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IntroductionOptimization techniques, such as linear programming, can be used to estimate the minimum cost of a nutrient-adequate food basket, to determine if individuals or households can afford nutritious diets. These cost estimates typically account for seasonal fluctuations but often overlook significant disruptions in the availability of affordable nutritious food that can severely impact food and nutrition security.MethodsThis paper proposes a tree-based method, the binary search tree, to assess the resilience of the cost estimate of the minimum-cost food basket. In particular, this method aims to identify indispensable foods in these baskets — those whose unavailability would lead to a substantial cost increase. The binary search tree operates by iteratively excluding essential food items while ensuring the construction of minimum-cost nutritious baskets. It considers all relevant combinations of foods up to a specified size and avoids unnecessary optimizations, thereby saving computation time. We describe how the resulting tree can be evaluated and condensed to capture only the necessary information for decision makers. The construction and evaluation of the binary search tree are independent of the (dietary) restrictions or type of optimization model (i.e., linear, non-linear or integer) included.ResultsIn general, the binary search tree can identify all (combinations of) foods whose exclusion leads to a significant cost increase of a nutritious food basket. Furthermore, it can detect possible substitute effects between foods and identify key limiting nutrients. A case study is presented in which the binary search tree is applied to data from Ebonyi, Nigeria, modeled using linear programming. We report all combinations of up to five foods that, when unavailable, can impact food and nutrition security in Ebonyi.ConclusionThe BST can provide insights into local food and nutrition security when facing drastic disruptions in access to nutritious foods by identifying indispensable foods. Its results can be used to inform and design interventions in the context of humanitarian operations.

AbstractAlthough the 2030 Agenda’s aim of "zero hunger and malnutrition" has achieved tremendous progress, the prevalence of food insecurity and malnutrition is constantly rising worldwide. Hence, determining the variables influencing the food and nutrition security of wheat farmers in Arsi Zone of Ethiopia’s was the aim of this study. A random sampling technique was used to collect primary data from 422 households spread over three districts. Household dietary diversity score and calorie acquisition score were used to measure the nutrition and food security status, respectively. The result of descriptive statistics revealed that 70.85% of the sample households were food secure while the remaining 29.15% were insecure. Likewise, it was found that 26.07%, 52.61%, and 21.33% of the sample households had low, medium, and high nutritional levels, respectively. The result of the binary logit model pointed out that livestock holding, frequency of extension contact, inorganic fertilizer, irrigation, and vegetation coverage were positively associated with the likelihood of food security whereas family size and distance from the market were negatively associated with it. The results of ordered logit showed that the level of education, participation in safety-net programs, total income, farm size, market information, and soil fertility had positive and significant effects on household nutritional status while the distances to the market and health center were negatively associated with it. Thus, strong attention should be given in improving land, and livestock productivity, family planning, farmers’ education, soil fertility of wheat farms, interactions with extension agents, and utilizing irrigation technologies.

