meeting of scientists from different fields, policy makers, and representatives of governmental and non-governmental organizations to present new data and analyses and discuss innovative ways to overcome hidden hunger, which had long been an overlooked problem. The title of the Third Hidden Hunger Conference was “The post-2015 agenda: Where are we now? Strategies to improve nutrition quality and combat hidden hunger.” As in the case of the 2 previous conferences, the event brought together representatives from different disciplines from high- and low-income countries, who discussed the links and the gaps between science and practice in all regions of the world.
When the First Hidden Hunger Conference was launched in 2013, the term “hidden hunger” was known only within a small circle of scientists. The first conference was entitled “From Assessment to Solutions” and highlighted problems and challenges of the hidden aspects of micronutrient malnutrition. The second conference held in 2015 focused on the consequences of hidden hunger, placing special emphasis on the 1,000-days window. Thanks to Karger publisher, we were able to publish most of the presentations in the series “World Review of Nutrition and Dietetics,” which helped to raise global attention to the problem of hidden hunger.
Indeed, hidden hunger has become more visible since then. The Third Hidden Hunger Conference featured a range of strategies to improve nutrition quality and combat hidden hunger that are now implemented in different regions of the world, which were highlighted in different important lectures. The fact that nearly all presentations are now available in the series “World Reviews of Nutrition and Dietetics” documents the importance of this conference. We are particularly delighted that all 3 conferences attracted not only leading senior scientists, but also young scientists from Africa and Asia who presented exciting new field research that shows that there is movement and scientific commitment to overcome the challenge of hidden hunger.
We are profoundly grateful for the participation of international speakers who helped to uncover the problems of hidden hunger and to make them visible to all who are engaged in combating hunger on a global scale. It is unacceptable any longer to announce a reduction of hunger based on an increase of available calories only. Hidden hunger still lurks behind the scenes, which affects childhood growth and cognitive development, but becomes visible too late and reduces productivity and well-being later in life, thus keeping the affected population trapped in a circle of poverty and malnutrition. The Hidden Hunger Conference series will continue to highlight this hidden problem to rouse policy makers, scientists, and all organizations involved in the fight against hunger to place hidden hunger strongly in the focus of their action. It is not enough to feed the world, we need to nourish the world.
Our warmest thanks are due to Jana Tinz and Donatus Nohr for their immense and generous help in organizing the congress. Special thanks are also due to our students who were a great help in the organization of the conference. We would like to express our sincere thanks for to the Robert Bosch Foundation, the Fiat Panis Foundation, to the Sabri Ülker Foundation, and to the GESTE – Foundation for Development Cooperation for their support, which allowed us to fund the conference participation of students and scientists from Africa and Asia. We are also grateful for the the German Academic Exchange Service (Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst, DAAD) which allowed us to organize an alumni seminar in connection with the conference, which was attended by 60 DAAD alumni from a wide range of developing countries. Consequently, the conference was able to bring together professionals from many regions of the world that are affected by hidden hunger problems and encourage a dialogue with scientists and development organizations who are working on strategies to make hidden hunger visible as a basis for its control.
The initiative “One World, No Hunger” of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (Bundesministerium für wirtschaftliche Zusammenarbeit und Entwicklung, BMZ) is a good example of a strategy to address hunger as well as hidden hunger by focusing not only on the quantity, but also the quality of food. We are grateful for the generous financial support of the conference by the BMZ. We would also like to thank the German Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (Bundesministerium für Ernährung und Landwirtschaft, BMEL) and the Food Security Center of the University Hohenheim for their support.
The speakers, the sponsors and the back-stage assistants of the Third Hidden Hunger Conference made it possible that this book could be published. The never-ending kind deadline reminders of our assistant Kornelia Kasper ensured that we could bring together all manuscripts within a short time. Peter Roth and Tanja Sebuk from Karger publishers kindly took care of the remaining organizational requirements that made it possible to have the book available now. We trust that the book will find a wide audience and will, thus, help to combat the problem of hidden hunger worldwide.
Hans K. Biesalski, Stuttgart
Regina Birner, Stuttgart
Biesalski HK, Birner R (eds): Hidden Hunger: Strategies to Improve Nutrition Quality.
World Rev Nutr Diet. Basel, Karger, 2018, vol 118, pp 1–9 (DOI: 10.1159/000484513)
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Economic and Political Innovation for Nutritional Improvement
Joachim von Braun
Center for Development Research, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
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Abstract
Large shares of the world population are still affected by nutrition deficiencies and undernutrition. However, the current global agriculture and food system and its international governance shows signs of serious malfunctioning, and is not equipped to cope with the current and future challenges it is facing. In view of the complex and multi-dimensional nature of nutrition problems, a framework is put forward here to improve the understanding of underlying causalities, and to identify priorities for action. In doing so, this paper focuses on economic and policy innovation. Better nutrition policy requires systematic, multi-faceted policy innovations, that is, the re-design of the current global food and nutrition governance system, and the adoption of innovative economic and political approaches. To achieve efficient and effective nutrition policy, more attention, leadership, funds, and a global organizational home for better coordination are needed. A systematic science and policy interface in the form of an International Panel on Food, Nutrition and Agriculture is proposed to provide a strong evidence base for nutrition policies.
© 2018 S. Karger AG, Basel
Introduction
Nutritional deficits and undernutrition affect large shares of populations around the world. Food and nutrition security is not just a matter of increasing food production and distribution, but matters of health, sanitation, and human behavior. Systematic, multi-faceted changes, that is, innovations are needed to improve nutrition. Simplistically innovation may be defined as “getting things done better” (improved processes), and “getting better things” (improved products and services). We distinguish between technological (e.g., biological, medical, engineering), institutional/economic, and policy innovations. Innovation is an important driver for economic and social progress, including in the whole food and nutrition system, which is our focus here. Innovations must tackle the complex problems of hunger, undernutrition, and malnutrition (obesity) to find effective and efficient solutions to them. This paper focuses on economic and policy innovations for nutritional improvements. Achieving food and nutrition security will not only require policy makers to commit, but also evidence-based choices of action, and sound policy implementation. Enhancement of scientific knowledge is fundamental for innovation. Experimentation and scaling of innovations require inclusion of the public in transparent discourse
