Brief BioKaren Fukofuka, PGDipPH, NZRD, PGDipDiet, BCApS, BScMy family relocated to Port Vila early this year. I have only just started working on a short term consultancy work for WHO to develop the national food security policy for Vanuatu.Prior to relocation, I previously worked as the Nutrition Adviser for the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) over the last five and half years. During my term with SPC, I was a member the Food Security Working Group that developed the Framework for Action on Food Security in the Pacific. I also supported several countries to develop their national plans to improve food security. As a Pacific Islander, I love food, especially our local foods. As a Public Health Nutritionist, I am passionate about promoting and protecting our local foods

Impacts of climate change on food and nutrition security

Assessing vulnerability

Building resilience to climate change in the PacificVanuatu, 2012

Karen Fukofuka, Pacific Nutritionist

OverviewPacific context

Food security challenges

Impact of climate change on food security

How do we build resilience?Challenges and opportunities

Pacific Context‘Small Islands – Big Challenges’

Pacific – region of contrastSub-region No.

CountriesPopulation(2011 Estimates)

Land area (km2)

Population Density

Melanesia(FJ, NC, PNG, Sol, Vu)

5 7,023,530(86%)

540,239(98%)

13

Micronesia(FSM, GU, KR, RMI, NA, CNMI, PA)

7 499,163(6%)

3,214(0.5%)

155

Polynesia(AS, CK, FP, NU, Pit, SA, TK, TO, TV, W&F)

10 640,901(8%)

8,231(1.5%)

77

TOTAL 22 8,163,594 551,684 15Source: www.spc.int/sdp/

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Food Security

Food security exists when all people, at all times, have physical, social and economic access to sufficient, safe and

nutritious food to meet their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life.

(World Food Summit 2009)

World Food Summit, 1996/2009)

Food Security Challenges Food security in the Pacific is threatened

Conservative estimate indicates that: 40% of the 8 million people in the Pacific suffer from hunger and food-related

disease. Between 6.5% and 11.4% of all children in the region do not receive enough

nutritious food and thus, suffer from hunger and food related illnesses

Food production per capita declining in most countries Low growth in crop production, with stagnant or declining yields while

offshore fisheries and livestock production increasing Increasing reliance on imports to supplement declining local production -

affecting livelihoods Most countries are net importers Local foods competing with cheap unhealthy food imports Limited arable land due to small size of many countries, unstable

topography for some staple crops Rapid urbanization, loss of rural labour force Limited investment in agricultural support services (research and extension)

7

Food Security Challenges Increasing dependence on imported foods

Susceptible to volatile global food prices and economic shocks Food prices increasing => people living below poverty Imported foods often unhealthy, contributing to increasing health

problems Unhealthy workforce ->affecting economic development

Increasing energy costs threatening transportation, storage and distribution of food Markets become inaccessible Increasing food prices – increasing poverty and malnutrition Food spoilage and wastage

Climate change affecting all aspects of food production Land degradation loss of plant and animal genetic resources Spread of invasive species, pests and diseases Water shortage for drinking and agriculture & aquaculture production

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Health Challenges – health in transition Epidemiological

Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) increasing Communicable diseases still present – Malaria, TB, food borne

illnesses Double burden of disease

Nutritional Diets rapidly changing

Over nutrition – overconsumption of poor quality diet that is high in fat, refine sugar and salt Obesity, diabetes, hypertension, some cancers

Under nutrition – diet not containing adequate energy and essential nutrients for good health Micronutrient deficiencies – Vitamin A, iron, iodine Double burden of malnutrition

Urbanisation - changes in lifestyles, less active , over crowing & poor living conditions contributing to rising incidence of communicable diseases

Globalisation - increasing global influence, increasing susceptibility to global economic & environmental shocks

Impact of climate changeClimate change is the biggest

threat to food security in the Pacific, exacerbating already fragile environments & ecosystems, livelihoods and economies

Climate change affects all dimensions of food security, from production to consumption

“When climate change affects one area, other areas feel the repercussions.“

(Ulu o Tokelau, Foua Toloa. 2011, draught induced water shortage)

