IPGRI Nutrition Strategy

Dietary diversity: a challenge linking human health with plant genetic resources

The nutrition and health of rural and urban populations is profoundly affected by patterns of global food production and consumption. Concurrently socioeconomic changes imperil the diversity that provides the foundation for healthy diets and of stable agriculture for present and future generations. Recognition of the essential contributions of species and varieties of plants and animals to food security and dietary quality offers an important rationale for the conservation of biodiversity. Nonetheless, sustainability of both healthy environments and improved health for the world’s disadvantaged seems best achievable within a context that also addresses the economic and social needs and aspirations of both farmers and the consumers of their products.

Figure 1. Population–level synergies linking biodiversity conservation and human nutrition in developing countries.

IPGRI’s strategy for dietary diversity and health focuses on the sustainability of developing country foods systems as the basis for research and development activities. It seeks to forge the kind of crucial interconnections among water, energy, health, agriculture and biodiversity (WEHAB) called for in the recent World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) in Johannesburg. Likewise it contributes to food-based methods addressing the emerging double burden of global malnutrition in which nutrient deficiencies coexist with excess energy consumption.

The strategy emphasizes an evidence-based approach to nutrition and health function in conjunction with sustainable agriculture by small-scale farmers and the use of locally available foods, food variety, traditional cuisines and culturally-sensitive methodologies. Among its desired outcomes are contributions to conservation of agro-biodiversity, poverty reduction and income generation, improved diets of rural and urban poor, public education and sound public policy.

Keynote Address to the Seventh Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP 7)

If you would like to download the address of IPGRI Director general, Dr. Emile Frison, click here (PDF file, 5.486 Kb)

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Human aspects