Search

Cultivated land is the most important natural resource for human survival and development. The quality of cultivated land is closely related to grain output, and whether it can guarantee stable food supply is directly related to national food security. Cultivated land quality evaluation is an effective tool for understanding and mastering cultivated land quality. However, few studies have applied bibliometrics to quantitatively and systematically analyze this field. We used VOSviewer 1.6.19 and CiteSpace 6.3.1 software to visually analyze and construct 2478 documents related to cultivated land quality evaluation retrieved from the Web of Science core collection database from 2000 to 2023. Results show that cultivated land quality evaluation is still a popular research field. The collaboration ability among authors is weak and the distribution of institutions and countries publishing in this field is very uneven. In addition, the relevant research has been published in a variety of journals such as agriculture, environment, ecology, and computer technology. The research content is becoming more and more interdisciplinary. Keywords such as "Soil quality", "Swat", "Remote sensing", "Heavy metals" and "Ecosystem services" have become hot topics in this field. In the future, it is necessary to further deepen the connotation of cultivated land quality, develop a long time series dynamic model of cultivated land quality evaluation and monitoring, and enhance the transformation of research results into practical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study evaluates the effectiveness of stone bunds in enhancing soil moisture, vegetation health, and crop yields in Ghana's semi-arid Upper East Region, an important area for agricultural productivity in West Africa. In this region, agricultural practices are heavily impacted by erratic rainfall and poor soil moisture retention, threatening food security. Despite the known benefits of traditional soil conservation practices like stone bunds, their effectiveness in this context has not been fully quantified. Field and remote sensing data were used to evaluate the influence of stone bunds on soil moisture dynamics, vegetation growth, and crop yield. Experimental plots with and without stone bunds were monitored for climate, soil water infiltration, and soil moisture and analyzed using the NDVI from Sentinel-2 satellite imagery over two growing seasons under sorghum production (2022–2023). The results indicated that stone bunds enhanced soil moisture retention and increased infiltration rates. The NDVI analysis consistently revealed higher vegetation health and growth in the plots with stone bunds, particularly during critical growth periods. The intermediate results of the conducted experiment indicated that stone bunds increased sorghum yields by over 35% compared to the control plots. The substantial agronomic benefits of stone bunds as a soil and water conservation strategy were evident, improving soil water infiltration, water retention, vegetation health, and crop yields. The findings support the broader adoption of stone bunds in semi-arid regions to enhance agricultural productivity and resilience against climate variability. Further research is recommended to explore the long-term impacts and the integration of stone bunds with other sustainable farming practices to optimize rainfed agricultural outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Food security is a cornerstone of national development, and farmland protection and rationale are crucial for its assurance. However, integrating primary, secondary, and tertiary industries (IPSTI) in rural areas places significant pressure on farmland, threatening food security. This paper employs an evolutionary game model to explore how effective IPSTI can be achieved through stakeholder cooperation, ensuring rational farmland use under strict protection policies. The results reveal eight local equilibrium points in the game model, which can achieve asymptotic stability under varying conditions. Additionally, the behavioral parameters of local governments significantly impact their regulatory strategies for the non-agricultural use of farmland. When benefits increase, or penalties are strengthened, local government regulatory initiatives increase, constraining the behaviors of other participants. The village committee's support strategy is influenced by benefits and costs, requiring a balance between promoting local economic development and minimizing non-agricultural use of farmland by enterprises. Enterprises' decision-making primarily depends on the trade-off between the benefits and costs of non-agricultural use of farmland. The core findings of this study provide a crucial theoretical basis and decision support for formulating farmland protection policies and promoting industrial integration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Emerging research suggests that chronic conditions such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and asthma are often mediated by adverse social conditions that complicate their management. These conditions include circumstances such as lack of affordable housing, food insecurity, barriers to safe and reliable transportation, structural racism, and unequal access to healthcare or higher education. Although health systems cannot independently solve these problems, their infrastructure, funding resources, and