Review of Health Impact Assessments Informing Agriculture, Food, and Nutrition Policies, Programs, and Projects in the United States

Krycia Cowling,Andrew Dannenberg,Keshia Pollack,Ruth Lindberg,Roni Neff

doi:10.5304/jafscd.2017.073.009

Abstract

Policies, programs, and projects related to agriculture, food, and nutrition can significantly affect public health. Health impact assessment (HIA) is one tool that can be used to improve awareness of the health effects of decisions outside the health sector, and increasing the use of HIA for agriculture, food, and nutrition decisions presents an opportunity to improve public health. This study identifies and reviews all HIAs completed in the United States on agriculture, food, and nutrition topics. Studies were identified from HIA databases, an Internet search, and expert consultation. Key characteristics were extracted from each study: type of decision assessed, location, level of jurisdiction, lead organization, methods of analysis, and recommendations. Twenty-five eligible HIAs that were conducted between 2007 and 2016 address topics such as regulations on land use for agriculture; food and beverage taxes; and developing grocery stores in food deserts. These HIAs have predominantly supported policy, as opposed to program or project, decisions. Four case studies are presented to illustrate in detail the HIA process and the mechanisms through which HIA findings affected policy decisions. Among other influences, these four HIAs affected the language of legislation and provided guidance for federal regulations. These examples demonstrate several findings: appropriate timing is critical for findings to have an influence; diverse stakeholder involvement generates support for recommendations; and the clear communication of feasible recommendations is highly important. There is substantial scope to increase the use of HIA in the agriculture, food, and nutrition sectors. Challenges include the paucity of monitoring and evaluation of HIAs’ effects on health outcomes, and the limited funding available to conduct HIAs. Opportunities include integrating HIAs and community food assessments, and more widely sharing HIA findings to inform related decisions in different jurisdictions and to increase support for additional HIAs that address the food system. Note: See the supplemental Excel file (under Article Tools>Supplementary files at left) for more details on the health impact assessments included in this systematic review.

Highlights

Agricultural activities, food systems, and nutrition impact human health through a range of important pathways, including short- and long-term consequences of changing the natural environment (Horrigan, Lawrence, & Walker, 2002); occupational risks and benefits (Mayhew & Quinlan, 2002); and dietary intake, which alone is one of the strongest individual determinants of health (Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, 2013)
Of the 25 Health impact assessment (HIA), 40% focused on agriculture (n=10), 44% on food access and availability (n=11), and 16% on nutrition (n=4)
Examples of agriculture-related decisions include the development of community gardens, policies promoting local food production, and the establishment of a concentrated animal feeding operation (CAFO)

Summary

Introduction

Agricultural activities, food systems, and nutrition impact human health through a range of important pathways, including short- and long-term consequences of changing the natural environment (Horrigan, Lawrence, & Walker, 2002); occupational risks and benefits (Mayhew & Quinlan, 2002); and dietary intake, which alone is one of the strongest individual determinants of health (Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, 2013). Accessibility, price, marketing, and retailing of food shape opportunities and incentives for purchasing and consuming nutritious foods (Story, Kaphingst, Robinson-O’Brien, & Glanz, 2008), and nutrition is influenced by both physical and social settings (Saelens, et al, 2012). These factors result in poor diet being the leading risk factor contributing to poor health outcomes in the U.S (Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, 2013). Agriculture and food systems policies can benefit health by promoting and enabling good nutrition, enhancing community development, and protecting the safety of workers, communities, and consumers (Institute of Medicine & National Research Council, 2015; Neff et al, 2015)

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