The Evaluation of Bellagio Meeting Report on Healthy Agriculture, Healthy Nutrition, Healthy People

Abstract

The Bellagio Report on Healthy Agriculture, Healthy Nutrition, Healthy People is the result of the meeting held at the Rockefeller Foundation Bellagio Center in Lake Como, Italy, 29 October–2 November 2012. The meeting was science-based but policy-oriented. The role and amount of healthy and unhealthy fats, with attention to the relative content of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, sugar, and particularly fructose in foods that may underlie the epidemics of non-communicable diseases (NCD’s) worldwide were extensively discussed. The report concludes that sugar consumption, especially in the form of high energy fructose in soft drinks, especially in children, and most diets and although with regional differences, deficiency in omega-3 fatty acids and too high in omega-6 fatty acids are major and insidious health threat. Gene-nutrient interactions in growth and development and in disease prevention are fundamental to health, therefore regional Centers on Genetics, Nutrition and Fitness for Health should be established worldwide. Heads of state and government should urgently consider national priorities taking into account of human rights in healthy diet applications. Nutrition should be placed as leading responsibility in Ministry of Health rather than Ministry of Agriculture so that the health requirements drive agricultural priorities, not vice versa. Nutritional security should be given the same priority as food security.