Response to Minister Oda's speech at the UN's Scaling Up Nutrition: Calling All Champions event in D.C. this morning.

OTTAWA, May 17, 2012 /CNW/ -

Comments by Sheri Arnott, World Vision's food security expert:

"When it comes to food security, agriculture and nutrition, Canada is connecting the right dots. Minister Oda was on target this morning when she emphasized how linked these development issues are - both in lives saved and cost effectiveness."

"Smallholder farmers, who are the backbone of the agricultural private sector in Africa, need better access to credit and markets. But, for the biggest bang for your buck, we need to invest in the health of farmers and their families. Nutrition and food security must go hand in hand so people can withstand shocks, such as droughts and volatile global food prices. We need to see equitable economic growth and this is how to do it."

"The most extreme example of the world's failing on food security and nutrition is in West Africa where 15 million people are at risk. Already plagued with the highest rates of malnutrition in the world even in a good harvest year, this year's drought is a life and death situation for children and families who don't have enough nutritious food to eat. The G8's new food security and nutrition initiative must make sure this never happens again."

"Canada's emphasis on nutrition is critical and economically sound. Both the financial and human costs are much more expensive to treat malnutrition rather than preventing it in the first place."

"For the bean counters, the arguments add up. We know investments in nutrition can lead to an increase in GDP of two-to-three per cent and this offers the best chance for countries mired in decades of poverty to build a different future. Twenty years from now, a country is going to rely on today's children, and if those kids are malnourished, we rob them of their ability to live up to their potential."

"This week the Copenhagen Consensus, an expert panel of Nobel laureate economists, listed fighting malnutrition in young children as the number one investment policymakers can make to improve global health and development. Their research showed for every $1 invested in nutrition, as much as $138 in better health and increased productivity is generated." 

World Vision is a Christian relief, development and advocacy organization dedicated to working with children, families and communities to overcome poverty and injustice. World Vision serves all people regardless of religion, race, ethnicity or gender.

Media contact:
Tiffany Baggetta
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