Agri Kultuur May / Mei 2015 | Page 9

Famine Statue Boston Boy with two fish for dinner constant or recurrent lack of food and results in underweight and stunted children, and high infant mortality. “Hidden hunger” is a lack of essential micronutrients in diets. Malnutrition – An abnormal physiological condition caused by deficiencies, excesses or imbalances in energy, protein and/or other nutrients. Poverty – encompasses different dimensions of deprivation that relate to human capabilities including consumption and food security, health, education, rights, voice, security, dignity and decent work. Under nutrition – is when the body contains lower than normal amounts of one or more nutrients i.e. deficiencies in macronutrients (carbohydrates, proteins) and/or micronutrients (amino acids, vitamins, minerals), such that stunting, wasting and illness will occur. (Sources: drawn from references cited in Bene et al., 2007; DFID, 2009 and Sowman & Cardoso, 2010) Fish Farmers from Highlands Trout, Lesotho Selling live Trout Protein for the day ture and nutrient requirements – particularly the fraction met by meat intake – increase. Indeed, the percentage of total water use co-opted by agriculture declined from 90% to 70% during the 20th century and agricultural production of non-food commodities, such as cotton and biofuel, is increasing. Dietary shifts, forecasted to involve a per capita 25% increase in meat intake and a 10% increase in calories over the next decades, result in more per capita water use, as meat production requires about 10 times more water per calorie than does grain production. Climate change forecasts show an increase in the frequency of droughts and floods across regions and greater variability in water availability and food insecurity across the planet. The combined effect of population growth and climate change on water resources may exceed their independent effects. At current yields, crop and grazing areas will have to increase by 50% to 70% to produce the Catch of the day African Sharptooth Catfish food required to feed the projected human population in 2050. New available cultivable land falls short of furnishing the needed area, particularly considering the loss of cropland caused by soil erosion, salinization, and the expansion of urban and industrial land. Nutritional benefits from fish: Developed and developing country perspective on the links between fish and health differ considerably. In developed countries the major focus has been on fish safety and the health benefits of polyunsaturated fatty acids from fish and fish oil, which are thought to lower blood pressure and reduce risk of heart diseases. In developing countries , the focus has been on the role of fish in tacking undernutrition, maternal and child health. Although fish is usually linked to food security concerns through analysis of its contributions to protein supply, it is much more important as a source of micronutrients and lipids. More than two billion people in the world are underRainbow Trout Harvest