Economics of Nutrition

This chapter brings together two broad sets of wicked challenges facing humanity today: climate change and malnutrition. Policy, institutional, and technological innovations can help address both sets of challenges. Climate change affects various agriculture to nutrition pathways. Climate change interventions that are evidence-based can have a profound impact on the food and nutrition security of the population. The chapter review methods of climate change analysis for agriculture, nutrition, and health system outcomes. Discussion of microeconomic evidence on the impact of climate variables, like temperature and precipitation, pathogens, and air quality, on farming systems, agricultural production, labor use, household dynamics, gender, food intake, dietary diversity, child health, and anthropometric status. Policy innovations can reduce overall greenhouse gas emissions from the production and consumption dimensions of food systems. The chapter provides selected illustrative examples of how nutrition interventions in the context of climate disruptions can enhance policy and programmatic outcomes.