The UNSCN and CFS hold a joint event on Trade and Nutrition, prompting a dynamic and constructive discussion

A joint UN Standing Committee on Nutrition (SCN) and Committee on World Food Security (CFS) event on Trade and Nutrition: Opportunities and Risks was held in Rome on 10 June 2016, with a view to sharing insights from various perspectives and experiences on the linkages between trade and nutrition. The event was the first combined SCN and CFS event, and was attended by 130-plus participants from diverse stakeholder groups, with high-profile figures such as David Nabarro (Special Adviser to the United Nations Secretary-General on the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and Climate Change), who commended this convergence between the two nutrition streams. The event helped explore how trade, value chains and food systems are interlinked and influence nutrition, including trade-offs. It prompted a rich dialogue, whereby participants were invited to reflect upon two framing questions: (1.) what are the nutrition challenges in my region/country; and (2.) how can trade policy help attain nutrition objectives?

Following high-level presentations, colleagues from FAO, IFAD and WFP came together to present examples of synergies between these areas from country-level programming. The discussions highlighted the central role of policy and analytical coherence for achieving nutrition outcomes, and the need for a common understanding about nutrition, healthy diets and a conducive food environment. The discussions also helped identify factors that are relevant to both nutrition and trade, such as food safety in an effort to further establish common ground. Trade and nutrition expert, Corinna Hawkes, reminded participants about the need for context-specific approaches in view of differing foods, food cultures and forms of malnutrition in different countries. Generating an evidence-base on the impact of trade on nutrition was also identified as a critical next step, and input to trade negotiations.

Click here for further information about the joint event, including the agenda, recorded proceedings as well as the related UNSCN Discussion Paper (available in English, French and Spanish).