This study aimed to investigate food insecurity in the academic community during the pandemic. Crosssectional study with collection from an online questionnaire between October 2020 and February 2021 with undergraduate and graduate students, technicaladministrative staff, and professors. The questionnaire contained socioeconomic variables and the validated Brazilian Food Insecurity Scale. The average age of the participants was 27 years, most were female (65.7%) and 30.2% had an income between 1 and 3 minimum wages. Food insecurity was higher among undergraduates with 34.4% mild food insecurity, 10.6% moderate food insecurity, and 5.5% severe food insecurity. Logistic regressions showed that undergraduates and graduate students had the highest OR for food insecurity, with increased or reduced income and weight being associated with greater chances of food insecurity during the pandemic. Thus, the study demonstrated a significant presence of food insecurity in the academic community, especially among undergraduate and graduate students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ethiopia has demonstrated a commitment to tackling the high burden of Food and Nutrition Security (FNS) challenges by developing and implementing various policies, strategies, and programs. Despite the efforts, the current FNS situation is of significant public health concern observed by various nutrition indices. The narrative review aimed to appraise multisectoral policy, strategic and programmatic initiatives aimed at addressing FNS challenges and identify entry points for enhancing coherent and integrated FNS approaches. The review involved broad literature research using Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. A total of 1,086 articles and grey literature were identified. Out of this, 47 full-text articles and documents met the selection criteria and were included in this review. Evidence was synthesized in themes to characterize the successes and challenges of key FNS policies, strategies, and programs and identify potential areas of improvement to enhance multisectoral actions and address FNS challenges. Overall, Ethiopia has made considerable progress in enhancing FNS through the implementation of a range of FNS policies, strategies, and programs such as the National Nutrition Program (NNP), Productive Safety Net Program (PSNP), and Agricultural Growth Program (AGP) among others. These efforts have resulted in notable achievements, such as the reduction of the prevalence of undernourishment from 47.0% in 2000 to 24.9% in 2020 and the reduction of stunting among children under five years from 57.4% to 35.2% over the same period. Nonetheless, the pace of progress has been hindered by various contextual and programmatic challenges such as climatic shocks, poverty, high inflation, political instability, limited access to production resources, inadequate coverage of FNS interventions, inadequate financing, and inadequate multisectoral coherence and integration. A comprehensive and integrated multisectoral FNS approach focusing on enhancing commitment, planning, coordination, financing, capacity building, and accountability across sectors and levels is imperative. Strengthening coherence across various sectors, alongside the operationalization of robust multisectoral monitoring and evaluation systems highlighted in the National Food and Nutrition Strategy, constitutes the most suitable entry points for ensuring sustainable advancement in mitigating the prevailing FNS challenges in Ethiopia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The fall armyworm and larger grain borer are two of the main invasive cereal insect pests of cereal crops in Africa. These pests cause successive synergistic damage to maize in the field and after harvesting, resulting in huge food losses in Africa. The two invaders share invasive characteristics such as a high reproductive capacity, high thermal tolerance, pesticide resistance and the ability to feed on numerous hosts—traits that help them outcompete native species. Along with these characteristics, climate change, increased anthropogenic activities and factors such as the lack and/or poor tracking of natural enemies in the case of larger grain borer and an increase in mixed cropping under smallholder farming systems enabling host-switching in the case of the fall armyworm, have inevitably facilitated the continental spread of the two pests. Cumulative losses from the successive attack of the two insect pests suggest that 30–100% food losses are incurred when the two co-exist within the same environment. Improved management and containment of the fall armyworm and larger grain borer through the curtailment of plant material smuggling, improved phytosanitary regulations, public awareness and integrated pest management strategies can contribute towards improving food and nutrition security in Africa. Invasive alien species (IAS) are a major biosecurity threat affecting globalisation and the international trade of agricultural products and natural ecosystems. In recent decades, for example, field crop and postharvest grain insect pests have independently accounted for a significant decline in food quantity and quality. Nevertheless, how their interaction and cumulative effects along the ever-evolving field production to postharvest continuum contribute towards food insecurity remain scant in the literature. To address this within the context of Africa, we focus on the fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), and the larger grain borer, Prostephanus truncatus (Horn) (Coleoptera: Bostrichidae), two of the most important field and postharvest IAS, respectively, that have invaded Africa. Both insect pests have shown high invasion success, managing to establish themselves in >50% of the African continent within a decade post-introduction. The successive and summative nature of field and postharvest damage by invasive insect pests on the same crop along its value chain results in exacerbated food losses. This systematic review assesses the drivers, impacts and management of the fall armyworm and larger grain borer and their effects on food systems in Africa. Interrogating these issues is important in early warning systems, holistic management of IAS, maintenance of integral food systems in Africa and the development of effective management strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fonio (Digitaria exilis), also called "acha" in Nigeria, is a staple food crop that plays an important role in food and nutritional security for millions of people in West Africa. However, in Nigeria, as in most African countries where it is consumed as a whole grain to enrich local diets, its utilization patterns are poorly documented. Thus, generating knowledge of stakeholders' perceptions of and preferences for its use is critical for understanding the constraints and drivers affecting fonio utilization patterns. The main objective of this study was to review the utilization patterns of fonio by providing key information on stakeholders' perceptions and preferences in Nigeria. In this review, we first discuss production and synthesize some basic information relevant to different uses of fonio and stakeholders' perceptions of and preferences for such use. We also examine how farmers often maintain fonio diversity, highlight challenges that limit production and consumption on a wide scale and propose a roadmap for scaling up production and increasing the adoption level of fonio. The roadmap proposed in this study is based on five axes, namely, production, innovation in postharvest and processing technologies, marketing systems, technology dissemination, and novel gene prospecting. We assume that documenting the generated knowledge will increase public awareness of the nutritional and health properties associated with food-based products and help guide policy-makers and the private sector to strategically support the research and development of the native crop of West Africa for sustainable food and nutritional security. Further ethnobotanical research will be necessary to shed light on the extent and patterns of indigenous knowledge of fonio-based traditional foods in Nigeria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Food loss is a global challenge with significant economic, environmental, and social implications. In Brazil, it is estimated that fruit and vegetable losses range between 30% and 35% from production to the final consumer. This study analyzed the extent of fruit and vegetable loss and its determinants at the Supply Center of the State of Bahia (CEASA-Bahia), Brazil, taking into account the diversity of sales establishments. A cross-sectional study with a quantitative approach was conducted using questionnaires administered to sellers at the Salvador Supply Center in Bahia, Brazil. The sample consisted of 132 sellers, representing three categories: stalls, stones, and boxes. Over 85% of the sellers had not received any training in food handling. Precarious facilities and insufficient conservation technologies were observed, with only 12.9% of sellers having refrigeration facilities. Although 56.1% of the sellers denied experiencing losses, a weekly loss of 26.30 t of vegetables and 127.4 t of fruit was estimated, representing 2.26% of the acquired amount. In absolute values, this corresponds to over 150 t of wasted food. There was no policy in place at the Center to prevent or reduce food loss, with only timid initiatives such as donations (28.8%) and discounts (6.8%). The findings highlight the potential for implementing programs aimed at preventing food losses.

Abstract The consequences of COVID-19 on the economy and agriculture have raised many concerns about global food security, especially in Middle Eastern countries, where unsustainable farming practices are widespread. Regarding the unprecedented crisis of the COVID-19 pandemic and the importance of early implementation of prevention programs, it is essential to understand better its potential impacts on various food security dimensions and indicators in these countries. In this scoping review, research databases were searched using a search strategy and keywords developed in collaboration with librarians. The review includes community trials and observational studies in all population groups. Two researchers separately conducted the literature search, study selection, and data extraction. A narrative synthesis was implemented to summarize the findings. The impacts of COVID-19 on three of four dimensions of food security through the food and nutrition system were identified: availability, accessibility, and stability. Disruption of financial exchanges, transportation, and closing of stores led to reduced production, processing, and distribution sub-systems. Rising unemployment, quitting some quarantined jobs, increasing medical healthcare costs, and increasing food basket prices in the consumption sub-system lead to lower access to required energy and nutrients, especially in the lower-income groups. Increased micronutrient deficiency and decreased immunity levels, increased overweight, obesity and non-communicable diseases would also occur. The current review results predict the effect of COVID-19 on food security, especially in vulnerable populations, and develop effective interventions. This review provides information for policymakers to better understand the factors influencing the implementation of these interventions and inform decision-making to improve food security. PROSPERO identifier: CRD42020185843.

Abstract Background Currently, food and nutrition insecurity are global challenges. Millions of people are still suffering from this problem in Ethiopia. Smallholder farmers that dominated the agricultural sector in most developing countries like Ethiopia are deemed as one avenue to address such challenges. The purpose of this review was, therefore, to scrutinize the impact of smallholder agriculture production on food and nutrition security from Ethiopian context. Empirical studies were retrieved through electronic databases and the backward searching mechanism in which the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses flowchart were used to select the empirical studies and to report the review results. Results The finding of the review indicated that, smallholder farmer plays a decisive role in an effort towards improving food and nutrition security through either directly as sources food and/ or indirectly provides means and mechanisms to access the required food type at different level. Furthermore, it is found that, female contributed more in securing food and nutrition status of households compared to their male counterparts. Yet, both male and female smallholder farmers are faced different challenges including lack of access to agricultural infrastructures and facilities, plant and animal disease, and gender- based difference on access to and control over productive resources. Conclusion and recommendation. Given the contributions of smallholder agriculture in Ethiopia, there is a need to strengthen capacity of female and male smallholder farmers through provision of gender responsive agricultural advisory services and credit services tailored to the local context as options in improving food and nutrition security in Ethiopia.

