Contributions and constraints from agriculture in achieving a nutrition strategy to prevent chronic diseases

Abstract

Improved nutrition has potential to stem the growth in chronic diseases seen in developed and developing countries alike. The ability of the agricultural sector to feed a country's population is an important factor in achieving better nutrition, particularly among populations that cannot buy imported food. How to address chronic disease must be considered in the very different contexts of both developed and developing countries, as well as among wealthy and poor sub-populations. The limitations of agriculture in most developing countries to satisfy the nutritional needs of the population are revealed in the persistently high rates of under-nutrition in the developing world, and increases in over-nutrition. This paper develops the argument that agriculture must change dramatically in many countries to be able to provide the needed opportunities for improving nutrition for reduction of chronic disease risk.