Food security and nutrition through a food systems approach

The beginning of the year is traditionally a period for good resolutions. In late January, a group of nutritionists and earth scientists formulated some for each of us and for the planet. They advocate for a planetary diet, which would lead to improved individual and public health, and would prevent the depletion of our natural resources.

Their recommendations include doubling the current intake of fruits and nuts worldwide, which is certainly a very good idea. Orchards and fruit trees contribute to biodiverse landscapes, while delivering on healthy diets. Nuts are easy to conserve, and could provide value addition to millions of people in remote, rural places while contributing to the nutrition of billions in cities.

In the CGIAR Research Program on Forests, Trees and Agroforestry (FTA), our approach is to provide options suited to contexts, to improve food systems and diets. This means better understanding the complex environmental, economic and social links between forests, trees, quality of the landscape and the development of local and global food markets.

For an introduction to the issue, watch our recent discussion. Nutrition and food systems are a key area that FTA will explore in 2019 and the years to come.

Vincent Gitz, FTA Director

Special feature

Rethinking the food system to tackle triple burden of malnutrition

International scientists are trying to find innovative solutions to tackle what is known as “the triple burden of malnutrition”: lack of food, lack of essential micronutrients, and overweight or obesity. A recent event in Bogor, Indonesia, organized by FTA and the Environmental Change Institute – University of Oxford, looked at enhancing food system resilience to global change, and what are the roles of forests, trees and agroforestry, as well as perspectives for research. Featuring a keynote from John Ingram, before presentations on the importance of forests, trees and agroforestry for food security and nutrition through a food systems approach from Terry Sunderland, Stepha McMullin and Amy Ickowitz, the discussion suggested that finding solutions requires the widening of perspectives from production-centric notions toward a transformation of food production systems.

News

Book analyzes decade of REDD+ experience

In its first 10 years, REDD+ has inspired much enthusiasm and hope for a global transition away from practices that threaten tropical forests, toward lasting climate mitigation. Despite unexpected challenges and a funding pot that has lacked the depth to trigger global mobilization, REDD+ is beginning to deliver on its potential – if more slowly than expected. A new book, Transforming REDD+: Lessons and new directions, takes stock of efforts to reduce emissions from deforestation and forest degradation and enhance forest carbon stocks at multiple scales.

Momentum builds to expand scale of land restoration

Participants of a recent workshop in northern Ghana have called for more trees to restore landscapes, aiming to reverse land degradation and improve livelihoods and food security. Leading farmers and extension officers, NGO representatives and researchers identified the many benefits of increasing trees and forests in landscapes, such as the conservation of soil and water and the important economic, medicinal and nutritional value of indigenous species. They also examined the complex constraints that confront those working to improve the management of agricultural, pastoral and forest land.

Financial innovations could pave way for New Deal for Nature

A global framework represents an opportunity for decision-makers to join urgent efforts to transform approaches to use, safeguard, restore and invest in biodiversity. The New Deal for Nature is regarded as a last call to address the underlying challenges of biodiversity and ecosystem loss, representing an opportunity for decision-makers to join urgent efforts to safeguard, restore and invest in biodiversity. Optimizing and preserving agrobiodiversity could translate into more reliable sourcing and stable production systems, while also enhancing the nutrition of agricultural products and sustainability for farmers.

Is bamboo a sustainable alternative for bioenergy production in Indonesia?

Scientists are exploring the potential of bamboo – already known as a source of food, fiber, firewood and construction material – in the critical realm of energy production and restoration of degraded land. Energy demand in Indonesia has increased significantly in recent years, as a result of population growth, urbanization and economic development. The government is also working to increase its energy provision from renewable sources, in line with its commitments to reducing greenhouse gas emissions under the international Paris Agreement on climate change.

Top of the tree: FTA’s year in review

FTA chalked up some notable achievements last year, contributing to sustainable development, food security and addressing climate change. A number of the program’s research findings reverberated throughout the scientific community, impacting discussions at major events and informing work on the ground. Find out which news articles, research publications, presentations and videos were most-viewed throughout the year.

Banner photo by O. Girard/CIFOR. Special feature and news photos, from top, by: J. Nkadaani/CIFOR; M. Edliadi/CIFOR; Y. Gutierrez/CIFOR; World Agroforestry; L. Sebastian/Bioversity International; R. Bachtiar/CIFOR; J. Nkadaani/CIFOR; E. Prianto/CIFOR.

Contact us

foreststreesagroforestry.org

Events

Seeds of Change Conference
April 2-4, 2019
Canberra, Australia

Asia-Pacific Forestry Week
June 17-21, 2019
Incheon, Republic of Korea

The CGIAR Research Program on Forests, Trees and Agroforestry (FTA) is the world’s largest research for development program to enhance the role of forests, trees and agroforestry in sustainable development and food security and to address climate change. CIFOR leads FTA in partnership with Bioversity International, CATIE, CIRAD, ICRAF, INBAR and TBI.

FTA thanks all donors who supported this research through their contributions to the CGIAR Trust Fund.