Food security remains the bedrock of the sustainable well-being of all nations. However, the dietary lifestyles of many underprivileged persons are compromised by limited access to nutritious food, which contributes negatively to malnutrition in developing countries. Bread, a wheat-based staple food, is consumed globally. It has been made in diverse forms, including Ujeqe, a traditional bread that is appreciated among the Zulus in South Africa. Its complementary foods are beans and those of animal origin, including Usu (offal), which not all people access; therefore, its singular consumption can predispose the consumer to deficiency challenges, thereby positioning it as a strategic medium for the delivery of essential nutrients for optimum well-being. Hence, interest in bread supplementation remains vital for improving nutrient intake and well-being. A food-based strategy that encourages diversified diets for essential nutrient intake has been highlighted as a cost-effective and sustainable approach to tackle malnutrition at the household level. Thus, this study assesses the perceptions of Ujeqe and Amaranthus as a potential supplement for improved food and nutrition security of the rural households in Empangeni KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. A mixed-design research approach was adopted for the study, and purposive convenience random sampling techniques were used to sample the population. A total of 100 structured questionnaires were generated, and clustered data of 91 respondents were preprocessed and analyzed using descriptive content analysis. The study's findings revealed that 92.59% of the respondents attested that Ujeqe is a traditional steamed bread indigenous to the study area. It is preferred because the ingredients are readily available, with an easy preparation mode. Moreover, Ujeqe is well appreciated and consumed as a main meal and a snack by all ages, excluding babies. Furthermore, 100% of the respondents in this study were familiar with Amaranthus leaves but were not familiar with their utilization as an ingredient in Ujeqe bread. Amaranthus is an underutilized crop. In this study, the respondents indicated their willingness to consume Amaranthus enriched-Ujeqe bread for improved food and nutrition security in rural communities. Therefore, awareness and processing of nutrient-dense plants, including (Amaranthus) cannot be overemphasized. Similarly, Amaranthus can be explored in Ujeqe bread for improved nutrient intake to address nutrition insecurity, especially in malnourished communities, including Empangeni KwaZulu-Natal Republic of South Africa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The role of traditional underutilized food in fulfilling the nutritional requirements of rural communities is acknowledged across the world. The Sikkim and Darjeeling Himalaya is considered as one of the hotspots of diverse underutilized nutritious crops and vegetables. Though the earlier generation used those diverse traditional nutri-crops to fulfill food and nutritional requirements, their usage and cultivation have declined over the period. The new generation is not aware of the nutritional values of these local crops. In this context, the present study was conducted to document the traditional nutri-crops of Sikkim and Darjeeling Himalaya, and to suggest future policies for mainstreaming these traditional crops into the farmers' existing cropping system. Participatory rationality analysis technique was conceptualized and used to understand the usage of different traditional nutri-crops in the region from a sample of 560 farmers. The findings revealed that the rationality index score of Ishkush (Sechium edule) was highest (4.66) followed by Chuche Karela (Momordica charantia L.-4.38) and Pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo-4.37). The crops with highest perceived medicinal (4.86) and nutritive value (4.93) was Ishkush (Sechium edule). The major recommendation for popularizing the traditional nutri-crops was 'Ensuring better price for traditional nutricrops (81%)' followed by 'Start research initiative specifically on local unexplored nutri-crops to enhance their productivity (80%)', and 'Demonstrating the potential of indigenous nutri-crops in fighting malnutrition through extension agents (78%)'. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The objective of this study was to analyze how innovations in Climate-smart agriculture (CSA) contribute to improving the food and nutrition security of smallholder households, thereby promoting sustainable food systems. Methods: A cross-sectional household survey was conducted among a multi-stage sample of 424 smallholder farmers drawn from five different agroecosystems. To examine households' food and nutrition security, we used food consumption score (FCS) and modified household dietary diversity score (HDDS) in propensity score matching (PSM) and endogenous switching regression (ESR) estimation models. Results: PSM results showed that crop residue management, compost, and agroforestry have a significant effect on improving households' food and nutrition security by 21.3, 13.6, and 16.6%, respectively, whereas Soil and water conservation (SWC) has reduced adopters' food security by 12.9%. However, the conditional average treatment effect, or ESR result, reveals that households' food and nutrition security has improved as a result of the adoption of crop residue management, compost, SWC, and agroforestry. Discussion: Although the impact of crop residue management, compost, and agroforestry is positive, the effect of SWC on household food security has been inconclusive. Hence, it is important to upscale the adoption of multiple CSA innovations to improve smallholder household's food security in the face of climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The transition to sustainable food systems and the achievement of SDGs 2 and 12 entails the adoption of sustainable consumption and production patterns, such as the Mediterranean diet. The Mediterranean diet and its impact on nutritional status and health have been the focus of recent research. The aim of this study was to investigate the associations between adherence to the Mediterranean diet, lifestyle, socioeconomic status, BMI (kg/m2), and age of children. The geographical area is the Metropolitan City of Bari (Apulia region, southern Italy), which is involved in the development of an effective food policy aimed at ensuring a sustainable food transition. An online survey was filled out by parents or guardians responsible for the dietary patterns of children between 2 and 15 years of age to collect data about their Mediterranean diet adherence through the Mediterranean Diet Quality Index (KIDMED) and sociodemographic features, food habits and lifestyles, and anthropometric variables. Descriptive statistics and k-means cluster analysis were applied for profiling children, contributing to identifying the main factors that might affect individual Mediterranean diet adherence. Four clusters were characterized, taking into account food habits and lifestyle index, socioeconomic index, children’s age, and body mass index (BMI). Results showed an association between low adherence to the Mediterranean diet and high prevalence of overweight and obesity in children. The factors positively associated with following an optimal Mediterranean diet adherence were the mother’s education level and level of income; skipping breakfast is linked to low adherence to the Mediterranean diet. Therefore, targeted strategies should be put in place to improve Mediterranean diet adherence among children, promoting healthy dietary habits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this research was to collect online data about the cultivation of 'ora-pro-nóbis' (OPN) in the Vale do Paraíba Paulista to support research planning and public policies. A questionnaire with 24 questions was created using a remote research management application and covered the cultivation, consumption and commercialization of OPN. Applied to the agroecology group Rede Agroflorestal do Vale do Paraíba (Rede) and food security group Roda de Saberes (ROSA), made up of farmers, producers and rural owners, agriculture, health and education professionals, we obtained 52 completed questionnaires with OPN valued for its high protein and nutritional content, as a traditional food widely used by 96% of respondents who keep few plants in backyards and farms (82%) for the consumption of 0.5-1, 0kg of leaves per month in fresh form (29%), green juice (22%), cakes and breads (21%) and sautéed with meat (17%). Research should focus on pruning management (67%), necessary to maintain the low size of the plants and prevent the spikes from increasing in size as the branches age. This research provided a current overview of the growing popular interest in the consumption of OPN, which justifies investments to improve management and expand the scale of production to also serve the food and pharmaceutical industries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Ciencias de la Salud is the property of Colegio Mayor de Nuestra Senora del Rosario and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Saúde e Sociedade is the property of Universidade de Sao Paulo, Faculdade de Saude Publica and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Farm households in Africa adopt resource allocation tools such as crop diversification to minimize risk exposure and safeguard their food and nutrition security. This study uses primary data and an ordered probit model to examine how crop diversification impacts the food security outcomes of rural farmers in northern Ghana. The findings revealed that along with other factors like access to extension services and use of soil fertility management practices, crop diversification increased food access and reduced the food insecurity experience of households. As a result, policies targeted at improving the food and nutrition security of peasant households should promote adoption of diversified crop production and use of sustainable soil management practices like composting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background This research is conducted in the context of an integrated food security and nutrition project implemented by the Social Enterprise Development Foundation (SEND Sierra Leone) and Agro Forestry Farmers Association (AFFA) in rural Kenema and Pujehun Districts. This paper presents a qualitative ‘baseline’ action-learning research on the impact of the Gender Model Family (GMF) approach on women empowerment and the effects on enhanced outcomes along the agriculture-nutrition pathway. Qualitative data were collected using in-depth face-to-face interviews and focused group discussion (FGD) from the GMF beneficiaries. Results Linking Agriculture, Natural Resource Management and Nutrition (LANN) has nutrition security as its aim, and the project objectives and indicators focus on nutrition, not gender—however, this ‘baseline’ action-learning research recognized that gender is a major underlying factor. The evidence suggests that the GMF approach fosters women empowerment and enhances outcomes in food and nutrition security as there has been a change in social rules about men taking part in domestic household work and women involvement in family decision-making. Conclusions Given that women play crucial roles as administrators of household food and nutrition security, empowering them is intimately related to the consolidation of household food systems, improves nutrition intake and the fight against food-nutrition insecurity in rural Africa.

