When a family's income rises, the additional money is often not used for a healthier diet. Today most households could prevent child malnutrition by making small changes in health and nutrition behavior. The complex challenge of assuring food security demands concerted effort now. It cannot be met without renewed commitment by scientists, farmers, local communities, national policy makers, and international donors. As part of this, the Bank is building institutional bridges that will forge essential partnerships among these groups.
Partnerships are key to any solution.
The Bank believes in a participatory approach to rural development, in which millions of small-holder farmers, many of whom are women, will actively participate in project design and implementation. While this bottom-up approach may take longer to develop, experience shows that such participation leads to the improved management of natural resources and the environment which will lead to sustainable food supplies. We cannot and must not fail them. If we take the necessary steps now, then we can dream of a world in 2025 in which everyone has enough to eat.