Globalization of food systems in developing countries: impact on food security and nutrition

The workshop “Globalization of food systems: impact on food security and nutrition” was held at the headquarters of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in Rome, Italy from 8 to 10 October 2003. The workshop was convened to gain a better understanding of the influence of globalization and urbanization on food systems (food supply, marketing and distribution) in developing countries and to analyse the effects of these changes on smallholders and small firms, on food consumption patterns and on nutrition and health outcomes. The event was jointly organized by two divisions within FAO, representing two sectors: the Agricultural and Development Economics Division, examining key economic issues, and the Food and Nutrition Division, addressing health and nutrition outcomes. Thus, two parallel themes were explored: i) the transformation of food systems and its effect on small farmers in developing countries and ii) the impact of globalization, largely influenced by urbanization, on dietary patterns and the nutritional status of urban populations. The workshop was partially funded through the FAONetherlands Partnership Programme.

Articles Included:

Globalization of food systems in developing countries: a synthesis of country case studies Gina Kennedy, Guy Nantel and Prakash Shetty

Features of urban food and nutrition security and considerations for successful urban programming Marie Ruel and James Garrett

Globalization, urbanization and nutritional change in the developing world Michelle Mendez and Barry Popkin

The growing global obesity problem: some policy options to address it Josef Schmidhuber

Impact of globalization on food consumption, health and nutrition in Nigeria Kolawole Olayiwola, Adedoyin Soyibo and Tola Atinmo

Globalization, urbanization and nutritional changes in South Africa Mickey Chopra

Impact of globalization on food consumption, health and nutrition in urban areas: a case study of Dar es Salaam, United Republic of Tanzania Joyce Kinabo

Trends in health and nutrition indicators in the urban slums of three cities in Bangladesh, compared to its rural areas Martin Bloem, Regina Moench-Pfanner, Federico Graciano, Gudrun Stalkamp and Saskia de Pee

Urbanization, income and the nutrition transition in China: a case study Michelle Mendez, Shufa Du and Barry Popkin

Globalization, urbanization and nutrition transition in a developing island country: a case study in Fiji Jimaima Schultz

Impact of globalization on the food consumption of urban India Swarna Vepa

Globalization, food consumption, health and nutrition in urban areas: a case study from the Philippines Maria Regina Pedro, Corazon Barba and Luz Candelaria Impact of globalization on food consumption, health and nutrition in urban areas: a case study of Brazil Ana Lydia Sawaya, Paula Andrea Martins and Vinicíus Jose Baccin Martins

Nutrition transition in Chile: a case study Fernando Vio and Cecilia Albala

Impact of globalization on food consumption, health and nutrition in urban areas of Colombia Luis Fajardo