IntroductionThe objective of this study was to analyze how innovations in Climate-smart agriculture (CSA) contribute to improving the food and nutrition security of smallholder households, thereby promoting sustainable food systems.MethodsA cross-sectional household survey was conducted among a multi-stage sample of 424 smallholder farmers drawn from five different agroecosystems. To examine households’ food and nutrition security, we used food consumption score (FCS) and modified household dietary diversity score (HDDS) in propensity score matching (PSM) and endogenous switching regression (ESR) estimation models.ResultsPSM results showed that crop residue management, compost, and agroforestry have a significant effect on improving households’ food and nutrition security by 21.3, 13.6, and 16.6%, respectively, whereas Soil and water conservation (SWC) has reduced adopters’ food security by 12.9%. However, the conditional average treatment effect, or ESR result, reveals that households’ food and nutrition security has improved as a result of the adoption of crop residue management, compost, SWC, and agroforestry.DiscussionAlthough the impact of crop residue management, compost, and agroforestry is positive, the effect of SWC on household food security has been inconclusive. Hence, it is important to upscale the adoption of multiple CSA innovations to improve smallholder household’s food security in the face of climate change.

The transition to sustainable food systems and the achievement of SDGs 2 and 12 entails the adoption of sustainable consumption and production patterns, such as the Mediterranean diet. The Mediterranean diet and its impact on nutritional status and health have been the focus of recent research. The aim of this study was to investigate the associations between adherence to the Mediterranean diet, lifestyle, socioeconomic status, BMI (kg/m2), and age of children. The geographical area is the Metropolitan City of Bari (Apulia region, southern Italy), which is involved in the development of an effective food policy aimed at ensuring a sustainable food transition. An online survey was filled out by parents or guardians responsible for the dietary patterns of children between 2 and 15 years of age to collect data about their Mediterranean diet adherence through the Mediterranean Diet Quality Index (KIDMED) and sociodemographic features, food habits and lifestyles, and anthropometric variables. Descriptive statistics and k-means cluster analysis were applied for profiling children, contributing to identifying the main factors that might affect individual Mediterranean diet adherence. Four clusters were characterized, taking into account food habits and lifestyle index, socioeconomic index, children’s age, and body mass index (BMI). Results showed an association between low adherence to the Mediterranean diet and high prevalence of overweight and obesity in children. The factors positively associated with following an optimal Mediterranean diet adherence were the mother’s education level and level of income; skipping breakfast is linked to low adherence to the Mediterranean diet. Therefore, targeted strategies should be put in place to improve Mediterranean diet adherence among children, promoting healthy dietary habits.

Food insecurity, hunger, and malnutrition have been a global challenge, particularly among low- and middle-income countries, including Nigeria. Despite international donors’ interventions, the number of food insecure households, hunger, and malnutrition keep increasing, though exacerbated by the security challenges in Nigeria. Nigeria ranked 107th out of 113 countries on the Global Food Security Index (GFSI), and the level of hunger in Nigeria remains considerably serious, as Nigeria also ranks 109th out of 125 countries in the 2023 Global Hunger Index (GHI). Owing to these challenges, the Nigerian government has instituted policies and programmes to boost food production, yet the issue of food insecurity persists due to poor implementation. Failure of policies and programmes is principally due to the so-called NO-STEP syndrome-no sincerity or transparency in the execution of policies. Furthermore, there have not been structures that could provide a basis for the formulation of the policies and also evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of their implementation. Therefore, this study outlines a conceptual “Triple E (Evaluation, Education, and Empowerment) framework”. The goal is to strengthen rural agricultural activities for adequate food production, a sure pathway to achieving food security and hunger reduction. Furthermore, considering the increasing number of malnourished children in Nigeria, the Triple E also entails a novel initiative, SIT-250/4/1 (survey, identify, and treat 250 thousand malnourished under five children, every quarter per year), and if adopted by the Federal Government of Nigeria, it could help reduce significantly, in the shortest possible time, the number of malnourished children in Nigeria.

