Seminar facilitator and executive director of the World Initiative for Soy in Human Health (WISHH), Jim Hershey, said one of the primary ways in which a nation's lack of food security plays out, is in the form of stunting, which refers to low height for age in children and is the result of chronic nutritional deficiency.
"Stunting is surprisingly high in South Africa, where rates are similar to those of lower-income countries in the region. 27% of children under the age of five are stunted, 12% are underweight and 5% are wasted. Clearly food security in the region must be addressed as a matter of urgency."
The long-term effects of stunting are not limited to below average height. Stunted children may run a greater risk of developing chronic diseases like diabetes and heart disease than well-nourished children. This in turn has an economic impact, with UNICEF estimating that countries lose over 3% of their GDP through the effects of under-nutrition, while it is anticipated that South Africa specifically will lose a cumulative US$1.9 billion to chronic disease between 2007 and 2015.
"Plant-based proteins are an economical way to get more protein and other vital nutrients into people's diets. Beans, legumes, lentils and especially soy are rich sources of protein and other essential vitamins and nutrients and, unlike animal proteins, are almost devoid of unhealthy saturated fats, while being a good source of healthy, unsaturated fats. Soy in particular, has all the essential amino acids required to make it a 'complete protein', which in turn makes it nutritionally comparable to meat and other animal proteins," Hershey added.
While there are those who might argue that local agriculture should be able to fulfil the country's food needs, the reality is that although, for example, South Africa grows a significant quantity of soybeans, it imports even more soybean meal for poultry and swine production. South Africa is not alone in its demand for soy either, in just over ten years, world demand for soy has doubled and will continue to grow as economies and populations grow.
"Evidently what is needed is for South African food buyers to partner with reputable suppliers from a politically stable country, who can offer a reliable, steady and sustainable supply of good, healthy and cost-effective foods. And I do believe that the cooperatives represented at today's seminar have established their suitability to fulfil this role," Hershey concluded.