Impact of climate change – domino effect along the food chain

Production

Crop production, livestock &

fisheries production Import

Processing, storage &

distributionAlready weak,

may be damaged,

leading to food prices, availability & access to food

ConsumptionDependence on imported foods , often unhealthy =>poor

nutrition => health

problems

Threaten livelihoods

Pacific people are aware of the vulnerability and fragility of our ecosystems and learnt to cope. However as the extreme changes in weather patterns increase in frequency and intensity, the ability to adapt and cope may not be able to keep up, threatening our way of life, our very existence as Pacific people

Impact of climate changeDespite the strong geographical and cultural

differences that characterize the region, many share common ecological and economic vulnerabilities because of their:small size and land and water insecurity limited economies of scale and isolation from

marketsagricultural homogeneity and food import

dependencygrowing dependence on fuel importsrelative poverty, growing populations and

urbanizationfragile ecosystemssusceptibility to natural disasters.

Impact of climate changeInternational Panel on Climate Change Fourth

Assessment Report (IPCC 4AR) Extent of impact uncertain

Substantive uncertainty surrounding the magnitude, distribution and timelines of climate change in the Pacific

Vary significantly across the regionClimate change act as “threat multiplier” exacerbating

already fragile unstable food ecosystems Rising sea levels Ocean warming and acidification, Changing rainfall patterns Changing atmospheric temperatures Increasing intensity and frequency of extreme weather events,

including tropical cyclones, depressions and droughts.

How do we build resilience?Uncertainties high - effects of climate change on our food supply

systems are uncertain

Challenges to overcome Weak leadership and coordination

Need strong leadership at highest political level Food security is becoming everybody’s business and no one’s

responsibility Food security is everybody’s business and responsibility – partnerships,

multi-sectoral collaborations Strong leadership and coordiantion

Limited accountability for progress Strong leadership and coordination Strengthen M&E capacity and communication & information systems

Turnover of staff and “many competing priorities” Strong leadership commitment, setting clear policy directions Capacity building

Towards a food secure Pacific – Framework of Action

VisionAll people in the Pacific have physical, social and economic access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food to meet their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy lifeGoalsTo strengthen and improve:1. Availability of food – is there

sufficient healthy foods to eat?2. Access to food – can healthy food be

grown or purchase3. Stability of food system – are there

risks of economic (price surges) and environmental (climate variability)shocks that jeopardize healthy food availability and access all the time?

4. Food utilization – can the food be used to meet dietary and health (nutrition quality, food safety) and are healthy choices preferred?

Framework of actionThe Framework for Action on Food Security in the Pacific outlined

seven themes related to improving food security. It’s purpose is to help guide future actions, policy directions and funding decisions on:

1. Leadership and cooperation;2. Regulatory frameworks, enforcement and compliance and public-private

sector collaboration;3. Enhanced and sustainable production, processing and trading of safe

and nutritious local food;4. Protecting infants and vulnerable groups;5. Consumer empowerment and mobilizing partners;6. A food security information system; and7. Enhancing land tenure systems and land-use policies, energy, transport,

education and communication systems to underpin food security.

Commitment and leadership from highest political level is required

Way forward for food security & climate changeTheme 1 – Leadership and coordination

Expected outcome – Strong leadership and effective multi-sectoral coordination for food security regionally and nationally

Theme 3 – Enhanced and sustainable production, processing, marketing, trading and use of safe and nutritious healthy foodsExpected outcome – Improved production, processing,

marketing, trading and use of safe and nutritious local foods Focus on actions that strengthen and build resilience, diversity and

sustainabilityTheme 6 – Food security information system

Expected outcome – a comprehensive food security intelligence capacity established to document progress, identify vulnerabilities, spread innovation and provide evidence for appropriate implementation of programmes

Improve diet & nutrition

Healthy population

Productive workforce

Healthy economy

Robust & secure healthy food supply

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Thank youQuestions?

FOOD SECURITY

ADEQUACY

Food is accessible and available in sufficient quantities to meet nutritional and health needs

AVAILABILITY

Physical existence of food be it through local production or imports

ACCESSIBILITY

How well household and individuals utilise their available resources (capital, labour skills, knowledge) to access available food

ACCEPTIBILITY

The food is available, accessible in sufficient quantities is also safe, nutritious and preferred

APPLICATION

Ability of the human body to utilise the food.

STABLE FOOD SUPPLY SYSTEMThe risks of economic, political (price surges) and environmental

(climate variability) shocks that jeopardize healthy food availability and access all the time