Despite the progress observed over the past decades, food and nutritional insecurity remain the prominent challenges in Ethiopia. In this respect, improved farming practices and productivity-enhancing agricultural technologies have been identified as pathways out of these problems; these technologies are the priority agenda of the government policy in Ethiopia. Nonetheless, the impact of the adoption of milk safety practices on dairy farmers’ food and nutrition security has not yet been addressed, especially at the smallholder farmers’ level. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of the adoption of milk safety practices on dairy farmers’ food and nutrition security in Ethiopia, using primary data collected from 410 dairy farmers. Generalized propensity score matching was used to evaluate the heterogeneous impact of the adoption of milk safety practices on the household food and nutrition security indicators (per capita food consumption expenditure and food consumption score). The findings reveal that the adoption of milk safety practices had a moderate impact on food consumption expenditure but had no significant impact on food consumption score. An ordered probit endogenous switching regression was also used to account for unobserved bias and check the robustness of the generalized propensity score estimates. Accordingly, the results are similar to the generalized propensity score estimates, and unobserved bias was not a problem. In general, the impact of adoption of milk safety practices on food and nutrition security of smallholder dairy farmers is moderate in Ethiopia. This might be because of the high compliance costs with the adoption of milk safety practices and the lack of quality-based pricing systems. Hence, creating an enabling environment, which in turn, encourages the adoption of milk safety practices would help improve positive effects of the adoption of milk safety practices on food and nutritional security.

Reducing post-harvest loss conserves resources such as natural, human, and financial inputs that help reduce poverty, raise household incomes, and improve rural livelihoods. The plant-based protein, higher unsaturated fat content, and higher fiber value of groundnuts make them preferable for nutrition enhancement. Groundnut is also well known for its environmental significance, as it reduces the use of chemical fertilizer by fixing nitrogen from the air and enriching soil fertility. However, there are few published scientific reports on groundnut post-harvest loss assessment in African countries. Moreover, published studies of groundnut post-harvest loss focused primarily on biodeterioration during storage. Hence, this review aimed to assess the underlying causes, extent of post-harvest quality and quantity loss of groundnut in the supply chain, and post-harvest loss mitigating technologies in Africa and their implications for food and nutrition security. This review found that the higher drudgery required in the groundnut supply chain is a limiting factor for smallholder farmers in sub-Saharan African countries. Groundnut qualitative and quantitative post-harvest loss is higher during groundnut pod stripping and shelling and also during on-farm and warehouse storage of groundnut in the supply chain. Post-harvest losses of groundnut in African countries extend from 8.9% (Ghana) to 31% (Uganda). Higher-quality groundnut producers do not receive a higher market price as traders and processing factories do not test for aflatoxin content during purchase, which lets producers not follow labor- and cost-demanding good agricultural practices. In conclusion, adopting and providing improved groundnut varieties, aflatoxin control mechanisms, and post-harvest technologies of higher efficiency, lower cost, and local availability should be carried out. In addition, public awareness of aflatoxin toxicity and mitigation measures should be widely disseminated.

The COVID-19 pandemic posed multifaceted threats to global economies. The lockdowns were exogenous threats to economic activities. This study uses the case of farming households in Cameroon to explore the association between households’ resilience and food and nutrition insecurity during the COVID-19 pandemic. Focus group discussions (FDGs) were conducted to identify the different COVID-19-related shocks and the response strategies implemented by farming households. Information from the FGDs was then exploited to design survey questionnaires. A multistage random sampling procedure identified 249 farming households for an in-depth study. Through econometric modelling techniques, we reveal that COVID-19 shocks adversely affected farming households’ food and nutrition security and reduced households’ resilience capacity. However, existing adaptive capacity and access to basic services significantly contributed to farming households’ resilience. Female-headed and semi-urban farming households were more resilient than male-headed and rural households to COVID-19 shocks. We recommend that policies and interventions that target the enhancement of farming households’ adaptive capacity and improving their access to basic services would be essential for preparedness, response, and swift recovery from unanticipated systemic shocks such as COVID-19.

Copyright of GeSec: Revista de Gestao e Secretariado is the property of Sindicato das Secretarias e Secretarios do Estado de Sao Paulo (SINSESP) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

