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The world’s other pandemic: confronting the food crisis
For many of us Covid 19 has caused a step-change in our relationship with food. The path to address this crisis will involve innovative solutions and provide significant investment opportunities.
Written by
Mayssa Al Midani
Senior Investment Manager
Gillian Diesen
Client Portfolio Manager
From one pandemic to another. The world may have begun to emerge from the ravages of Covid-19, but it has yet to confront what the World Health Organization considers another public health crisis – malnutrition.
Although it has been six years since world governments pledged to end hunger by 2030 under the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, progress has been slow. So slow, in fact, that the target now looks out of reach. But malnutrition isn't only hunger - it's just as much about obesity and too many empty calories.
The warning came in a recent Pictet ‘Megatrends Series’ webcast presentation given by Dr Sandro Demaio and Dr Stefan Catsicas, nutrition experts who sit on the Pictet-Nutrition Advisory Board.
In the webcast, the two explained if present trends persist, more than 17 per cent of children under five will suffer from stunted growth by the end of the decade while over 7 percent will be overweight.
This ‘double burden of malnutrition’ – which reflects the flaws in the way food is produced, marketed and consumed – is not only a matter for health experts but is at root of many of the socio-economic and environmental problems that have faced the planet over the past few decades.
As Dr Demao said: "Malnutrition is not the problem of the rich, poor or the lazy. It’s a bigger and complex societal problem involving a dynamic global food system. There’s no silver bullet in fixing it. In order to get more affordable, convenient and healthier food to children as well as those in the lower income countries, we need to reform not just what we eat – or personal food environment – but also the supply chains and external surroundings such as retail and food markets. We need more efficient production and transport of food, waste reduction as well as enabling policy."
Malnutrition is not the problem of the rich, poor or the lazy. It’s a bigger and complex societal problem involving a dynamic global food system.
“After the pandemic, more people are focused on health and public health has shown its value. The narrative of “no one is safe until everyone is safe” applies to other global health threats, and people may start to connect and realise the urgency in tackling the pandemic of malnutrition,” he said.
But the problems cannot be solved by governments alone, Dr Catsicas explained. Food companies – and their shareholders – have a big part to play. By investing more in technology that reduces food waste and improves food’s nutritional value, food producers can help consign the ‘double burden of malnutrition’ to the history books.
After the pandemic, more people are focused on health and public health has shown its value.
We need multi-stakeholder solutions...there's more room for the private sector to work with governments.
"We need multi-stakeholder solutions. Some governments have successfully rolled out of policies such as the sugar tax but there’s more room for the private sector to work with governments so that they can adapt and invest in solutions." Dr Catsicas explained.
Our Mega.online website has written extensively on the challenges facing the food industry. A selection of articles can be found below.
Missed the webcast? Click on the icon to access the replay...
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