Preventing micronutrient malnutrition : a guide to food based approaches

The information presented in this manual aims to highlight the major issues involved in promoting and developing food-based approaches and to review important lessons learned to date. Its aims are to assist the reader in:

I realizing the importance of food-based approaches,

■ understanding the skills and knowledge that must be mobilized to successfully implement food-based approaches,

being aware of the key sources of infor mation and assistance that are available for implementing food-based ap proaches, and

■deciding on feasible action to initiate

food-based approaches.

FAO and ILSI envisage this manual as part of a continuing process of dialogue and information exchange to better un derstand the role of food-based strategies to reduce micronutrient deficiencies. Some of the most knowledgeable experts were engaged to help write it. Three regional meetings were held in Asia, Africa and Latin America, where a wide range of specialists in the developing countries provided excellent feedback on the first draft, commenting not only on technical issues but also on the kind of book they considered would be most useful in their individual countries. The second draft was subsequently sent to a large number of internationally acknowledged experts for further technical advice and comments.

Although Preventing Micronutrient Deficiencies: A Guide to Food-based Ap proaches has been extensively reviewed, it is by no means complete. We invite readers to offer comments on the text, and we have provided a tear-out form for this purpose. (A form is attached at the end of the manual.) This completed form can be mailed to FAO or ILSI headquarters or to a local FAO office. A revised edition of the manual will be produced when it is deemed necessary.

It is hoped that this manual will serve as the basis for future dialogue and discus sion in many forums and will facilitate our endeavour to initiate an international movement committed to the implementa tion of effective, long-term food-based solutions to the scourge of micronutrient deficiencies.