Agro-ecology practices like organic agriculture and agroforestry can help address issues related to natural resource degradation, climate change, and food and nutrition security. Climate change impacts nutrition through various pathways like changes in food productivity and quality. Promoting nutrition-sensitive climate adaptation and mitigation brings co-benefits for health and the environment. Mainstreaming nutrition indicators into climate policies can help achieve development goals. Sustainable diets that emphasize plant-based foods can benefit both health and environment by reducing emissions.

1. AGROECOLOGY,*NUTRITION,*HEALTH*!
!
Cristina Tirado von der Pahlen, DVM, MS, PhD
Chair of the IUNS Climate and Nutrition Task Force
UN Standing Committee for Nutrition WG on Climate Change
cristinatirado@ucla.edu
© Samuel Hauenstein Swan

2. “Agro%ecology*prac-ces,*including*organic**
agriculture*and*agroforestry,*are*ways*to**
answer*the*combined*crisis*of*natural*resource**
degrada-on,*climate*change*and*food*and*
nutri-on*security”**
*
(FAO,!2014)!

3. !
!
Adapted from WHO
Global*Climate*and*Environmental*Change**
Water
quantity
and safety
Diverse pathways
Altered
precipitation
Decline in
ecosystem
services
Conflict
UV exposure
Agro-ecosystem
Productivity

4. Summary*of*DirecDon,*Magnitude,*and*Certainty*of*
Projected*Climate*impacts*on*Health!(IPCC,*2007)*
Negative Impact Positive Impact
Very High Confidence
Effects on geographic range & incidence of
malaria
High Confidence
Undernutrition & consequent children
developmental disorders
Injuries, deaths, disease - Extreme events
(heatwaves, floods, droughts, fires, etc)
Cardio-respiratory diseases - poor air quality
Cold-related deaths
Medium Confidence
Diarrheal diseases

5. Pathways*through*which*climate*change*affects*nutriDon*
(Tirado*et*al.*2013*adapted*from*Black*and*UNICEF)*

6. By#2080#1#(#3#billion#people#will#experience#water#
scarcity#and#200#to#600#million,#hunger#(IPCC 2007; 2014)!

7. Undernurished*children*will*increase*in*a*20%*
Number*of*Malnourished*Children*in*SubOSaharan*Africa*(millions)!!
Calorie*availability*in*2050*likely*decline*throughout*
the*developing*world*
*
!

8. !
Severe*stunDng*es/mated!to!increase!by*23%*(central**
subO*Saharan*Africa)*to*62%*(South*Asia)*in*2050**
compared#to#a#future#without#climate#change.*(Lloyd*et*
al.*2011)!!
*
*
Climate*Change*and*StunDng*!

9. Effects*of*Carbon*Dioxide*on*Protein*and*Minerals*
US Global Climate Change Research Program- Climate and Health Assessment 2015
doubling of
CO2
concentration
from
preindustrial
levels
2100
Meinshausen et al. 2013
Average effect on 125 plant species and cultivars
Ziska et al. 2004, Taub et al. 2008, and Loladze 2014.)

10. about 805 million people are chronically undernourished
1 billion adults and 20 million children are estimated to be
overweight.
Diets low fruit and vegetable intake – high in meat &
saturated fats
Double*burden*of*malnutriDon**

11. • Integrated!family!farming!(synergies!of!agro?forestry!hor/culture,!
aquaculture!and!!livestock!systems)!
• Mangrove!repopula/on:!Aqua?silviculture!–!Disaster#risk#reducBon*
• Extension!services!?!food!diversity!promo/on!!?!Good!Agriculture!
Prac/ces!?!food!safety!(e.g.!aflatoxins,!FBD)!
• Educa/on!?!local!food!systems,!!
biodiversity!!&!micronutrient?rich!foods!
!
!
!
NutriDonOsensiDve*climate*adaptaDon**

12. *
*
#
Agro?ecology!
• Agro?forestry/Silvi?culture!
• Conserva/on!Agriculture!
• Rice!Intensifica/on/fish!farming!!
• Integrated!farming!systems!
• Integrated!food/energy!systems!
NutriDonOsensiDve*miDgaDon**
*
!
increase!diet!diversity!while*reducing*GHG*

13. CoObenefits*of*Sustainable*diets*
• Healthy!–!diet*rich*in*fruits*&*vegetables*(400gr/day)!
can*save*2.7*million*lives**(WHO,!2008)!
• Environmentally!sustainable!(e.g.!legumes!?!soil!N!fixing)!
• Biodiversity/!tradi/onal!crops/!indigenous!peoples!/
socio?cultural!values!
• Socially!equitable!!

