Alternative futures for nutrition in health and agriculture

Four alternative futures for nutrition programs within the areas of agriculture and health are considered. The first, based on current trends, will lead to a continued emphasis on the quality of the food supply in agriculture and on the relationship of diet to disease in the area of health. Under these conditions both areas will continue their nutrition research and education programs related to health maintenance and the promotion of health; the funding of nutrition programs will grow slowly. An alternative future, based on revolutionary advances in understanding of gene-nutrient interactions, could lead to greatly increased funding to apply this understanding toward improved nutrition and health. Alternatively, changes in the nation's health care system could lead to emphasis on health promotion and significantly increased funding would follow for nutrition research and education in support of health promotion. A final consideration involves the possibility that food insecurity will become politically unacceptable around the world and this change will significantly alter the direction and the support of food programs.