• Home
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
Friday, March 31, 2023
  • Login
No Result
View All Result
Rwanda Dispatch News Agency
Magazine
  • Home
  • Business
  • Politics
  • National
  • Economy
  • Social
  • Opinions
  • Sport
  • E-dition
  • Entertainment
  • Home
  • Business
  • Politics
  • National
  • Economy
  • Social
  • Opinions
  • Sport
  • E-dition
  • Entertainment
No Result
View All Result
Rwanda Dispatch News Agency
No Result
View All Result
Home Opinions

Whole Grain Impact on Global Food Security 

by Admin
21 November 2022
in Opinions
0
Rising from a crisis – A more self-reliant Africa after coronavirus?
12
SHARES
134
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterWhatsapp
PDF Button
By David Kamau and Peiman Milani;

The world is facing a global food crisis like none other, with food prices at historic highs, supply chains disrupted by war and disease, and climate change threatening harvests in virtually all geographies. Global food insecurity is rising so rapidly that hunger pushes one child per minute into severe malnutrition and in 2021, up to 828 million people were affected by hunger.   

Sixty percent of global calories come from the big 3 grains (wheat, maize and rice) in refined form. The processing of these grains reduces their volume by 20 to 30 percent and removes even more of their nutritional value. Diets dominated by these refined grains, sugar and ultra–processed foods have becomethe leading cause of preventable death in the world, linked to rising rates of obesity, diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and some types of cancer. In nearly every country, these unhealthy foods are ubiquitousand cheap. 

A simple shift from refined grains to fortified whole grains would not only produce more nutritious food for billions of people – without increasing production costs – but also help towards the reduction of malnutrition and hunger. This shift would save many cash-strapped governments billions of dollars in food import costs and agricultural subsidies.  without requiring a single additional acre of farmland or one more ounce of fertilizer. 

Concerns have been raised about the shelf life of whole grain products, their costs as well as consumer acceptance. Advances in food processing technology make it possible for many whole grain foods to have a shelf life of six months and longer and it has been demonstrated that the production of whole grain in bulk costs less than that of refined grain. But despite these obvious benefits, food production remains centered on refined grains.   

Consumer preferences are changing with increased acceptance of whole grain foods across different demographics. In Rwanda, there has been an increased adoption of whole grain in school meals. In trials undertaken in 18 public schools where 13,700 children were served whole grains in the daily corn meal served for lunch, many children reported that it made them feel fuller and more energetic. Over 90 percent of children in grade six preferred the whole grain meal when they were sensitized about its benefits. In Denmark, consumer education, including through packaging logo, increased consumption of whole grains by 75 percent between 2007 and 2014.  

With the world facing an escalating food and hunger crisis, action needs to be taken that would save lives and begin to steer food systems toward healthier outcomes. Today a lot more is known about the nutritional value of whole grains and the ramifications of refinement. 

Three key actions could support the transition from refined to whole grains within a relatively short time: 

  1. A shift by large institutional purchasers of food to buying whole grains  

The shift by institutional purchasers of food to buying whole grain is a powerful means of increasing demand. African governments feed an estimated 10 to 30 percent of their populations through safety net programs, school feeding programs (which alone reach more than 60 million children on the continent), hospitals, prisons and other public institutions. A shift from refined to whole grain purchasing within these institutions could have significant impact and influence broader change across the food system. In addition, shifting government subsidies for refined grains to whole grains would also help influence the market.   

  1. Fortification of whole grains has been shown to have significant nutritional benefits 

Public agencies and private companies should promote whole grain consumption among consumers, sharing evidence of the nutritional benefits. Whole maize flour has 24 percent more protein, 3.8 times more fiber and 3.5 times more calcium than refined flour. And that’s just for starters. It is also richer in iron, zinc and vitamin E. With added micronutrient fortification, whole grains could help overcome devastating malnutrition, strengthening bodies and minds.  

  1. Financing and investments needed to drive the shift from refined to whole Grain 

Modest investments are needed in the milling sector in order to make the switch from refined to whole grain.  Millers require affordable financing as well as partners and Governments, development organizations and private food companies should be at the forefront to drive these investments. In Rwanda, mid-sized and small milling operations have started to make this switch based on initial investments in the tens of thousands of dollars, and expect to see these investments recouped and turned into a profit within a few years.  

The global food crisis and its underlying causes, which are deep and systemic, would not be solved by the switch from refined to fortified whole grains. Bigger transformations are needed and these include enabling the development of diverse, equitable, and regenerative food systems that not only nourish people but also the natural ecosystems essential to growing good food. However, shifting to whole grains is an important and highly feasible step, even as we come to grips with the profound dysfunctions of the broader food system. Its benefits would also begin immediately and would only grow over time. A whole grain transition today will take us one step closer to a world that provides good food for all. 

David Kamau is the Managing Director of the Fortified Whole Grain Alliance. Peiman Milani is a Director of the Food Initiative at the Rockefeller Foundation. 

Related Posts:

  • Kayonza Rice Product creating employment opportunities for Rwandans
    Kayonza Rice Product creating employment opportunities for…
  • COOPRORIZ Abahuzabikorwa: Boosting rice production in Kamonyi
    COOPRORIZ Abahuzabikorwa: Boosting rice production in…
  • HM King Mohammed VI Addresses Speech to 1st China-Arab Summit Held in Saudi Arabia
    HM King Mohammed VI Addresses Speech to 1st China-Arab…
  • Stronger political will and leadership can catapult Africa’s efforts to end hunger and malnutrition
    Stronger political will and leadership can catapult Africa’s…
  • Water-saving irrigation boosts land productivity in Rwanda
    Water-saving irrigation boosts land productivity in Rwanda
  • Training mothers on nutrition is saving lives of Children
    Training mothers on nutrition is saving lives of Children
Tags: Food SecurityWhole Grain
Admin

Admin

Next Post
Kenya flex their muscle at ICC Men’s T20 World Cup A Qualifier in Kigali

Kenya flex their muscle at ICC Men’s T20 World Cup A Qualifier in Kigali

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Search

No Result
View All Result

Splendid Hotel

archives

March 2023
M T W T F S S
 12345
6789101112
13141516171819
20212223242526
2728293031  
« Feb    

e-Dispatch

e-Dispatch

Click here to download this magazine

Dispatch Agency Ltd is a local media institution based in Kigali with various media related products premiered with The Dispatch News Magazine.

  • Home
  • About Us
  • Contact Us

© 2023 Rwanda Dispatch .

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Business
  • Politics
  • National
  • Economy
  • Social
  • Opinions
  • Sport
  • E-dition
  • Entertainment

© 2023 Rwanda Dispatch .

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In