The year 2013 saw record high numbers for agricultural production and more stable commodity prices than the previous several years, but findings from the International Food Policy Research Institute’s 2013 Global Food Policy Report suggest that the state of global nutrition and food security is still fragile. The report focuses on major food policy developments and trends, while outlining challenges and opportunities for moving forward. Notably, while the price of cereals decreased in 2013, the price of nutritionally rich fruits and vegetables increased. Thus, malnutrition and undernutrition are still major concerns, with overall declines in global crop diversity adding to this predicament.
These shortcomings occurred despite unprecedented global support and investment in nutrition that came from all sectors and all levels of governance. Integrated approaches to capacity building and creating an enabling environment for nutritional concerns in the future – both at the governance level and on the ground – were major takeaways in the report’s in-depth case studies. Rather than focus solely on government and policy, the report also argues for a focus on the people and communities impacted by and living within these changing and challenging landscapes.
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