well-trained workforce can be realigned to better address social needs created by them. For example, community pharmacies and the professionals they employ can be utilized and are well-positioned to deliver balanced, individualized clinical services, with a focus on the whole person. Because they have deep roots and presence in the community, especially in under-resourced neighborhoods, community pharmacies (independent and chain) represent local entities that community members recognize and trust. In this article, we provide case examples from California, United States, to illustrate and explore how community pharmacies can be leveraged to address patient social needs as part of their core responsibilities and overall strategy to improve healthcare quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Researching rapid multiplication techniques for mosaic-resistant cassava in tunnel greenhouses is crucial for ensuring food security and sustainable agriculture. Our previous findings indicated that a combination of 50% shading and 70-75% humidity significantly enhanced the formation of shoots and growth of cassava seedlings in a tunnel greenhouse. The current study examines the impact of different substrate compositions on cassava propagation. The experiments were designed as split plots with three replicates and four formulas including CTRL: 100% sand with a thickness of 40 cm; CT-1: 100% sand with a thickness of 30 cm; CT-2: 60% sand and 40% gravel with a thickness of 40 cm; CT-3: 70% sand and 30% gravel with a thickness of 40 cm; and CT-4: 50% sand and 50% gravel with a thickness of 40 cm. The results demonstrated that CT-3 yielded the highest shoot formation rate and growth of cassava seedlings, suggesting that the combination of sand (70%) and gravel (30%) at a thickness of 40 cm provide the most favorable conditions for cassava propagation in tunnel greenhouse conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agriculture, the foundation of human civilization, has relied on manual practices in the face of unpredictable weather for millennia. The contemporary era, however, witnesses the transformative potential of the Internet of things (IoT) in agriculture. This paper introduces an innovative IoT-driven smart agriculture system empowered by Arduino technology, making a significant contribution to the field. It integrates key components: a temperature sensor, a soil moisture sensor, a light-dependent resistor, a water pump, and a Wi-Fi module. The system vigilantly monitors vital environmental parameters: temperature, light intensity, and soil moisture levels. Upon surpassing 30°C, an automatic cooling fan alleviates heat stress, while sub-300CD light levels trigger light-emitting diode lighting for optimal growth. Real-time soil moisture data is relayed to the "Blynk" mobile app. Temperature thresholds align with specific crops, and users can manage the water pump via Blynk when manual intervention is required. This work advances agricultural practices, optimizing water management by crop type. Through precise coordination of soil moisture, temperature, and light intensity, the system enhances productivity while conserving water resources and maintaining fertilizer balance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Environmental & Social Management Journal / Revista de Gestão Social e Ambiental is the property of Environmental & Social Management Journal 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.)

This review summarises the available evidence on the prospects for using microalgae or their extracts to support crop production. The evidence is limited but suggests technological promise in several distinct ways, namely, higher core productivity, enhanced resilience to biotic and abiotic stresses, and better-quality produce. The different efficacy pathways of these microalgal technologies were examined to assess their scope to help address key farmer priorities. Their scope to help farmers face climate change and land degradation was a particular focus, given the magnitude of these threats. These microalgal technologies are framed in terms of their pertinence to farmer priorities due to the centrality of farmers to food systems. Notably, farmers' technology adoption decisions are key to food system outcomes. The findings reported suggest that these crop support technologies could potentially deliver major benefits to farmers, consumers, and the environment. For the moment, however, this emerging literature remains largely neglected. Possible reasons for this are considered, as are potential ways forward. The review focuses particularly on the two most researched and widely available microalgae, the genera Arthrospira and Chlorella, in the interest of highlighting options farmers could adopt rapidly while research on the wider body of microalgae-based crop technologies continues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Given the increasing food needs of humanity and the challenges cultivated species face in adapting to the climatic uncertainties we experience, it is urgent to cultivate new species. A highly relevant repertoire for this purpose is offered by the array of edible wild plants. We analyzed data from Murcia (Spain), involving 61 species and 59 informants, and the Global Database of Wild Food Plants, which includes 15,000 species, 500 localities, and nearly 700 references. Using local consensus, global distribution, and GBIF