Improving Health and sustainability impacts of the edible oil sector in India: A qualitative policy analysis Soledad Cuevas, Bhavani Shankar, Suparna Ghosh-Jerath, Shauna Downs, AafreenAyaan, Marcus Keogh-Brown
Context: Production, import and consumption trends 25000 20000 1000 MT 15000 10000 5000 0 1964 1967 1970 1973 1976 1979 1982 1985 1988 1991 1994 1997 2000 2003 2006 2009 2012 2015 Total Imports Total Production Increased imports Increased and unequal consumption
Context: Production, import and consumption trends 1000 MT 20000 15000 10000 5000 0 1964 1967 1970 1973 1976 1979 1982 1985 1988 1991 1994 1997 2000 Oil, Coconut Oil, Cottonseed Oil, Palm 2003 2006 Oil, Palm Kernel Oil, Peanut Oil, Rapeseed Oil, Soybean Oil, Sunflowerseed Sustainability in supplying countries Constraints to domestic sector expansion Nutrition and NCD 2009 2012 2015
Context: Production, import and consumption trends
Context: Oil processing industry Rapidly changing industry Consolidation and integration into larger firms and processing units Increased influence of global consumer brands
Context: Interacting policy interventions 90% 80% 70% Export ban New agriculture promotion scheme NMOOP Tariff Rate 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% Scheme for distribution End of export ban 0% Jul-06 Feb-07 Sep-07 Apr-08 Nov-08 Jun-09 Jan-10 Aug-10 Mar-11 Oct-11 May-12 Dec-12 Jul-13 Feb-14 Sep-14 Apr-15 Nov-15 Jun-16 Crude Palm Oil Crude Soyabean Oil RBD Palmolein Refined Soyabean Oil
What constitutes a desirable outcome? Achieve a sustainable, strong domestic sector for oilseeds, reducing import dependency, while promoting a balanced consumption of edible oils as part of a healthy diet
Methods Expert and stakeholder interviews. Policy document analysis Value Chain analysis Characteristics in each segment Policy and regulation Technological Financial: costs and profits Organizational, ownership and power Policy analysis. Adapted from Grindle and Thomas (1991) Context Policy characteristics Process Key points for intervention Coherence Opportunities/ Challenges
Key points for coherent intervention Agricultural interventions In oilseeds and oil palm Targeting Formal and informal food environments Food security oriented interventions Tariff setting and trade policy
Key points for coherent intervention Agricultural Targeting Type interventions of intervention Opportunities Challenges Formal and Nutrition-sensitive In oilseeds and oil Substantial informal food Perceived historical Agricultural palm investment environments in areas failure and lack of interventions that can be leveraged confidence for nutrition. Some specific Explicit aim for characteristics of Food coherence with palm oil as a crop security and sustainability as an economic oriented sector schemes (NMSA) interventions Tariff setting and trade policy
Key points for coherent intervention Agricultural Targeting interventions Formal and In oilseeds and oil informal food Type palmof intervention Opportunities environments Challenges Cross-cutting Tariff setting and trade policy History of sectoral intervention create relevant structures for monitoring and coordination. NCD prevention, food security and sustainability still Food perceived as security competing agendas oriented interventions confusing scientific evidence
Key insights No single policy intervention can address all issues Advice to consumers about consumption of specific oils not highly effective. Instead, coherent targeting of key points along the value chain: 1. There are opportunities for climate and nutrition-sensitive agricultural policies in the oilseed sector 2. A broader agenda for tariff setting could support other interventions 3. Initiatives to improve food environments and combat NCD are gaining traction but are fragmented and not highly visible. 4. Alignment of short term food security oriented interventions (distribution and fortification) to ensure that short term objectives are balanced with long term goals in the sector.
References Hawkes, Corinna, and Marie T Ruel. 2012. Value Chains for Nutrition. Edited by Shenggen Fan and RajulPandya-Lorch, 73. Grindle, Merilee, and John Thomas. 1991. Public Choices and Policy Change. Production Supply and Distribution Database, USDA Figure 2.Fatty Acid Profiles of Common Fats and Oils. Source: USDA Dietary Guidelines for Americans (USDA, 2010) Shankar, Bhavani, et al. "Policies for healthy and sustainable edible oil consumption: a stakeholder analysis for Thailand." Public health nutrition20.6 (2017): 1126-1134. https://www.flickr.com/photos/rainforestactionnetwork/5551933172 https://www.flickr.com/photos/owenyoung/16729118691 https://www.flickr.com/photos/-rhys-/70768600 https://www.flickr.com/photos/dnaidoo/9446971081 Doughnut, Jerome Paz, https://flic.kr/p/7ifgc6 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/2.0/
Thank you for your attention! Contact email: Soledad.Cuevas@lshtm.ac.uk