In spite of the remarkable economic growth and poverty reduction in India, the country has not witnessed a commensurate improvement in its food and nutrition indicators. The problem of food and nutrition insecurity in India is more pronounced when viewed from a regional perspective. This study constructs a State Hunger Index (SHI) for India based on data from two rounds of the National Family Health Survey and analyses the variation in SHI across states in the country in relation to accessibility, availability, and absorption of food. Our analysis revels that the majority of the Indian states had either 'alarming' or 'extremely alarming' levels of hunger in 2005-06. Even in 2015-16, only Kerala had a 'moderate' level of hunger and all other states had 'alarming' or 'serious' levels of hunger. Hunger is predominantly concentrated in BIMARU states namely, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Assam, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh. Among these states, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh account for one-third of the total hungry population in India. Policies to provide safe drinking water, sanitation facilities, and public distribution system for food grains have had a significant positive impact on reducing hunger in India. The study underscores that policies and programs should be devised with a regional perspective to address the challenges of food and nutrition insecurity in India and overcome the wide variation in hunger across regions of India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper examines the problems in ensuring the food and nutrition security of Bulgaria. The focus is on the consumption. Outlined are characteristics by product groups and products. Highlighted are specifics, peculiarities and problems. Considered is the priority significance of the consumption of products with high biological value for the country's food and nutritional security. The significance and the role of their import in meeting basic food needs is assessed as unacceptable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista de Fomento Social is the property of ETEA and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Food and nutrition security projections from global to household levels show that the future requires multifaceted approaches to achieve desired goals. In Uganda, the government has tried several strategies to promote food production, including a public-private partnership with Iowa State University through its Center for Sustainable Rural Livelihoods. In this comparative study, we surveyed 454 households to explore whether participation in livelihood education programs (LEPs) impact household food security. We also determine which LEPs and household characteristics influence food security. Overall, 46.3% of the surveyed house-holds were food secure, while the remaining were insecure or extremely insecure. Significantly, 51.0% of LEP participants were more food secure, compared to 35.5% of nonparticipants. Specific LEPs including agronomy and postharvest technologies, and livestock integration significantly influence food security, but less so for programs on nutrition and infant feeding, water supply and public health, complementary services like therapeutic porridge and assistance with immunization, and income innovations. Multinomial logistic regression analysis revealed that the household characteristics of keeping livestock and the number of meals eaten during periods of scarcity, influenced households having more food security than insecurity or extreme insecurity. Households participating in LEPs, having larger acreage of land, and having clean water and sanitation facilities were more food secure. The time taken to fetch water, days of illness of male adults, and belonging to community social groups, also influence the level of household food security. Based on these findings, we recommend that households should participate in LEPs to build their capacity to manage crop and live-stock production, and also to acquire knowledge of nutrition and feeding, public health, and income innovations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In most developing countries, although agricultural extension and research devolved since 1980s to promote relevance, cost-effectiveness, ownership, and sustainability, participatory action research (PAR) have been run, albeit with limited empirical evidence on their impacts on farmers livelihoods. The study use a three-stage extended regression model (ERM) to estimate the effect PAR and the promoted agronomic practices on crop produce dietary outputs considering potential endogenous engagement, omitted variable bias, reverse causality, endogenous covariates, and factor simultaneity. Using a sample of 607 small family farms with varying levels of research engagement in the Northern Highlands of Tanzania, the study found that PAR was associated with increased farm-gate dietary outcomes: per-capita calories, proteins, and minerals produced by 139, 216, and 143 %, respectively, and consumption of farm-produced minerals by 74–200 %. The organic manure application was associated with increased the dietary outputs by 62–113 % while the application of inorganic fertilizer with increased protein and mineral outputs by 68 and 105 %, respectively. The crop diversification was associated with increased dietary outputs by 11–25 % while pest and diseases control with increased dietary outputs by 12–17 % but with reduced consumption by 13–14 %. Soil and water conservation measures including terracing were associated with decreased dietary outputs. These findings indicate that PAR contributes to nutritional outcomes of smallholder farmers contingent on the promotion of low-cost input sources and crop diversification which can be leveraged to inform upscaling of participatory policies, strategies, and technologies.

Food and nutrition security projections from global to household levels show that the future requires multifaceted approaches to achieve desired goals. In Uganda, the government has tried several strate­gies to promote food production, including a public-private partnership with Iowa State Univer­sity through its Center for Sustainable Rural Liveli­hoods. In this comparative study, we surveyed 454 households to explore whether participation in livelihood education programs (LEPs) impact household food security. We also determine which LEPs and household characteristics influence food security. Overall, 46.3% of the surveyed house­holds were food secure, while the remaining were insecure or extremely insecure. Significantly, 51.0% of LEP participants were more food secure, com­pared to 35.5% of nonparticipants. Specific LEPs including agronomy and postharvest technologies, and livestock integration significantly influence food security, but less so for programs on nutrition and infant feeding, water supply and public health, complementary services like therapeutic porridge and assistance with immunization, and income innovations. Multinomial logistic regression analy­sis revealed that the household characteristics of keeping livestock and the number of meals eaten during periods of scarcity, influenced households having more food security than insecurity or extreme insecurity. Households participating in LEPs, having larger acreage of land, and having clean water and sanitation facilities were more food secure. The time taken to fetch water, days of ill­ness of male adults, and belonging to community social groups, also influence the level of household food security. Based on these findings, we recom­mend that households should participate in LEPs to build their capacity to manage crop and live­stock production, and also to acquire knowledge of nutrition and feeding, public health, and income innovations.

Copyright of Revista de Economia e Sociologia Rural is the property of Sociedade Brasileira de Economia e Sociologia Rural and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Assessments of fish consumption are based primarily on data from household surveys that do not capture information on the intra-household distribution of the size or species of fish consumed. Such studies can yield partial or misleading information about the adequacy of aquatic food consumption. We address this gap by focusing on individual-level fish consumption within the household, using data from a survey conducted in a rural part of the Ayeyarwady Region in Myanmar—an area with high levels of fish consumption. We disaggregate fish consumption by the gender of household members and by the quantity, species, and size of fish eaten, estimating quantities of fish consumed using models for reference, to identify gendered patterns of fish consumption at the intrahousehold level. We find higher average levels of fish consumption than reported in previous consumption surveys in Myanmar. Moreover, small fish are consumed more frequently than larger-sized fish. The popularity of small fish species highlights the continued reliance of survey respondents on wild fish stocks, despite all surveyed households also practicing small-scale aquaculture. The average consumption of fresh fish reported by women was 36% lower than that reported by men. Men were more likely to eat large fish species, but women ate more small fish, which may contain higher levels of micronutrients vital for addressing nutrient deficiencies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Caribbean is experiencing a worsening epidemic of obesity and noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) and it has the worst rates of premature mortality from cardiovascular diseases in the region of the Americas. Creating enabling environments to improve dietary diversity would help reduce obesity and diet-related NCDs. The Improving Household Nutrition Security and Public Health in the CARICOM project aimed to increase dietary diversity in the Caribbean, and to determine and implement effective, gender-sensitive interventions to improve food sovereignty, household food security, and nutrition in CARICOM states. Primary quantitative and qualitative research, scoping reviews, stakeholder engagement, implementation of interventions and dissemination activities were undertaken. This paper describes the overall project design and implementation, discusses challenges and limitations, and presents core achievements to inform further work in Small Island Developing States throughout CARICOM to advance the nutrition agenda in the Caribbean. The results of the project’s research activities are presented in other papers published in this special issue on nutrition security in CARICOM states.

Given the unique role of small farms in providing their own food and nutrition security, the classic three-dimensional approach to sustainability evaluation is not exhaustive. In addition to the socio-economic and environmental dimensions, the question of sustainable development should be extended to the dimension of food and nutrition security. But yet the relations among the different sustainability dimensions at the farm level are not obvious. Consequently, the objective of this paper is to assess the interactions between food and nutrition security and the socio-economic and environmental dimensions of sustainability in small-scale farms. The study is based on surveys conducted in 2018 on a sample of 710 small-scale farms in Poland. By applying structural equation modeling with simultaneous confirmatory factor analysis, the study found a positive relationship between the socio-economic and food and nutrition security dimensions of sustainability, but there was a lack of synergy between the environmental component and the other dimensions.

