Title
Diet Quality and Diet Changes of the Poor
Description
Deficiencies of essential micronutrients are now recognized as the most widespread nutritional problem facing the world today. The IFPRI program on this global health issue includes research focused on small-holder agriculture and nutrition through homestead food production (HFP) programming. IFPRI is collaborating with Helen Keller International (HKI) to develop and enhance the HFP program to improve intervention delivery and utilization channels and increase nutrition impacts for vulnerable groups. Currently, the HFP program supports home gardens, small animal husbandry enterprises, and nutrition education. It aims to reduce poverty, empower women, and improve household access to micronutrient-rich foods such as fruit, vegetables, dairy, meat, fish, and eggs. IFPRI and HKI will conduct operations research and apply program theory to improve these program components. Two approaches will be assessed: 1) the current nutrition education package will be completely revamped and will use state-of-the-art behavior change communications (BCC) tools, locally adapted education materials, and staff trained in adult education techniques to promote optimal maternal and child care, feeding and preventive health practices, focusing on the -9 to 24 months critical period; and 2) the model will include a systematic approach to forge linkages between participating households, surrounding community groups and existing health care services to ensure greater access to (and coverage of) preventive health and nutrition services.
CGIAR center
IFPRI
Category
Research Program
Keywords
mironutrient
nutrition
malnutrition
livestock
diet
capacity building
Contact
Lora Iannotti
E-mail
l.iannotti@cgiar.org
Title
Urban Harvest Program
Description
ILRI is a member of Urban Harvest, a CGIAR initiative to use the collective knowledge and technologies of the CGIAR Centers to strengthen urban and peri-urban agriculture (PUA) practiced by the poor.
CGIAR center
ILRI
Category
Initiatives and Networks
Keywords
urban
peri-urban
human health
nutrition
diet
malnutrition
undernutrition
contaminant
food system
Contact
Tom Randolph
E-mail
t.randolph@cgiar.org
Title
Responding to HIV and AIDS in the Fishery Sector in Southern Africa
Description
Fisherfolk are among the populations most at risk to HIV, with far-reaching implications for the impact of the disease in society at large as well as for the future of sustainable fish supply. Small-scale fisheries in Africa provide livelihoods and food and nutrition security for millions of poor people, including those living with HIV. WorldFish is currently implementing a regional collaborative research-for-development programme with the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) in eight countries in Sub-Sahara Africa; Benin, Cameroon, DRC, Malawi, Mozambique, Nigeria, Uganda and Zambia. The programme is funded by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida) and the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and will build a strategic response to HIV/AIDS in the fisheries sector that will generate benefits for vulnerable groups in wider society. The programme will deliver outputs in three areas:
1. Improved knowledge base on the trends and risk factors of HIV/AIDS in the fisheries sector;
2. Viable investment options to reduce vulnerability and increase mitigation capacity in the fisheries sector and generate benefits for populations at risk in wider society;
3. Improved policies, institutions and processes for dissemination and investment in best practice.
The programme involves stakeholders from Departments of Fisheries, universities and other national research institutions, national policy institutions, NGOs and local organizations. Through national consultations, four focus areas have been agreed in the respective target countries: mobility and migration, vulnerability along the fish value chain, nutrition impact of fish, and institutional change. Lessons are emerging as implementation moves forward, with research and learning that will contribute to bridging gaps between the fisheries and health sectors and develop innovative ways to reduce vulnerability for people in the small-scale fisheries sector and beyond.
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Category
Research Programs
Keywords
HIV/AIDS
aquaculture
fisheries
nutrition
malnutrition
fish
Countries
Benin
Cameroon
Demcratic Republic of Congo
Malawi
Mozambique
Nigeria
Uganda
Zambia
Contact
Dr. Simon Heck
E-mail
s.heck@cgiar.org
Title
Agriculture and Health Linkages: Towards Improved Co-ordination
Description
The roundtable workshop was held at IFPRI Washington DC on June 23-24, 2005. The objective of the workshop was to move towards improved co-ordination on health-related work within the CGIAR, in partnership with the health sector.
