Abstract

Malnutrition, obesity, type 2 diabetes, micronutrient deficiencies, and the increase in non-communicable diseases are among the future European key challenges in health and welfare. Agriculture and rural development policies can positively contribute to a healthier and nutritious supply of food. The objective of the research is to analyze to what extent European 2007–2013 and 2014–2020 rural development programmes address the nexus between agriculture, food, health, and nutrition to respond to the evolving dietary needs. The research carries out a quali-quantitative content analysis on all 210 European rural development programmes. Results show that the interconnection between agriculture, food, health, and nutrition is present, with differences in the European agricultural and rural policy programming periods. The main interlinking issues of the nexus are food safety, food quality, diseases, nutritional aspect, animal health and welfare, plant health, and environmental health. Healthier and nutritious food-related issues are emerging, addressing dietary needs, and sustaining consumer food trends. Healthy and nutritious food is pursued by combating foodborne communicable diseases and non-communicable diseases. The future Common Agricultural Policy, including its rural dimensions, should support the consumption of healthy foods produced in ways that are environmentally and economically sustainable.

Highlights

  • The triple burden of malnutrition/undernutrition, obesity, and micronutrient deficiencies is an increasingly troublesome worldwide phenomenon

  • Agricultural Policy, including its rural dimensions, should support the consumption of healthy foods produced in ways that are environmentally and economically sustainable

  • The methodological approach aimed to explore the presence of the nexus between agriculture, food, health and nutrition in the rural development programme documents

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Summary

Introduction

The triple burden of malnutrition/undernutrition, obesity, and micronutrient deficiencies is an increasingly troublesome worldwide phenomenon. The upward trend of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) is one of the future key challenges in health and welfare. The World Health Organization (WHO) and other international organizations call for agricultural and food policies in order to ensure secure and sufficient supplies of safe and nutritious food [1,2,3,4]. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and WHO promote a worldwide approach, where agriculture is seen as the source of nourishment, thereby linked to health and dietary priorities [5]. Vision of the Sustainable Development goals for 2030 aims at “a world where food is sufficient, safe, affordable and nutritious”. The United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal 2

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