Time to get serious about nutrition security

Over the previous years, India has made big strides in its journey in the direction of meals safety, from fortified rice to PM POSHAN mid-day meals. However, in line with FAO estimates in  The State of Food Security and Nutrition within the World, 2020 report, about 190 million Indians are undernourished, comprising 14 per cent of our complete inhabitants. In the Global Food Security Index 2021, India ranks 71st out of 113 nations.

While India continues to concentrate on altering these statistics, there may be additionally a necessity to alter the narrative and the rapid motion plan to realize diet safety over meals safety. Food safety is outlined as the provision and the entry of meals to all folks; whereas diet safety calls for the consumption of a variety of meals that gives the important vitamins.

The drawback, due to this fact, that India must concentrate on within the subsequent 25 years is diet safety — shifting the main focus from amount to the standard of diets.

The main concern regarding India’s diet safety has been under the Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDAs) consumption of micronutrients and proteins. Suboptimal protein consumption has resulted in stunting and losing in kids and points like muscle loss, low immunity, and gradual therapeutic of wounds in adults. Anaemia is among the many commonest micronutrient deficiencies, primarily resulting from iron deficiency however may be resulting from protein deficiency in addition to folic acid and B12 deficiencies.

Protein consumption

According to the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), a mean grownup ought to devour 0.8-1 gm of protein per kg of physique weight day-after-day. However, knowledge additionally point out that the typical Indian grownup consumes nearer to 0.6 gm, thereby not assembly the day by day protein requirement. The per capita consumption of pulses/legumes was about 50 per cent of the really useful consumption, even in high-producing districts.

The domination of staple grains resembling rice and wheat has prevented range in Indian diets and the consumption of different vitamins, that are essential for balancing physique capabilities. Typical Indian diets have 50 per cent grains and tubers, solely 9 per cent meat/pulses and 17 per cent dairy. Several surveys by the National Nutrition Monitoring Board (NNMB) have proven that Indian diets derive virtually 60 per cent of their protein from cereals, which have comparatively low digestibility and low high quality because of the absence of sure important amino acids.

The time is ripe to develop dietary consciousness in the direction of inexpensive but nutritious meals decisions and to leverage meals science and innovation to reshape India’s meals surroundings by diversifying meals sources.

Developments in meals processing expertise and genetic engineering play an essential function in making all kinds of meals out there year-round in palatable, nutritious, and aesthetically packaged varieties. Genetic modification, technologically superior strategies of bettering soil fertility, and elevated procurement of sensible proteins may also help enhance the provision of nutritious meals.

Genetic modification is a expertise with a historical past of protected use of over 40 years in a number of international locations. Regulations in each nation be sure that potential dangers like allergenicity, toxicity, and any unintended results are verified earlier than allowing cultivation. They may also help enhance yields and enhance the standard of present plant proteins when it comes to digestibility, important amino acid content material and bio fortify meals. Higher yields will cut back import prices and make wealthy protein sources extra inexpensive for the bigger inhabitants.

The time has come when it isn’t enough to point out a marginal lower within the markers like stunting as enhancements however to boldly use these protected and environment friendly applied sciences in agriculture and animal husbandry to deliver a large change in amount and high quality of meals with extra and higher diet. Malnutrition that also exists regardless of 75 years since Independence can’t be solved until we undertake established, protected, and efficient GM and GE applied sciences. Where the thoughts is with out worry is the place issues have options.

The author is a former Director of National Institute of Nutrition (ICMR)

Published on

September 11, 2022