Background: An essential dietary strategy to address the rapidly increasing risk of the double burden of malnutrition among indigenous populations around the world is to improve nutritional and food diversity utilizing varieties of traditional plant-based foods. Objectives: The objective of this research was to identify wild edible plants (WEPs) frequently consumed by the Semai and analyze their proximate and mineral composition to improve the adequacy of the local population's nutritional intake. Methods: This study was conducted among 24 informants from 3 Semai settlements utilizing semistructured, ethnobotanical appraisal methods, proximate, and mineral analysis. Results: This research first documents the common names, ethnobotanical names, and uses of 4 WEPs commonly consumed by the Semai: Sayur manis/pucuk manis [Sauropus androgynus (L.) Merr.], Pucuk ubi (Manihot esculenta Crantz), Saya/aying (Strobilanthes crispa Blume), and snegoh [Diplazium esculentum (Retz.) Sw.]. The nutritional content ranged from 3.2 to 7.7 g/100 g (ash), 2.9 to 7.2 g/100 g (protein), 1.5 to 6.2 g/100 g (carbohydrate). The mineral analysis showed that these plants contain considerable calcium, iron, potassium, and magnesium content, ranging from 176 to 243 mg/100 g, 0.7 to 2.8 mg/100 g, 295 to 527 mg/100 g, 32 to 97 mg/100 g. A comparative analysis was done with commercial market produce: Ipomoea aquatica, Brassica rapa subsp. Chinensis and Brassica oleracea var. alboglabra. The nutrient content for the 3 produce ranged from 1.2 to 2.6 g/100 g (protein), 2.18 to 4.67 g/100 g (carbohydrate), and 0.59 to 1.67 mg/100 g (iron). The results showed that Manihot esculenta had the highest carbohydrate, calcium, potassium, and magnesium content, whereas the highest ash and protein content was found in Diplazium esculentum. Conclusions: These findings show that these WEPs had higher nutritional and mineral concentrations than select market produce and can be used to strengthen food and nutrition security among the Semai. However, additional information regarding antinutrient, toxic compounds, methods of preparation, and consumption is required to determine how much they contribute to nutritional outcomes before these vegetables may be adopted as new crops. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista de Economia e Sociologia Rural is the property of Sociedade Brasileira de Economia e Sociologia Rural and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Invasive alien species (IAS) are a major biosecurity threat affecting globalisation and the international trade of agricultural products and natural ecosystems. In recent decades, for example, field crop and postharvest grain insect pests have independently accounted for a significant decline in food quantity and quality. Nevertheless, how their interaction and cumulative effects along the ever-evolving field production to postharvest continuum contribute towards food insecurity remain scant in the literature. To address this within the context of Africa, we focus on the fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), and the larger grain borer, Prostephanus truncatus (Horn) (Coleoptera: Bostrichidae), two of the most important field and postharvest IAS, respectively, that have invaded Africa. Both insect pests have shown high invasion success, managing to establish themselves in >50% of the African continent within a decade post-introduction. The successive and summative nature of field and postharvest damage by invasive insect pests on the same crop along its value chain results in exacerbated food losses. This systematic review assesses the drivers, impacts and management of the fall armyworm and larger grain borer and their effects on food systems in Africa. Interrogating these issues is important in early warning systems, holistic management of IAS, maintenance of integral food systems in Africa and the development of effective management strategies.

Italy's National Prevention Plan 2020-25 is the first to address nutritional prevention, highlighting its importance in combating chronic diseases. This letter discusses the relationship between food safety, nutritional security, and the need for nutritional prevention in the plan. Chronic diseases, such as cardiovascular disease, cancer, and diabetes, are significant public health concerns in Italy, with poor nutrition being a critical risk factor. Incorporating nutritional prevention can promote healthy eating habits, food security and sustainability, reduce healthcare costs, and promote social cohesion and equality. Successful implementation will require cooperation among the government, the private sector, and the civil society to ensure healthier food choices and prevent chronic diseases in Italy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. To describe features of nutritional interventions implemented in Small Island Developing States (SIDS) in the past 20 years. Methods. A rapid scoping review was conducted by searching PubMed and Web of Science databases for interventions conducted in SIDS that sought to improve the nutrition of their populations between 2000 and 2019 inclusive. The Noncommunicable diseases progress monitor 2020 was also examined to assess nutritional policies in SIDS. Results. A total of 174 interventions were implemented in 49 of the 58 SIDS. The greatest proportion were conducted in the Caribbean (75 interventions; 43%), with the Pacific region, and the Atlantic, Indian Ocean, Mediterranean and South China Sea region each implementing about 30% of interventions. Using the NOURISHING framework, most interventions (67%) were implemented at the community and national or policy level, using multiple components of the framework. The greatest proportion of interventions (35%) were educational and awareness raising. Restrictions on physical availability of and increased taxation on alcohol were the most commonly reported policies that were partially or fully achieved; restrictions on fats were the least commonly reported. These findings were generally consistent across the SIDS regions. Conclusions. There is a paucity of nutritional policies in SIDS; the reasons may be linked to their social, economic, and environmental vulnerabilities. Interventions should be expanded beyond education to encompass multiple components of the NOURISHING framework, with multisectoral inclusion to ensure stronger stakeholder collaboration and buy-in. A systematic review is warranted using a fuller range of sources to assess the effectiveness of interventions.

