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Future smart food

Rediscovering hidden treasures of neglected and underutilized species for Zero Hunger in Asia












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    Book (stand-alone)
    High-profile
    Future Smart Food: Rediscovering Hidden Treasures of Neglected and Underutilized Species for Zero Hunger in Asia
    Executive Summary
    2018
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    For centuries people in Asia and the Pacific region have grown and consumed a wide variety of nutritious foods. Unfortunately, more recent generations have slowly but surely changed their diets and have moved away from many of these traditional foods. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) is working with our Member Countries to reinvigorate both production and consumption of these crops – often referred to as neglected and underutilized species (NUS). This work is consistent with FAO’s role in providing support to countries to meet the targets of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), primarily, but not limited to, SDG2 which aims to achieve Zero Hunger, specifically to “end hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition, and promote sustainable agriculture” by 2030. The Zero Hunger goal implies that no one should be left behind. The Asia-Pacific region is home to most of the world’s undernourished people (490 million). Other forms of malnutrition remain challenging, including stunting and micronutrient deficiencies. While in some countries there are rising rates of overweight and obesity. The issues are manifest in both the demand side and supply side. On the demand side, there is population growth, urbanization, migration, and the changing consumption associated with rising incomes. On the supply side, the combined effects of climate change, declining agricultural biodiversity, water scarcity, land scarcity, and degradation of natural resources are threatening world food security.
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    Meeting
    Meeting document
    Round Table on Imagining Future Healthy and Inclusive Food Systems in Asia and the Pacific 2018
    Asia and the Pacific is experiencing major demographic shifts and rapid urbanization. E-agriculture technologies (remote sensing, drones, sensors) are emerging, with potentially profound implications for the entire food system and management of the natural resource base. Structural transformation of the economy has also changed the nature of the food security problem. Earlier, many governments thought that producing more staple food was sufficient to improve food security. However, today’s economy, increasingly based on human capital and less on physical strength, requires that policies and programmes promote healthy diets for healthy people. This need for improved nutrition will require shifts in agricultural production and trade patterns. Solving the malnutrition problem in urban areas will also require different solutions than in rural areas, due to the difference in urban and rural food environments. In line with the structural transformation of the economy, farm households also increasingly rely on non-farm income to support their livelihoods and risk management strategies, which has implications for the uptake of new technologies. The demographic shifts, urbanization and structural changes in the economy, coupled with climate change, have made the food security and nutrition problem more complex than in the past. Solutions require input from different stakeholders, both public and private, as well as a range of government ministries, including health, finance, education, environment, trade and social welfare in addition to agriculture. This round table session will encourage delegates to exchange views on these challenges and share suggestions for creating healthy food systems that promote good nutrition and accelerate poverty reduction through inclusive and sustainable agricultural development.
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    Poster, banner
    Poster / banner / roll-up / folder
    Agricultural diversification for Zero Hunger initiative: Future Smart Food 2019
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    The purpose of this banner is to introduce the idea to policy makers, researchers and public about the Future Smart Food Initiative to achieve Zero Hunger, and the holistic and cost-effective intervention to build an agri-food system with production and dietary diversity.

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    Book (stand-alone)
    Technical book
    Climate change and food security: risks and responses 2015
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    End hunger, achieve food security and improve nutrition are at the heart of the sustainable development goals. The World has committed to eradicate extreme poverty and hunger by 2030. But climate change is undermining the livelihoods and food security of the rural poor, who constitute almost 80 percent of the world’s poor. The effects of climate change on our ecosystems are already severe and widespread. Climate change brings a cascade of impacts from agroecosystems to livelihoods. Climate change impacts directly agroecosystems, which in turn has a potential impact on agricultural production, which drives economic and social impacts, which impact livelihoods. In other words, impacts translate from climate to the environment, to the productive sphere, to economic and social dimensions. Therefore, ensuring food security in the face of climate change is among the most daunting challenges facing humankind. Action is urgently needed now to reduce vulnerability and increase resilience of food systems to ensure food security and good nutrition for all.
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    Document
    Other document
    Reducing inequalities for food security and nutrition
    A report by the High Level Panel of Experts on Food Security and Nutrition
    2023
    The report “Reducing inequalities for food security and nutrition” has been developed by the High Level Panel of Experts on Food Security and Nutrition (HLPE-FSN) following the request by the United Nations Committee on World Food Security (CFS) as included in its Programme of Work (MYPoW 2020-2023). In particular, the CFS requested the HLPE-FSN to develop a report to: (i) analyse evidence relating to how inequalities in access to assets (particularly land, other natural resources and finance) and in incomes within food systems impede opportunities for many actors to overcome food insecurity and malnutrition; (ii) analyse the drivers of inequalities and provide recommendations on entry points to address these; and (iii) identify areas requiring further research and data collection. This report will inform the ensuing CFS thematic workstream on inequalities, aiming at addressing the root causes of food insecurity with a focus on those “most affected by hunger and malnutrition”.
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    Book (stand-alone)
    Technical book
    School-based food and nutrition education
    A white paper on the current state, principles, challenges and recommendations for low- and middle-income countries
    2020
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    School-based food and nutrition education (SFNE) helps schoolchildren and the school community to achieve lasting improvements in their food practices and outlooks; build the capacity to change and to adapt to external change; and pass on their learning to others. SFNE has also an important role in complementing efforts that are being made globally to improve food environments, and in empowering children and adolescents to become active participants in shaping the food system to be better able to deliver healthy and sustainable diets. Despite increasing interest for SFNE, the evidence that supports it and its potential, much of traditional SFNE, particularly in LMICs, is largely underfunded, not delivering results, and disconnected from other key interventions that aim to support the food, nutrition, environment, and education nexus. SFNE is under-resourced, with capacity development opportunities lacking throughout the school system. This White Paper is the first document of its kind, and it is based on the evidence, professional expertise, and field experience, lessons learned, and documented challenges of SFNE work in a variety of contexts. It presents the case for raising the profile and transforming the vision and learning model of SFNE. This document is directed firstly to a technical audience working in governmental organizations that deal with schoolchildren and adolescents and is also of interest to researchers, technical advisors, decision-makers, donors and investors, civil society, and UN organizations.