mainstreaming BFN into National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plans (NBSAP)

• Mainstreaming BFN directly into relevant policies, programmes and national plans of action on food security and nutrition – Fome Zero, School Feeding Programmes

• Mainstreaming BFN into relevant production sectoral programmes and plans which have a strong bearing on nutritional outcomes – agriculture (Nutrition Sensitive Agriculture), forestry….

• Other policy arenas….

15

Kenya National Policy Review (2014)

Overlaps exist with regards to BD conservation

Disconnect and limited coordination among key policy players

A number of policies exist with a bearing on nutrition

Several possible options exist to undertake the mainstreaming of biodiversity for improving nutrition at

the national and local level

5. Raising Awareness

19

20

National Nutrition Symposium – 18 Feb 2015

BFN Project

BFN Project website, Case studies

documenting best practices

Diversifying food and diets book.

Thank you

www.b4fn.org