Abstract

Human nutrition and the changing food situation have become more and more influenced by global forces. This relates to globally interconnected value chains, trade, production systems, the science system, as well as tastes and nutrition behavior in a more urbanized world. The chapter reviews the determinants of these global change patterns in broad terms since the 1880s and the global policy responses that shape the pattern and outcomes in terms of nutritional improvement and lack thereof. It concludes that nutrition must be addressed simultaneously by institutional and technological innovations on the supply side and with incentives and information for behavioral change on the demand side to achieve food security and health.