Poverty, livestock and food security in developing countries.
2013
Turk, J. M.
Poverty, livestock and food security are linked directly and indirectly. Insufficient capital to purchase enough food is a direct linkage, but even wealthy people can be poorly nourished if the nutritional quality of foods they consume is unbalanced. The most recent FAO State of Food Insecurity in the World report highlights that between 2010 and 2012 chronic undernourishment affected nearly 870 million people in the developing countries or 12.5% of the global population, the majority of whom live in developing countries. However, poverty is not necessarily equated with the level of malnutrition, especially that of children. There is a likelihood that higher levels of malnutrition among children would be found in lower income countries, but proportions of malnourishment may not always be associated with a country's economic status. Malnutrition is caused by a lack of sufficient calories and proteins from animal source foods (ASFs) and other sources, as well as micronutrient (vitamin and mineral) deficiency. Malnutrition and undernutrition severely affect children's physical and intellectual development. In developing countries, both urban and rural populations keep livestock for many reasons. Livestock value is measured economically, socioculturally, environmentally and nutritionally. ASFs contain some of the most important micronutrients needed by humans, and diverse diets that include ASF contain greater energy and higher protein digestibility than plants. For example, ASF protein digestibility is approximately 94%, whereas digestibility of bean protein is 78% and that of whole wheat 86%. However, rural populations that produce livestock do not necessarily benefit from adequate ASF consumption.
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