DFM Working Group 2: Food and nutrition security

Working Group 2 explores food and nutrition security in dried fish value chains.

According to the Committee on World Food Security:

Food and nutrition security exists when all people at all times have physical, social and economic access to food, which is consumed in sufficient quantity and quality to meet their dietary needs and food preferences, and is supported by an environment of adequate sanitation, health services and care, allowing for a healthy and active life.[1]

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.