The Fight Against Hunger and Malnutrition: The Role of Food, Agriculture, and Targeted Policies

Advances in science and policy during the past 50 years have prevented the predicted widespread food shortages as the world's population soared. Malnutrition, however, remains prevalent. This book details strategies and practical approaches designed to alleviate hunger and malnutrition in a new era where technological change, markets, patterns of governance, and social programs have an increasingly global dimension. More specifically, this book addresses a range of considerations including the role of small farmers in a world where the global reach of multinational corporations have enormous control from the farm to local markets and the grocery store; misgivings and misperceptions about genetically modified foods; the increasing competition of food and energy sectors for agricultural output; the importance of micronutrient deficiencies and chronic disease related to obesity, which often coexists in the same communities as hunger; and issues of sustainability of the food and agricultural system in an period when there is increasing concerns over global warming and environmental degradation. Currently there is also more emphasis on evidence-based policymaking, which has raised the standard of proof for evaluating the impact of micro-level interventions that have traditionally been so widely embraced and are now under increased scrutiny. It is in this context that this book provides practical advice on programs that can effectively target those at greatest risk of malnutrition and guidance on policies to promote a healthy and sustainable food and agricultural system. Overlaying all of these challenges is the book's emphasis on both identifying data and information needs for decision-making, and practical considerations for better understanding the domestic and international political and social constraints that need to be addressed when trying to translate scientific knowledge and information into practice. Contributors to this volume - Harold Alderman, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) Julian M. Alston, University of California, Davis Suresh Chandra, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) Christopher B. Barrett, Cornell University Leah E. M. Bevis, Cornell University Shenggen Fan, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) Edward A. Frongillo, University of South Carolina Sinafikeh Gemessa, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) Jean-Pierre Habicht, Professor Emeritus, Cornell University Peter B. R. Hazell, Cornell University Anna Herforth, Consultant Tina Andersen Huey, University of Pennsylvania Andrew D. Jones, University of Michigan Jef L. Leroy, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) Andy McKay, University of Sussex Malden C. Nesheim, Professor Emeritus, Cornell University Marion Nestle, New York University Tolulope Olofinbiyi, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) Robert Paarlberg, Wellesley College Philip G. Pardey, University of Minnesota Prabhu Pingali, Cornell University Mitch Renkow, North Carolina State University Katie Ricketts, Cornell University Marie T. Ruel, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) David E. Sahn, Cornell University Roger Slade, Consultant Finn Tarp, University of Copenhagen and UNU-WIDER Erik Thorbecke, Cornell University Barbara Boyle Torrey E. Fuller Torrey, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences Joachim von Braun, University of Bonn Marygold Walsh-Dilley, Cornell University Wendy Wolford, Cornell University Sivan Yosef, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI)