Unjust, unhealthy, and unsustainable.
These best describe the country’s food system in the “old normal” according to Dr. Eufemio T. Rasco, Jr., Academician of the National Academy of Science and Technology, a collegial advisory body under the Department of Science and Technology.
Unjust, because both consumers and farmers have lost control of the food system. Input suppliers dictate the price of inputs, while traders dictate the price of outputs.
As a case in point, Rasco cited the recent dive of the farm gate price of chicken, while retail price remained stable.
“Both the farmers and consumers suffer, while traders laugh all the way to the bank,” he quipped.
Unhealthy, because the food system is dominated by a few food commodities, namely, sugar, white rice, white flour, chicken, and pork.
He explained that these food commodities are not the best for the nutrition and health of consumers.
He added that in the Philippines and in the rest of the world, “the main cause of human morbidity and mortality is not COVID-19.”
Rasco specified that chronic diseases, such as heart failure, stroke, diabetes, and cancer, are linked to excessive consumption of highly refined carbohydrates, namely sugar, white rice, and white bread.
Unsustainable, because the pollution caused by the industrial food systems contaminate the country’s soil and waters.
“This is one outcome we cannot tolerate because the integrity of these resources is critical for our own survival,” he stressed.
He also raised the issue of migration of rural folks to the cities and opined that cities are too congested by people who left farming.
Nonetheless, he proposed three Ds in the new normal to address the weaknesses of the food system in the old normal. These Ds stand for diverse diet, diverse farm, and digital technology.
With regards to diversification of diet, he reported that in 2019, an international scientific panel recommended a food selection guide called “planetary health diet.” He acknowledged that following this diet will require a drastic restructuring of food choices and production.
“It will require drastic increases in the consumption of grain, legumes, root and tuber crops, vegetables, and fish. On the other hand, it will require drastic reduction in the consumption of sugars and cereal grains, such as rice, wheat, corn; and moderate reduction in meat, eggs, and dairy products,” he said.
He mentioned that the S&T community can help promote the planetary health diet by integrating knowledge of the food system in all levels of education.
He added that developing processes and products that will make healthy foods such as legumes, camote, and vegetables to be more acceptable is also important.
“Diversification in the farm will increase farmers’ income and improve the farm environment,” he continued.
He explained that technology for farm diversification is nothing new and underscored that it is the scientific understanding of process and phenomenon that favor diversification, and consequent integration and intensification.
He added that there should be greater emphasis on R&D for diversification of food production in the seas, lakes, and rivers.
“Most significantly, we should put more R&D on food production in our seas, rivers, and lakes. As an archipelago, the Philippines has seven times more water than land. Sixty percent of our population live in coastal areas.”
“Historically and geographically, the Philippines is a maritime country not an agricultural country,” he said.
On digital technology, Rasco stated that it will enable direct connection between farmers and consumers, thereby reducing retail price while increasing farmers’ income.
He observed the power of digital technology in facilitating market linkage directly between consumers and farmers has been “convincingly” demonstrated during the pandemic. He expects online marketing, linking farmers directly with consumers, to continue to be a feature of the new normal.
Rasco also highlighted the role of the consumer in the new normal and considers them as “the key to the solution of the problems of the existing food system.”
He explained that the consumer who chooses food that supports nutrition and health also helps the farmer earn a decent income.
“This is because the diversity that is needed in a healthy diet will trigger diversity in the farms. Diversity in the farms, on the other hand, would support a resilient and regenerative environment,” he elaborated.
Rasco emphasized that the pandemic did not create the defects in the food system. “It just exposed them,” he said.
Correspondingly, “the new normal is characterized by greater interest in producing food at the household and community levels and an awareness of the value of diversity in food creates opportunities for fixing the whole food system,” he remarked.
“The new normal could be better than the old one,” he surmised.
He, however, reiterated the role of the consumer and emphasized that the first step must come from them.
The aforementioned information shared and statements made by Rasco were part of his presentation, “Food security challenges and opportunities under the new normal: Perspectives from Science and Technology,” during a webinar organized by the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST-PCAARRD).
The webinar was a celebration of the 9th anniversary of the merging of councils of Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Resources (PCARRD) and the Aquatic and Marine (PCAMRD).
Dr. Rasco also underlined government intervention to encourage people in the rural communities to stay and produce food.
“Rewarding jobs that will be created in the new normal are important incentives in the rural areas. But equally important are services in the field of education, shopping, health care, internet access and communication, energy, water, and the needed infrastructure.”
“Putting all of these in the farming communities is the greatest challenge of all,” he said in closing.