Hidden Hunger: Strategies to Improve Nutrition Quality. Группа авторов

In 2000, the international community made a commitment to cut by half the percentage of people who suffer from hunger by the year 2015. Despite the successful achievements in this context, related public health issues have become more significant. The number of people who do not have access to a balanced diet has increased. Such “hidden hunger” affects both rich and poor countries. Those affected by nutritional deficiencies often suffer lasting consequences to their health and well-being.

Indeed, the global fight against hunger has become significantly more complex. Such complexity necessitates research that is both connected and interdisciplinary. With the Hidden Hunger Congress, the University of Hohenheim aims to provide a platform for global interactions among all the stakeholders in this debate: the scientific community, political practitioners, government officials, the media, civil society organizations, or advocacy groups as well as other private and public sector actors.

The University of Hohenheim certainly is a very appropriate place for this debate. Its history is inextricably linked with the problem of hunger and nutrition. It was in the wake of the famines of the early 19th century, after all, that the first predecessor organization of the university was established. That was in 1818, two centuries ago. Ever since, issues such as nutrition and food security have been central topics of research here at Hohenheim. 200 years ago, these efforts had only a regional scope. Today, we are addressing hunger on a global scale.

A significant number of our research departments are dedicating their efforts to solving national and international problems of hunger and malnutrition. Our researchers are collaborating with partner institutions in Africa, Asia, and Latin America on this topic. To take just one example, we are currently promoting a German-Ethiopian graduate program supported by the German Academic Exchange Service. Our research centers focus on the causes and consequences of hidden hunger as well as strategies to address these issues.

Our upcoming 200th anniversary thus serves as a poignant reminder of the significance of hunger and nutrition as topics of research. It also affords us the opportunity to strengthen and promote our research in this field. What is more is that we look forward to hosting the 4th Hidden Hunger Congress in 2019, which will take place in our acclaimed new Otto Rettenmaier Audimax. The Hidden Hunger Congress as well as this publication stood for our commitment to contribute to the goal of food security.

Stephan Dabbert, Stuttgart

Introduction

This volume of the “World Review of Nutrition and Dietetics” presents 23 papers that were presented at the Third Hidden Hunger Conference held from March 20–22, 2017, at the University of Hohenheim in Stuttgart, Germany. With this third event, the Hidden Hunger conference series has become an established meeting of scientists from different fields, policy makers, and representatives of governmental and non-governmental organizations to present new data and analyses and discuss innovative ways to overcome hidden hunger, which had long been an overlooked problem. The title of the Third Hidden Hunger Conference was “The post-2015 agenda: Where are we now? Strategies to improve nutrition quality and combat hidden hunger.” As in the case of the 2 previous conferences, the event brought together representatives from different disciplines from high- and low-income countries, who discussed the links and the gaps between science and practice in all regions of the world.

When the First Hidden Hunger Conference was launched in 2013, the term “hidden hunger” was known only within a small circle of scientists. The first conference was entitled “From Assessment to Solutions” and highlighted problems and challenges of the hidden aspects of micronutrient malnutrition. The second conference held in 2015 focused on the consequences of hidden hunger, placing special emphasis on the 1,000-days window. Thanks to Karger publisher, we were able to publish most of the presentations in the series “World Review of Nutrition and Dietetics,” which helped to raise global attention to the problem of hidden hunger.

Indeed, hidden hunger has become more visible since then. The Third Hidden Hunger Conference featured a range of strategies to improve nutrition quality and combat hidden hunger that are now implemented in different regions of the world, which were highlighted in different important lectures. The fact that nearly all presentations are now available in the series “World Reviews of Nutrition and Dietetics” documents the importance of this conference. We are particularly delighted that all 3 conferences attracted not only leading senior scientists, but also young scientists from Africa and Asia who presented exciting new field research that shows that there is movement

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