14. Nutri/on!Indicators!–!SDGs!(UNSCN,!2015)!

15. Minimum*Dietary*Diversity*–Women**
Global**Dietary*Diversity*Indicator*for*Women***
*
EU, FAO, FANTA
III, USAID, 2014

16. !
Key!messages!!!*
• Agro?ecology!and!agroforestry!preserve!biodiversity!and,!therefore,!directly!
facilitate!the!diversity!of!diets,!with!usually!a!posi/ve!effect!on!nutri/on.!!
!
• Women!are!vital!to!achieve!food!and!nutri/on!security!through!agro?ecology!in!
their!role!as!both!the!primary!producers!of!food!in!many!parts!of!the!world!and!
the!primary!caretakers!of!children.!!
!
• Indigenous!knowledge!and!tradi/ons!are!an!important!part!of!agro?ecology!and!
can!be!key!to!address!chronic!health!issues!due!to!loss!of!tradi/onal!diets!and!
farming!prac/ces.!!
!
• The!promo/on!of!agro?ecology!needs!to!be!supported!through!a!mul/?sectoral!
approach!through!applied!research,!integrated!monitoring!and!evalua/on,!good!
governance!and!public!policies.!

17. !
Key!messages!!!*
• Nutri/on?sensi/ve!adapta/on!and!mi/ga/on!!bring!coO
benefits*to*health*and*the*environment***
• Need!to!include!nutriDon*indicators!in!climate!
adapta/on!and!mi/ga/on!planning!and!programming*
(e.g.*Women*Minimum*Dietary*Diversity)*
• Policy*coherence*–**climate*and*2030*development*
agenda:*Climate,!environmental,!agriculture,!health,!
nutri/on!policies!

18. “opportuni-es*to*achieve*co(benefits#from#acBons#that#
reduce#emissions#and#at#the#same#Bme#improve#
health#by#shiEing#consumpBon#away#from#animal#
products,#especially#from#ruminant#sources,#in#high(
meat#consumpBon#socieBes,#toward#less#emission#
intensive#healthy#diets”*!!!(IPCC!AR5!WGII!chapter!11,!
2014)!
IPCC*2014**
CoObenefits*of**changing*diets**

19. Gender*equality*O*access*to*resources*
and*extension*services****!!!!
*
Equal*access*to*agriculture*land,*training,*credit,*informa-on*
will*increase#farm#producBvity#by#20(30%##
and*100%150*million*fewer*people*would*be*hungry*
*
! ! ! ! ! ! !*
*
FAO,!2011!

20. Values
Establish a culture of healthy living
Embrace equitable solutions
Support universal food security
Encourage to steward natural resources
Transparency in the work
Supply-Chain Participants
Conserve natural resources
Use capital and labor
responsibly
Innovate in R&D
Enhance Biodiversity
Sustainable
Diets
Consumers
Sustainability & healthy diets
Healthy dietary patterns
Increased demand for
sustainable food
Minimize food waste
Policies
Informed by best evidence
Engage multiple sector stakeholders
Local, regional, national, global
Monitoring & accountability systems
Align polices to promote health &
sustainability
US Dietary Guidelines
Advisory Committee
2015

21. Health*Indicators*for**
sustainable*agriculture,**food*security*and*nutriDon*!**
NutriDon*and*Health*outcomes:**
• anemia!in!women!of!reproduc/ve!age;!!
• stun/ng!in!children!under!5!years;!!
• obesity!in!children!under!5!and!in!adults;*
Food*access,*dietary*quality*and*sustainable*food*producDon:!!
• adequate!access!to!protein!supply;!!!
• excessive!adult!saturated!fat!consump/on;!!
• household!dietary!diversity?!Minimum!Dietary!Diversity!for!Women!
Food*market/trade*policies*supporDng*health*and*sustainability:!!
• countries!that!have!phased!out!use!of!an/bio/cs!as!growth!promoters;!!
• health!impact!assessment!in!agricultural!policies,!trade!plans.
• compliance!with!food!safety!standards!(addi/ves,!residues,!etc)!!

22. USDA!dietary!guidelines!2015!
• decrease meat intake by increase seafood intake
• chapter on sustainability - promote health of the
population through sustainable diets

23. Effect*of*diets*on*annual*per*capita*GHG*emissions*
Tilman & Clark , Nature 2014
Global*diets*link*environmental*sustainability**
and*human*health*
per!capita!reduc/ons!
being!30%,!45%!and!55%!for!
the!Mediterranean!and,!
pescetarian!and!vegetarian!
diets,!respec/vely.!

24. ReducDon*of*in*relaDve*risk*of*health*condiDons*
relaDve*to*convenDonalOomnivorous*diets*
(Tilman & Clark , Nature 2014)

25. FoodSECuRE will:
i) trigger action based on climate forecasts, to reinforce community
resilience before shocks occur; and
ii) provide multi-year financing to deliver high-quality resilience-
building activities are undertaken during post-disaster recovery operations.
47 percent of WFP’s emergency and recovery operations included response to
climate-related events with a combined budget of US$23 billion.
Climate!Risk!Management!

