Support The World's Smartest Network
×

Help the New York Academy of Sciences bring late-breaking scientific information about the COVID-19 pandemic to global audiences. Please make a tax-deductible gift today.

DONATE
This site uses cookies.
Learn more.

×

This website uses cookies. Some of the cookies we use are essential for parts of the website to operate while others offer you a better browsing experience. You give us your permission to use cookies, by continuing to use our website after you have received the cookie notification. To find out more about cookies on this website and how to change your cookie settings, see our Privacy policy and Terms of Use.

We encourage you to learn more about cookies on our site in our Privacy policy and Terms of Use.

eBriefing

Solving Malnutrition through Food Systems and Nutrition Programs

Solving Malnutrition through Food Systems and Nutrition Programs
Reported by
Saima Ahmed

Posted October 24, 2019

Saima Ahmed has a MS in Human Nutrition and serves as the Program Coordinator for the Academy’s Nutrition Program.

Presented By

The New York Academy of Sciences

Overview

Malnutrition, in all its forms, is a global challenge. As a key modifiable risk factor for chronic and infectious diseases, it has far-reaching health, economic, and social consequences. On September 13, 2018, the New York Academy of Sciences hosted a discussion of two contrasting, yet not mutually exclusive, strategies to meet the global population’s nutritional needs. Barbara Burlingame, of Massey University, New Zealand, and Kathryn Dewey, of the University of California Davis, presented their views on food systems and nutrition programs.

Highlights

  • According to Dewey, filling nutrient gaps with supplementation, fortification, bio-fortification, and fortified products may be an appropriate complement to improve food systems as a whole.
  • Burlingame argued that food systems can adequately support healthy diets for the population through sustainable diets and food biodiversity already present in the ecosystem.
  • Both Dewey and Burlingame agree on the importance of finding mutually agreeable strategies and exploring areas of complementarity using multisectoral involvement. 
Strategies for Global Malnutrition
Food Systems Solutions to Solve Malnutrition
Conclusion