Ahead of World Health Day on Sunday (7 April), food policy campaigners have called for greater support from governments and commitments from citizens towards creating a healthier, more sustainable food system. The date marks the anniversary of the founding of the World Health Organisation (WHO) in 1948.

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Policy experts from research group Worldwatch called for shifts towards sustainable agriculture and support for smaller producers, which they claimed would have added benefits of boosting public health.

In addition to entreating the public to consider committing to a healthier diet and more exercise, calls which are supported by a diverse range of international organisations, Worldwatch suggested that widespread adoption of sustainable farming techniques could have a large part to play in ensuring a healthier global population.   

Over the past fifty years, the current agricultural system has had great success boosting crop yields and calories consumed around the world, thereby reducing hunger; however, according to the US-based Organic Center, as a result of reliance on a few crops the amount and variety of essential nutrients in many crops has declined. The result is that the same amount of sweet corn, potatoes, or bread now contains far less zinc, calcium, and iron than it did fifty years ago.  

At the same time, whilst the problem of insufficient food has been reduced since the last agricultural revolution, increased access across the world to processed foods and resource dense foods formerly solely associated with a 'western diet' is causing health problems, and in many places access to nutrient rich fruits and vegetables has declined as a result. Worldwatch claimed that, in the US, the Union of Concerned Scientists found that only 2 percent of U.S. farmland is used to grow fruits and vegetables as a result of the food industry's demand for refined grains and sugars.

Strengthen soil with intercropping, agroforestry, and cover crops

Worldwatch suggested that intercropping with legumes or growing cover crops could boost soil nutrients and improve the nutritional value of food, in addition to helping return nitrogen to the soil and supporting healthy plant growth.

The research group also said that planting trees on farms – agroforestry – would also help keep nutrients and water in the soil. Although there a number of benefits associated with agroforestry, high costs have limited uptake in many regions. In France, government research agency INRA supports agroforestry research and development; there has been a groundswell in the number of projects in the country in response to increased government support.

Other projects in Kenya have seen farmers planting fast-growing trees that regenerate soil and fertilize crops naturally, reducing the need for synthetic fertiliser and improving the resilience of the farm system.

Worldwatch also called for moves to protect small and medium scale family farms internationally. The group said these holdings are more likely than large-scale farms to produce nutrient rich crops such as fruit and vegetables and often use practices that help keep nutrients in the soil. Contrary to common belief, research by the World Bank suggests that smaller farms are often relatively as productive, or more so than larger ones, and generally cause less of an environmental impact.

Ellen Gustafson from US policy group Food Tank called for a holistic approach to food policy to address health issues. She said, "The solutions to hunger, obesity and agriculture issues are all out there. We need to bring our visions for the food system together to make these solutions a reality."

On Wednesday, Danielle Nierenberg of Worldwatch added, "One of the most powerful tools in changing the nutrient value of the foods farmers grow is choice. Farmers armed with knowledge about new markets for their products and more effective farming practices, as well as the freedom to choose how and what they grow, are taking the initiative to do things differently. Their knowledge and creativity are already improving the health of families, communities, and environments, from Illinois to India."

The theme for World Health Day 2013 is high blood pressure. The WHO intends to raise awareness of several ways in which people can reduce the risk of developing high blood pressure, including:

• reducing salt intake;
• eating a balanced diet;
• avoiding harmful use of alcohol;
• taking regular physical activity;
• maintaining a healthy body weight; and
• avoiding tobacco use.