Sunil Dahiya, AGRA West Africa's acting Regional Director and Senior Program Officer for Inclusive Markets, Trade and Finance, has emphasized the need to measure food systems progress not only by their productivity but also by their ability to deliver healthier diets. Speaking at the Micronutrient Forum's 7th Global Conference in Accra, Ghana, Dahiya stated that nutrition should be seen as a measure of success in food systems. He noted that raising productivity without improving diets is insufficient.
The Micronutrient Forum's 7th Global Conference, held under the theme "Nutrition at the Frontiers of a Changing Environment," brings together stakeholders from around the world to advance collective action on nutrition and micronutrient deficiencies. The conference is being held at the official invitation of the Government of Ghana, with backing from the African Union (AU), and co-hosted by the CGIAR. Dahiya recounted how climate change affects food systems, particularly in the Sahel region, where families often lose access to nutrient-rich foods.
Dahiya highlighted the impact of climate change on food systems, stating that it is not only shrinking Africa's harvests but also emptying plates of nutrients. As nutritious foods become scarce and expensive, households rely more heavily on cheaper staples, increasing the risk of hidden hunger and micronutrient deficiencies, particularly among children. Research shows that higher carbon dioxide levels reduce the zinc and iron in staples like rice and wheat.
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) estimates that climate change has already cut Africa's agricultural productivity growth by about a third since 1961, more than in any other region. Dahiya emphasized that Africa contributes less than 4% of global emissions, making this a question of fairness as well as science. He called for the development of resilient, nutritious seeds, enhanced trade to move nutritious foods across borders, and better management of post-harvest losses.
Dahiya drew on lessons from discussions at the recently concluded Africa Food Systems Forum, calling for climate-adapted and biofortified varieties to reach farmers through strong commercial seed systems. He also emphasized the importance of open borders to bring food from surplus areas to deficit areas, stating that every barrier removed along a trade corridor is also a nutrition measure. He called on stakeholders to invest in micronutrient resilience as much as they invest in climate resilience.
Vice President Prof. Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang, who also spoke at the conference, emphasized the need for sustainable financing and strong partnerships to improve nutrition for people around the globe. She called for sustained investment, stronger public institutions, and greater international cooperation in the fight against malnutrition. The conference aims to advance collective action on nutrition and micronutrient deficiencies.
The AGRA official's call for a new approach to measuring food systems progress is part of a broader effort to address the challenges facing Africa's food systems. With climate change and malnutrition remaining significant concerns, stakeholders are working to develop solutions that prioritize nutrition and healthy diets alongside productivity. The conference will continue to bring together experts and stakeholders to discuss these issues and develop strategies for improvement.
Key points
- AGRA's Sunil Dahiya calls for new approach to measuring food systems progress, emphasizing nutrition and healthy diets alongside productivity.
- Climate change is affecting food systems, particularly in the Sahel region, where families often lose access to nutrient-rich foods.
- Stakeholders are working to develop solutions that prioritize nutrition and healthy diets alongside productivity.
