Dimensions, domains and principles of the new nutrition science

Out of the BoxThe spiral motif on this page is the emblem of the new nutrition science.If you attended the 18th International Congress of Nutrition in Durban last month, or if you have a copy of the special September issue of this journal 1 , you will know why an organic shape, evoking movement on, around and up, represents our science, newly defined to work effectively in the 21st century.Its essence, stated in The Giessen Declaration 2 , is that from now on, nutrition is confirmed as based on ethical principles and understanding of evolution, history and ecology, and is a biological and also a social and environmental science, with all this implies.When you write a paper whose scope or theme is part of the new nutrition science, please brand it with the spiral. Reasons for miseryThis column is written before the Durban congress.Preparation of my presentations gave me more reason to think from the point of view of the South and in particular of Africa.One fact in the UN Development Programme 2005 report, just published 3 , explains why people who work for Africa are angry and bitter.Rich countries now spend $US 1 billion a year on aid for agriculture in poor countries; and just under $US 1 billion a day subsidising agricultural overproduction at home.This means that most people in poor countries are increasingly impoverished.Oxfam reports that four million people in Malawi, four million in Zimbabwe, one million in Zambia, 400 000 in Mozambique, 500 000 in Lesotho and 200 000 in Swaziland now face starvation 4 .You will no doubt read and see more about this in the next few months.Such are not natural catastrophes.Lack of rain may be an immediate cause of famine, but is not its essential cause.Whatever rhetoric comes out of the United Nations and the World Bank, the reality is that the rich are getting richer and the poor are getting poorer, if not always in money then in other basic entitlements 5,6 .