CGIAR center
IFPRI
Category
Outreach and Events
Keywords
nutrition
malaria
HIV/AIDS
malnutrition
aflatoxin
mycotoxin
zoonosis
zoonotic
Start date
June 23, 2005
End date
June 24, 2005
Title
Understanding the Links between Agriculture and Health
Description
The 2020 Panel Discussion was held on May 15, 2006 at IFPRI, Washington DC. The objective was to discuss how linkages between agriculture and health work, where the opportunities for joint action lie, what the impediments are that need to be overcome, and how to strengthen synergies between agriculture and health and promote closer coordination.
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CGIAR center
IFPRI
Category
Outreach and Events
Keywords
nutrition
malaria
HIV/AIDS
zoonotic
zoonosis
malnutriton
micronutrient
mycotoxin
aflatoxin
Start date
May 15, 2006
Title
Forging Links between Agriculture and Health: Setting Strategies and Priorities for Joint International Research on Agriculture and Health
Description
This meeting was held June 25, 2007 in Geneva, Switzerland at WHO in Geneva. The main objective was to identify priorities for research by exploring the opportunities and synergies in key research areas at the intersection of health and agriculture.
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CGIAR center
IFPRI
Category
Outreach and Events
Keywords
HIV/AIDS
avian influenza
diet
malnutrition
food safety
waterborne disease
nutrition
Start date
June 25, 2007
Title
Harvest Plus Challenge Program
Description
Billions of people in developing countries suffer from micronutrient malnutrition, also known as "hidden hunger," that is caused by lack of sufficient micronutrients (such as vitamin A, zinc, and iron) in the diet. Micronutrient deficiencies can impair cognitive development, lower resistance to disease in children and adults, and increases risks for both mothers and infants during childbirth. The costs of these deficiencies in terms of lives lost and reduced quality of life are staggering. Diets deficient in micronutrients are characterized by high intakes of staple food crops (such as maize, and rice), but low consumption of micronutrient-rich foods such as fruits, vegetables, and animal products. HarvestPlus seeks to reduce micronutrient malnutrition among the poor by breeding staple food crops that are rich in micronutrients through a process called biofortification.
HarvestPlus is a Global Challenge Program of the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR). It is coordinated by the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT) and the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).
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CGIAR center
IFPRI
Category
Initiatives and Networks
Keywords
micronutrient
malnutrition
diet
vitamin A
zinc
iron
biofortification
nutrition
Contact
Bonnie McClafferty
E-mail
b.mcclafferty@cgiar.org
Title
The Regional Network on AIDS, Livelihoods, and Food Security (RENEWAL)
Description
The majority of people affected by HIV/AIDS are dependent on agriculture and food and nutrition security are critical concerns. RENEWAL, facilitated by IFPRI, is a 'network of networks' in Malawi, Uganda, Zambia, South Africa and Kenya. It undertakes locally-prioritized research, capacity strengthening and communications on the relationships between HIV/AIDS and agriculture in Africa.
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CGIAR center
IFPRI
Category
Initiatives and Networks
Keywords
HIV/AIDS
nutrition
malnutrition
capacity building
food security
livelihoods
Countries
Malawi
Uganda
Zambia
South Africa
Kenya
Contact
Stuart Gillespie
E-mail
s.gillespie@cgiar.org
Title
Medicinal Plants
Description
CIFOR's research on medicinal plants includes an ongoing study of non-timber forest products and a completed study on local ecology and livelihoods benefits of biodiversity in Brazil. The research documented the importance of forest species in public health care and the impact of deforestation, particularly logging, on sources of powerful and widely used medicinal plants. A documentary film, Daughters of the Canopy, illustrates the role of forests in the health care and nutrition of rural and urban woman, and how the women's movement in Brazil is helping woman to secure access to forest resources for their families' futures.
CGIAR center
CIFOR
Category
Research Program
Keywords
medicinal plant
nutrition
malnutrition
Countries
Brazil
Contact
Carol Colfer
E-mail
c.colfer@cgiar.org
Title
Forests and Human Health Initiative
Description
This CIFOR initiative involves investigation of the role of forest ecosystems in human health. This includes exploring the relationships between environmental change, biodiversity degradation and human diseases, as well as working with human communities to improve their human and environmental health conditions. Participants include scientists from CIFOR's three programmes as well as invited participants representing the fields of ethnobotany, public health, medical anthropology, ecology, and economics.
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CGIAR center
CIFOR
Category
Initiatives and Networks
Keywords
biodiversity
HIV/AIDS
diet
medicinal plant
Contact
Carol Colfer
E-mail
c.colfer@cgiar.org