Jessica Fanzo IFPRI-FAO conference, "Accelerating the End of Hunger and Malnutrition" November 28–30, 2018 Bangkok, Thailand

1. Changing Diets:
The Asia Pacific
Perspective
Jess Fanzo, FAO and Johns Hopkins University
November 29, Bangkok

2. What people are eating around the world
Source: Afshin, GBD DC Food Forum Sept 2018

3. Why the Asia-Pacific context is unique
▪ Massive population and population pressure
▪ Food systems are very diverse because of the
many distinct economies and drivers that
shape them
▪ However inequities exist – across urban and
rural food systems and environments
▪ Burdens are quite distinct as well, depending
on the country and even sub-nationally
▪ Different cultures, traditions and social norms
with food and eating
Source: FAO SOFI RAP Region 2018

4. Transformations of the Asian agri-food economy
▪ Urbanization - 56% by 2030 and 64% by 2050
▪ Agri-food system transformation - “post
farmgate” segments of the supply chain moved
to secondary and primary cities
▪ Rural factor market transformation – rural
nonfarm employment increasing
▪ Intensification of farm technology - farms have
commercialized; and diversified, and
specialized
▪ Dietary changes – Bennett’s law in action
Source: T. Reardon, C.P. Timmer / Global Food Security 3 (2014) 108–117

5. What people are eating in Asia
Source: GDD Tufts; Global Panel on Agriculture and Food Systems for Nutrition. 2016. Food systems and diets: Facing the challenges of the 21st century. London, UK
Dietary intake of food groups, 2010 Changes in dietary intake, 1990-2013

6. What are the diet trends in the Asia Pacific?
Source: Baker and Friel Globalization and Health (2016) 12:80
Distribution share (%) of processed foods through
modern grocery retail channels, 1999–2013
Sales of ultra-processed food products and oils & fats, in
selected Asian markets, 2000–2013 with projections to
2017

7. Nutrition consequences of global and Asian-Pac diets
821 million
people go to bed
hungry
151 million
children are stunted
50 million
children are wasted
2.1 billion
adults are
overweight or obese
38 million
children are
overweight
88%
of countries face a
serious burden of
either two or three
forms of malnutrition
Source: Development Initiatives 2018 Global Nutrition Report; UNICEF/WHO/World Bank Joint Malnutrition Estimates 2018

8. Health consequences of global diets
Source: GBD 2016 Risk Factors Collaborators (2017). Global, regional, and national comparative risk assessment of 84 behavioural, environmental and
occupational, and metabolic risks or clusters of risks, 1990–2016: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2016. Lancet
High Socio-demographic Index Countries Low Socio-demographic Index Countries

9. Health consequences of Asian-Pac diets
Source: GBD 2018 Visual Hub
India Thailand
Risk factors that drive the most death and disability combined: 2007 and 2017

10. Equity consequences of Asian diets
Source: Tufts Global Dietary Database – Accessed November 2018; WFP Fill the Nutrient Gap + FAO SOFI RAP 2018

11. Climate consequences of Asian-Pac diets
Source: Ranganathan, J., Vennard, D., Waite, R.I.C.H.A.R.D., Dumas, P., Lipinski, B. and Searchinger, T., 2016. Shifting diets for a sustainable food future. World
Resources Institute; He, P., Baiocchi, G., Hubacek, K., Feng, K. and Yu, Y., 2018. The environmental impacts of rapidly changing diets and their nutritional quality
in China. Nature Sustainability, 1(3), p.122.
Impacts of diets on the environment: China case study

12. What can be done now, and into the future
▪ The malnutrition burden is massive, particularly for Asia: diets are major contributors to that
burden and we need significant action across food systems now.
▪ Environmental impacts of changing diets and food systems are significant.
▪ There are many policy actions that can be taken: National food policies should span value
chains, food environment and consumer demand.
▪ Composite approaches are needed: No one approach will do everything. A mix of regulatory,
fiscal, voluntary and other approaches is required.
▪ Consumption matters: Sustainable, safe, healthy eating patterns must be taken seriously.
▪ Lack of evidence is no excuse for inaction: action generates evidence.
▪ A whole food system approach is needed: While there are health and environmental win-
wins there can be trade-offs too as seen with the different health and environmental impacts of
sugars and meats. There will also be food system trade-offs, and the different interests of
different stakeholders need to be recognized.

13. Thank you!
@jessfanzo