Policies designed to contain the COVID-19 pandemic have impacted food systems worldwide. How impacts played out in local food systems, and how these affected the lived experiences of different people is only just coming to light. We conducted a structured analysis of the impacts of COVID-19 containment policies on the food systems of small-scale fishing communities in Kenya, Papua New Guinea, and Saint Lucia, based on interviews with men and women fishers, fish traders, and community leaders. Participants reported that containment policies lead indirectly to reduced volumes of food, lower dietary diversity, increased consumption of traditional foods, and reduced access to fish for food and income. Although the initiating policy and food and nutrition security outcomes often appeared similar, we found that the underlying pathways and feedbacks causing these impacts were different based on local context. Incorporating knowledge of how context-specific factors shape food system outcomes may be key to tailoring strategies to mitigate the ongoing impacts of COVID-19 and designing timely, strategic interventions for future systemic shocks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The I Plano Municipal de Segurança Alimentar e Nutricional (PLAMSAN, I Municipal Plan for Food and Nutrition Security) is a planning, managing and implementing tool of the Food and Nutrition Security Policy. In Duque de Caxias, RJ, the I PLAMSAN was sanctioned in 2016. Objective: To carry out an evaluation of the I PLAMSAN-DC (2017-2020), using as methodological procedures an approximation of the "Public Policies Cycle". Methods: Evaluation study using elements of the "Public Policies Cycle" tool based on the following methodological procedures: 1) Document analysis; 2) Literature review; 3) Assessment of achievement of goals based on responses from the secretariats that make up the Intersectoral Chamber for Food and Nutrition Security. Results: Among the 42 goals of the Plan, 14.7% were met, 34.1% were partially met, and 51.2% were not met. Conclusions: The municipality still does not play an important role in the implementation of a number of food and nutrition initiatives that require financial resources. In addition, there is a need to overcome barriers, especially in terms of achieving intersectoriality and of strengthening the structures that make up the food and nutrition security system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To describe the validation process of the logical operational model (LOM) of Mesa Brasil Sesc Program (MBS) for the promotion of FNS. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study and instrument validation, based on FNS legal documents, using the Delphi consensus technique with a team of experts. Results: The validation team was made up of 12 participants, FNS important players from the country's five geographical macro-regions, who analyzed the pertinence and relevance of the activities, products, results and impacts of the six technical components of MBS. The 103 items, distributed in the technical components, reached consensus when they reached more than 85% agreement among the participants, confirmed by the analysis of the median and interquartile range. Conclusion: This process provided a rich and horizontal discussion on theory, practice and results, brought reflections and new perceptions about MBS and the resulting LOM is a valuable tool for developing M&E strategies, decision-making and governance of the Program. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The food and nutritional insecurity of the homeless population goes beyond the denial of basic rights, such as housing, and encompasses the uncertainty of what, when, where and how to eat. It is therefore essential to give voice to the vulnerabilities and demands of this population. Objective: To describe and discuss the main issues that permeated the theme of food and eating in articles in the newspaper O Trecheiro, focused on the social realities of the homeless population in Brazil, during a period of the Covid-19 pandemic (March 2020 to February 2021). Methods: This was a generic qualitative research with data production from documentary analysis; the content analysis method was adopted to categorize the documentary corpus and discuss the themes constructed from the data. Results: "Food as a right" emerged as part of the knowledge and struggles of homeless people. The themes and sub-themes that emerged included food as a right that is not guaranteed, linked to the failure to guarantee other needs (land and work); ways of guaranteeing food and other inputs (solidarity, popular struggle); and the senses and meanings that food and the rituals surrounding it have for homeless people. Conclusion: Thinking about the care and feeding of this population requires a comprehensive and multifactorial approach that takes into account the complexity of the group studied, as well as the various aspects that permeate the experiences of these individuals, such as structural and sociopolitical issues and the individual experiences discussed in this article. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Food insecurity (FI) is characterized by the lack of access to food in adequate quantity and quality. In recent years, there has been an upward trend in FI, and sociodemographic factors seem to influence it. Objective: To verify the prevalence of FI and its associated factors in households in a municipality in southern Santa Catarina. Methods: Population-based cross-sectional study, conducted in Criciúma-SC in 2019, with individuals aged ≥18 years. The analysis included all families in which the head of the household (individual who contributed most of the household income) participated in the research. The Brazilian food insecurity scale assessed the household FI, and sociodemographic and food characteristics were evaluated as independent variables. The study performed adjusted analyses using Poisson regression, considering a significance level of 5% to evaluate the associations between FI and the independent variables. Results: Four hundred and thirty-nine households and five hundred and sixty-two individuals participated in the study. The prevalence of FI was 25.8%, being higher in households with residents between 18 and 29 years of age (PR=1.72; 95% CI 1.08-2.76) and between 30 and 39 years of age (PR=2.02; 95% CI 1.35-3.03), mixed race (PR=1.47; 95% CI 1.01-2.13), under 18 years of age (PR=1.70; 95% CI 1.16;2.47), and who ate 1-2 meals daily (PR=2.29; 95% CI 1.15-4.60), all compared with their peers. In addition, income showed an inverse linear trend with FI, which means that as income decreases, the prevalence of home FI increases (<0.001). Conclusion: One in four households is FI, and demographic, socioeconomic, and nutritional factors influence this outcome. Given these findings, it will be possible to direct public actions and policies to ensure adequate food for the population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: In Brazil, there are few studies with recyclers of Waste Sorting Units (WSUs). Several social phenomena have been associated with increased food insecurity (FI) in less developed countries. The study aims to describe food insecurity prevalence in recyclers. Methods: Cross-sectional study conducted with adults from two WSUs in the city of Porto Alegre, southern Brazil, between 2017 and 2018. All data assessment occurred in WSUs. Anthropometric measurements were assessed by weight, height and waist circumference. Food insecurity was assessed with the Brazilian Food Insecurity Scale (EBIA) and substance use was evaluated by the Alcohol, Smoking and Substance Involvement Screening Test (ASSIST). Results: 123 subjects were evaluated, with a mean age of 35 ± 13.4 years, 66% of which were female. A FI rate of 74% was identified, and of these, 16% had Severe Food Insecurity. About 57% of participants were overweight or obese and 48% presented high waist circumference. Regarding substance use, 60.5% were classified for tobacco abuse and 14% for alcohol abuse. Conclusion: Multidisciplinary interventions are needed to prevent all health issues encountered as well as implementation of public policies for the recyclers' health promotion. It is essential that both society and the government recognize the existence of these problems so that measures can be carried out by health institutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article analyzes the movements inflection and institutional context that mark the intervention of the State in public policies, in particularly, the Food Acquisition Program (PAA). In this study, the methodology used was a systematic analysis of news, documents, decrees and official reports from government agencies, articles, and semi-structured interviews with representatives of associations, cooperatives and an ATER institution from the states of Bahia and Paraíba to characterize and identify recent changes in the PAA. Between continuities and discontinuities, the PAA proved to be a strategic program for family farming and rural development. The Program extinction, replaced the Alimenta Brasil Program, ignores the experience and learning built during the 18 years of its execution and puts the progress achieved at risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]