Global Programs

Adding value to the food supply to improve health in neighbouring countries

Vision:

To forge strategic alliances among leaders from the UN and regional agencies, food producers, traders, importers and retailers and multiple sectors of governments of Pacific island countries to enable a more secure and healthy food supply to reduce the burden of obesity and chronic disease and the impact of vitamin and mineral deficiency. 

To support the work of the Flour Fortification Initiative (FFI) East Asia Leaders Group to promote and ensure an effective mandatory national requirement for wheat flour fortification in Indonesia, Philippines, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, Sri Lanka, China and Mongolia to protect populations eating flour products from the negative health and development impact of vitamin and mineral deficiency (especially iron and folic acid deficiency).  

Strategies

Pacific Island Region

1. Support the work of the Regional Food Security Group (WHO, FAO, PIF, SPC, UNICEF & WB) as the work with Ministers of Health, Agriculture and Trade and Prime Ministers to improve food security (including health security) in the Pacific region
2. Encourage the building of effective national and regional food control systems that includes legislation, regulation, labeling, inspection, education and enforcement
3. Promote the development of an Industry/Government Regional Food Trade Alliance that will favour foods that are of higher quality and with protect health.
4. Build a food cost benefit model to allow countries to apply data from their country and predict the benefit – cost estimates from improving health by adopting food control systems that allow for higher quality foods to be sold in their markets.
5. Encourage the adoption of product specific mandatory fortification such as iodine – salt, flour – iron, zinc & folic acid; oils- vitamin A; rice with iron, zinc, folic acid and vitamin A. Support national & regional food multi-sector dialogues and summits to own and enable these goals.

Asia Region

1. Work with the FFI EALG and Executive team to provide regional leadership that catalysis, supports and sustains the operation of national Leaders’ Groups to effect mandatory wheat and maize, roller-mill flour based on local health needs, markets, and regulatory structures.
2. Create at a regional and national communication and technical & training support material that address the health benefits afforded by fortification, its highly favourable cost::benefit ratio and its feasibility; material will also address concerns.