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March 7, 2005
Optimistic Rice Nutrition
Forecasts, at Close of the
International Year of Rice
In
2004, the International Year of Rice (IYR), total global production of
rice was estimated to be 569 million tons. This is 20 million tons less
than in 2000. The main reason for the decline is thought to be reduction
in area of planting. Nevertheless, Dr He Changchui, Assistant
Director-General of FAO remained optimistic that global rice production
can meet the challenge of future increases in world population energy
needs, commenting in a recent report that "FAO strongly believes that
with the commitment and support of all stakeholders, global rice
production can meet these challenges."
Furthermore, Dr. He commented on the importance of rice's contribution
to micronutrient nutrition: "The battle against hunger and poverty does
not end when bellies are full, but when they are nourished. We must also
look to science and new technologies to confront the need for added
value and biofortification of this staple crop...FAO strongly believes
that with the commitment and support of all stakeholders, global rice
production can meet these challenges."
Dr. He
based his optimism on the experience of adoption of high-yielding
varieties and improved crop management technologies over the 30-year
period from 1970 to 2000. "The experience gained during this period has
demonstrated the ability of global rice production to produce adequate
rice when support and investment from governments are available". Dr He
cited the success stories in rice production of China and Viet Nam as
case studies of how policy and technology can be harnessed to meet
increasing demands, in the face of finite, often shrinking natural
resources.
For
more information, see AFIC's News Release for IYR
http://afic.org/Press%20Release-World%20Food%20Day%20Celebrates%20Rice_English.htm
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Changing Patterns of Health
and Wellness in China Highlighted by
Large Scale Population Study
The
results of the 2002 Survey of the Status of Nutrition and Health of
Chinese people conducted under the leadership of the China Ministry of
Health, Ministry of Science and Technology and National Bureau of
Statistics, and based on over 272,000 people from rural and urban areas,
across all parts of China and all income groups were published recently
and provide a fascinating and highly informative glimpse of
epidemiological change.
Average
height of children aged 3-18 years has increased by 3.3cm since the last
survey in 1992. The number of cases of low birth weight dropped to
'figures comparable to industrialized countries'. Rates of
iron-deficiency anemia fell from 23.3% to 17% amongst women residing in
urban areas, and by 2% for women living in rural areas. These figures
along with other measure provided clear evidence of positive
improvements in the nutritional quality of the Chinese diet.
Average
daily protein intake was found to have increased from 17% to 31% of
energy in the 10 years between surveys. The quality of protein in the
diet also improved with increases in meat, poultry, egg, soy, fish and
shrimp consumption documented - daily meat and poultry consumption
increased from 34g to 59g, fish and shrimp from 11g to 27.5g per day.
Consumption of oils and fats rose dramatically - consumption of
vegetable oil rose from 13g to 22g per day and animal fats from 5g to 7g
per day, resulting in average daily consumption of fat equivalent to 35%
of daily energy content of diet (China's recommended fat consumption is
20-30% of total energy content of diet). The finding of 39% increases in
rates of obesity and overweight also highlighted the more negative
consequences of the concomitant shift from less under to more
over-nutrition, and from physically active to more sedentary lifestyles.
In 2002, 22% of Chinese adult were overweight and 7% were obese. Cases
of abnormal blood lipids, such as high cholesterol and raised
triglyceride levels were also found to have risen..
For
more information, contact the Chinese Nutrition Society
cnsoc@public3.bzta.net.cn Institute of
Nutrition and Food Hygiene, Chinese Academy of Preventive Medicine 29,
Nan Wei Road, Beijing 100050, China, Fax.: 86-10-63041352
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