From Olaf Swarbrick
Globally, we all face potential shortages of food for humans and feed for animals (14 June, p 28) which have, as yet, not seriously affected most countries. It needs to be pointed out that wherever there is fighting there are food shortages, famines and malnutrition – as seen in large areas of Africa now.
It seems unlikely that superficial food aid, however well organised, will on its own be a satisfactory solution if fighting continues. Improved agricultural production requires control of parasites and infections such as foot and mouth disease and rinderpest, and fungal diseases in crops. These require, as you rightly say, research institutes and scientists, local education programmes and trained fieldworkers: none of these can operate in the midst of warfare.
From Emile Frison, Bioversity International
Your excellent article on the need for further investment in agricultural research and development in poor countries approvingly quotes Phil Pardey saying that “they stopped work on productivity and focused on environment or nutrition”. The Copenhagen Consensus Center – founded by economist Bjørn Lomborg to examine development priorities – recently claimed that the treatment of micronutrient deficiencies is the most effective investment to be made. Our work at Bioversity International has shown that greater dietary diversity is a sure and sustainable route to better health and productivity.
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Of course it is important for hungry people to have access to sufficient calories, but the hidden hunger of missing micronutrients afflicts 2 billion people worldwide. Efforts to increase food supplies should keep the need for micronutrients in mind.
Rome, Italy
Arundel, West Sussex, UK