26. Dietary Recommendations
Swedish National Food Administration (2009)
Meat (beef, lamb,
pork)
Eat less, reduce portion size.
Eat locally produced and grass fed animals
Fish and shellfish choose seafood with sustainable eco-labels
Fruits, vegetables Seasonal and locally produced
Pesticide free
Potatoes, cereals Locally grown – reduce rice intake
Cooking fat Choose rape seed and olive oil– reduce palm
Water Choose tap water
Locally produced/packed

27. Mainstreaming*nutriDon*at*the*UNFCCC**
!

28. Biofuel!expansion!
Page 3INTERNATIONAL FOOD POLICY RESEARCH INSTITUTE Page 3
Changes in number of malnourished pre-school children by
2020 under two scenarios compared to the baseline levels (%)
Source: IFPRI IMPACT projections

29. Risk!management!Finance!&!Insurance!!
Weather*insurance*powerful*tool*to*help*people*to*manage*climate*risk,**
providing!insurance!protec/on!to!help!become!more!resilient!and!food!secure.!
!
R4*Rural*Resilience*IniDaDve:**
building*resilience*to*climate*change*for*long*term*food*security**
!Combina-on*of*4*risk*management*strategies**
Improved resource
management through
asset creation
Savings
Insurance
Livelihoods
diversification

30. *
~*74*million*
fewer**
children*
stunted**
in*2025**
*
*
NutriDonOspecific*
intervenDons*
*#Includes#per#capita#GDP,#food#availability#and#diversity,#and#women’s#educaBon,#health#and#empowerment##
Child*StunDng:*Trends*and*Targets!
Underlying*determinants*
of*stunDng**
162m*stunted*
$1*invested*in*
stunDng*=*~**$18*
economic*returns*
~100m*stunted*
! by 40% by 2025 !
30
Total*$49.6*billion*over*ten*years**
Source: World Bank and R4D, 2016 (forthcoming)

31. A!changing!climate!towards!responsible!!
consump/on!and!produc/on!
SOURCE OF DATA – EUROBAROMETER 2010
Base all respondents % EU 27
Should be a label indicating a product’s carbon footprint
mandatory?

32. Environmental*Impacts*of*ConsumpDon*and*
ProducDon*(UNEP,#2010)*
“As*the*global*popula-on*surges*towards*a*
predicted*9.1#billion#people#by#2050,*western#
tastes#for#diets#rich#in#meat#and#dairy#products#are##
unsustainable”*“global*shiS*towards*a*vegan*diet*is*
vital*to*save*the*world*from*hunger,*fuel*poverty*and**
the*worst*impacts*of*climate*change”*

33. (Weber and Mathews, 2009)
*
Green*House*Gas*emissions*by*supply*Der*in*the*
associated*by*household*food*consumpDon*USA***
*

34. ! Aflatoxins*!

35. Summary!of!projected!changes!in!crop!yields!due!to!
climate!change!over!the!21st!century!
!!*

36. Why invest in nutrition?
SCHOOLING*
Early*nutriDon*
programs*can*
increase*school*
compleDon*by*
one*year*
EARNINGS*
Early*
nutriDon*
programs*can*
raise*adult*
wages*by*
5O50%*
POVERTY*
Children*who*
escape*stunDng*
are*33%*more*
likely*to*escape*
poverty*as*
adults*
!
ECONOMY*
ReducDons*in*
stunDng*can*
increase*GDP**
by*4O11%*
*in*Asia*&**
Africa*

37. Defini/ons!!
Food*security!exists!when!all!people,!at!all!!
/mes,!have!physical,!social!and!economic!access!!
to!sufficient,!safe!and!nutri/ous!food!that!meets!!
their!dietary!needs!and!food!preferences!for!an!!
ac/ve!and!healthy!life(FAO,!2002;!FAO,!2009;!!
UNSCN,!2010).!!
NutriDon*security*exists!when!food!security!is!coupled!!
with!a!sanitary!environment,!adequate!health!services,!!
and!proper!care!and!feeding!prac/ces!to!ensure!a!!
healthy!life!for!all!household!members!(WB!2009;!!
UNSCN,!2010;!SUN,!2010).!

38. Biofuel!expansion!
Page 3INTERNATIONAL FOOD POLICY RESEARCH INSTITUTE Page 3
Changes in number of malnourished pre-school children by
2020 under two scenarios compared to the baseline levels (%)
Source: IFPRI IMPACT projections
!
Biofuel!expansion!and!undernutri/on!!*

39. -50% -15%
0%
+35%+15%200
39
Climate*change*changes*in*Food*ProducDon**
2003O2080*
Increasing*Temperature*and*CO2**