There is no denying that good nutrition is vital for establishing a stable foundation for socio-economic development. Over the past decades, unprecedented developments in the agriculture sector and the global food industry have resulted in greater access to a wider variety of food. However, despite several improvements in the agri-food supply chain, the world continues to struggle with ending hunger and malnutrition. Even before the pandemic, countries were falling short of the target to end hunger by 2030, as reported by the Food and Agriculture Organization.

Today, the road to achieving food and nutrition security is further threatened by the lingering economic and social effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and relatively high inflationary pressures. In the Philippines, overweight and obesity are growing health concerns, affecting nearly 27 million Filipinos, alongside micronutrient deficiencies and underweight issues, forming part of the "triple burden" caused by malnutrition in the country.

Malnutrition is a complex and multifaceted problem that necessitates multi-sectoral and comprehensive strategies to effectively and sustainably prevent and manage. The ECCP shares the concerns of the government and health authorities, and fully supports initiatives to combat this health issue. To this end, the Chamber is hosting the third run of its nutrition event entitled "Investing in Nutrition: Foundations for a Thriving and Healthy Future" on 30 July 2024, from 1:00 – 5:00 pm at Dusit Thani Manila.

The event will feature updates on the nutrition agenda of the current administration as well as multi-stakeholder dialogues on innovative solutions to safeguard nutrition gains and improve nutrition outcomes.