Linking Agriculture And Nutrition to Improve Health

in CARICOM Populations

Isabella Francis-Granderson, PhD., RD

Faculty of Food and Agriculture,

The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago

October 14 – 16, 2015

Trinidad and Tobago

Guyana

St. Lucia

St. Kitts and Nevis

15 CARICOM (Caribbean Community) Countries

Prevalence of Overweight and Obesity in the Caribbean in > 30 years old

23

16

25

7 8

2016 15

1412 11 10 10

1

5755 54

4643

3430 29

2725 24 23 22

19

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

Ba

rba

do

s

Trin

ida

d a

nd

To

ba

go

Do

min

ica

Ja

ma

ica

Sa

int L

ucia

Ba

ha

ma

s

Sa

int K

itts

an

d N

evis

An

tig

ua

an

d B

arb

ud

a

Gre

na

da

Sa

int V

ince

nt a

nd

th

e

Gre

na

din

es Be

lize

Su

rin

am

e

Gu

ya

na

Ha

iti

Pre

va

len

ce

of

Ob

es

ity

Males

Females

Source: J. R. Deep Ford 2013; FAO

• Improve nutrition & health outcomes of CARICOM populations through availability of foods that would increase intake of vegetables & fruits, decrease caloric intake, and increase micronutrient intake;

• Develop food production systems based on agricultural diversification, water conservation & efficient use of land;

• Build and test a Farm to Fork Model for CARICOM food and nutrition security;

• Expand and build human and institutional capacity to solve problems of food and nutrition insecurity in CARICOM;

• Understand constraints to, and accelerate the rate of technology adoption by small farmers;

• Adapt international standards of food safety and quality for a healthy, market-oriented food supply chain;

Project Goals

From Farm

To Fork

Socio-Economic Studies

Consumer and Farmer Household Surveys Focus groups on innovation & technology adoption Environmental

Management

Gender Consideration

…and beyond

Water and Land Resources Drip Irrigation, Water and Soil Conservation Protected Agriculture Open Field Crop Diversification Silage conservation for Small Ruminants

Market access Post-Harvest Loss Management Food Safety and Quality

Community Nutrition and Health Improving the quality of School Meals Nutrition Education Consumer food choices

Policy Changes for Sustained Food Security in CARICOM

Farm to Fork: Impact pathway

Collective

action

Innovation

Technology

adoption

Social

capital

Policy

Farm to Fork Model for CARICOM Food & Nutrition Security

Steady supply of nutritious produce

Training of personnel

Record keeping

Institutional support &

Food procurement policy

Food safety inspection

Curtailment of sugary drinks & school

vendors

Improved farmer livelihood

Community food & nutrition security

CONCEPTUAL FRAME FOR AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT AND FOOD & NUTRITION SECURITY

School menu cost efficiency

Community health & development

School

Feeding &

Market

Development

Input Input Outcomes

Funding for this project was provided by The Canadian International Food Security Research Fund (CIFSRF) a program of Canada’s International Development Research Centre (IDRC) undertaken with the financial support of the Government of Canada provided through Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Canada (DFATD).

We acknowledge the enormous support and contribution for the institutional partners and personnel in Guyana, St. Kitts-Nevis, St. Lucia and Trinidad and Tobago

Special appreciation is expressed to Dr. Leroy Phillip, PI and all other Project Team members and Project Partners for their contributions to the project (McGill U, UG, UWI).

Project websites: https://www.caricomfoodsecurity.com https://www.mcgill.ca/globalfoodsecurity/research-initiatives/caricom-project

Acknowledgments

THANK YOU

CARICOM Project websites:

https://www.caricomfoodsecurity.com

www.mcgill.ca/globalfoodsecurity/research-initiatives/caricom-project