DFM Working Group 2: Food and nutrition security

Working Group 2 explores the intersection of nutrition, food security, food safety, and health.

Working Group sub-themes

1. Macro-level spatial and socio-economic patterns of consumption

• How important is DF for FNS, and for whom?
• How are patterns of consumption changing?
• What are the consequences of those changes?
• What is driving changes?

2. Qualitative analysis of complexities of social position, culture, meaning, preferences

• What meanings do people give to dried fish?
• How are those meanings changing?
• What are intra-household patterns in consumption?
• How do preferences vary by generation?

3. Changing contextual conditions and utilization shifts in dried fish

• How are changing patterns of price, supply, technology, and preference affecting consumption?
• To what degree is there a shift from indirect to direct patterns of dried fish use?
• Is indirect use of dried fish for fish meal leading to access and nutrition problems?
• Is dried fish supply shifting to fresh fish supply?

4. Nutrient and contaminant analysis

• How does dried fish compare nutritionally to other food items?
• How does processing affect nutritional quality of fish?
• Do nutritional and contaminant qualities of dried fish vary across space? If so, why?

5. Nutrition intervention strategies

• How can dried fish contribution to nutrition improvement and supplementation strategies?
• What institutional and/or policy interventions could increase availability and quality of dried fish?
• How can market incentives be mobilized?
• How can initiatives for the poor be enhanced?

Action items

Meeting of January 18, 2021

At this meeting the Working Group discussed a summary of the five sub-themes identified at the previous meeting; MARE conference options; and logistics of institutionalizing the Working Group activity.

• Derek and Eric will summarize what has been discussed so far, including the list of WG sub-themes, and develop a list of proposed key outcomes for circulation to the group.
• Derek, Ben, and Shakuntala will work with Rotimi to recruit a graduate student at the University of Manitoba for September 2021. The application must be submitted by March.
• The Working Group will reconvene for a follow-up meeting in approximately one month.