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We are what we eat: An economic tool for tracing the origins of nutrients

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  • Martine Rutten
  • Andrzej Tabeau
  • Frans Godeschalk

Abstract

We develop a methodology for incorporating nutrition impacts in economy-wide analyses, providing entry points for where, when and how to act. It accounts for three channels of consumption, directly via primary commodities and indirectly via processed foods and food-related services, and produces indicators showing content by nutrient (currently calories, proteins, fats and carbohydrates), channel, source region and sector. The paper applies the framework in a CGE model (MAGNET) and uses FAO data to project nutritional outcomes resulting from the global food system over time. The analysis confirms that developing regions catch up with developed regions, with the USA at the high-end of nutrient consumption, whilst Southern Africa lags behind. In the USA the processed food channel dominates, whereas in Southern Africa the direct channel dominates. In the USA, and similar regions, fat taxes (thin subsidies) on unhealthy (healthy) processed foods, technologies reducing bad ingredients (e.g. trans fats, salt), improved food labelling, information and marketing campaigns, and/or targeted cash transfers may be worthwhile to investigate. In Southern Africa, and regions alike, technological advances increasing nutrient availability via primary agriculture and/or cash transfers enabling access may be more pertinent. The relative fixedness of sectoral origins shows that consumption habits change slowly and are visible only in the long term. For certain regions, including Southern Africa and USA, nutrient import dependency increases with substantial variations in regional sourcing. This implies that concerted action across the globe is crucial to reach diet, nutrition and health goals, and should include upcoming Asian economies, Africa (excl. Southern Africa) and the Middle East. Heterogeneity of results necessitates future ex-ante quantitative policy analyses on a more detailed and context-specific basis.

Suggested Citation

  • Martine Rutten & Andrzej Tabeau & Frans Godeschalk, 2014. "We are what we eat: An economic tool for tracing the origins of nutrients," FOODSECURE Working papers 28, LEI Wageningen UR.
  • Handle: RePEc:fsc:fspubl:28
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    File URL: http://www3.lei.wur.nl/FoodSecurePublications/28_Rutten-WeAreWhatWeEat-Nutrients.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Zhao, Fang-Jie & Shewry, Peter R., 2011. "Recent developments in modifying crops and agronomic practice to improve human health," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 36(S1), pages 94-101.
    2. Meenakshi, J.V. & Johnson, Nancy L. & Manyong, Victor M. & DeGroote, Hugo & Javelosa, Josyline & Yanggen, David R. & Naher, Firdousi & Gonzalez, Carolina & García, James & Meng, Erika, 2010. "How Cost-Effective is Biofortification in Combating Micronutrient Malnutrition? An Ex ante Assessment," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 38(1), pages 64-75, January.
    3. Zhao, Fang-Jie & Shewry, Peter R., 2011. "Recent developments in modifying crops and agronomic practice to improve human health," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 36(Supplemen), pages 94-101, January.
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    Cited by:

    1. Boysen-Urban, Kirsten & Ferrari, Emanuele & M'Barek, Robert & Philippidis, George, 2020. "Assessing the impacts of changing consumer behaviour patterns on our planetary boundaries," Conference papers 333163, Purdue University, Center for Global Trade Analysis, Global Trade Analysis Project.
    2. Boysen-Urban, Kirsten & Philippidis, George & M'barek, Robert & Ferrari, Emanuele, 2021. "Impacts of Changes Towards More Sustainable Food Production and Consumption at the Global Level," 2021 Conference, August 17-31, 2021, Virtual 315275, International Association of Agricultural Economists.
    3. Rutten, Martine & Achterbosch, Thom J. & de Boer, Imke J.M. & Cuaresma, Jesus Crespo & Geleijnse, Johanna M. & Havlík, Petr & Heckelei, Thomas & Ingram, John & Leip, Adrian & Marette, Stéphan & van Me, 2018. "Metrics, models and foresight for European sustainable food and nutrition security: The vision of the SUSFANS project," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 163(C), pages 45-57.

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • C68 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Mathematical Methods; Programming Models; Mathematical and Simulation Modeling - - - Computable General Equilibrium Models
    • D12 - Microeconomics - - Household Behavior - - - Consumer Economics: Empirical Analysis
    • I10 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - General
    • Q17 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Agriculture - - - Agriculture in International Trade
    • Q18 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Agriculture - - - Agricultural Policy; Food Policy; Animal Welfare Policy

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