occurrence data, we built simple unimodal or bimodal models to explore their limitations. Our study highlights that approximately 15,000 wild or feral plant species are consumed as food, underlining the urgent need to support existing crops with new species due to current food crises and climate irregularities. We examined wild plant diversity from a horticultural perspective, considering their relationships with weeds and invasive species. Partial criteria, such as local consensus or global use, were found insufficient for selecting candidate species. We propose developing a specific artificial intelligence to integrate various factors—ecological, nutritional, toxicological, agronomic, biogeographical, ethnobotanical, economic, and physiological—to accurately model a species' potential for domestication and cultivation. We propose the necessary tools and a protocol for developing this AI-based model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Watershed development initiatives have emerged as key tools for achieving sustainable rural development, especially in countries experiencing environmental degradation and resource constraints. Despite the increasing acknowledgment of the significance of watershed development interventions, there remains a dearth of comprehensive frameworks for evaluating their effects on the socioeconomic progress of communities, particularly concerning rural livelihoods and household food security outcomes. Hence, this study addresses this gap by developing a comprehensive impact analysis conceptual framework tailored to assess the impact of watershed development on socioeconomic aspects. This study designed the framework by incorporating existing theoretical perspectives (the sustainable livelihoods framework, political ecology, theory of change, and community-based natural resource management) and making essential adjustments. This novel conceptual framework offers a multifaceted approach to assess the socioeconomic impacts of watershed development projects, particularly on rural livelihoods and household food security. Employing a mixed methods approach, the framework sheds light on how interventions affect the livelihood assets and strategies of rural communities, ultimately influencing their food security and well-being. Furthermore, it examines how community involvement and national policy affect these efforts. By providing a holistic understanding of watershed development dynamics, this framework allows researchers and practitioners to assess impacts, identify trade-offs, and evaluate interventions. This informs policymakers about evidence-based interventions to promote sustainable socioeconomic development in rural communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite commendable efforts to end hunger and achieve Sustainable Development Goal 2, the prevalence of undernourishment is still inadmissibly high, especially in Africa. Though important determinants of undernourishment have been documented, little is known about the role of globalization. This paper aims to fill this gap using a sample of 48 African countries over 2000–2020 period and data from the KOF globalization index and the World Bank dataset. The results from Driscoll and Kraay's Standard Errors and Instrumental Variable Generalized Method of Moments (IVGMM) methods show that globalization reduces both the prevalence of undernourishment and child stunting in African countries. Accounting for the dimensions of globalization, the results show that while economic globalization is negatively associated with food security, social and political globalization enhances it. Moreover, income growth, government size and access to electricity are identified as channels through which globalization reduces hunger in Africa. African governments should develop evidence‐based policies and interventions that leverage the opportunities presented by globalization to ensure food security. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change adversely impacts the livelihoods of smallholder farmers across East and Southern Africa. Climate-related information is assumed to support smallholder farmer decision-making and use of adaptive practices as a means to improve livelihoods, resiliency and levels of food security. However, the value of climate information provision and its role in promoting adaptive practices remains poorly understood. We examined smallholder household access to, and use of, climate information. Survey data was collected from 5322 households across Eswatini, Kenya, Lesotho, Tanzania and Zimbabwe using the Multidimensional Poverty Assessment Tool. Overall, the majority of households regularly accessed at least one source of climate information, primarily via radio (64.9%, n = 3453). Our statistical models showed that households with relatively better access to credit and land tenure were more likely to receive climate information (p < 0.01 and p < 0.001, respectively, n = 1421), and of those, households who reported observing past climate-related changes were more likely to actually use climate information (p < 0.05, n = 1097). Secure land tenure was positively associated with information use, though not statistically significant. Findings from our study offer guidance for improving the targeting and delivery of climate information programmes and policies, and indicate that the assumed benefits of climate information provision should be more rigorously evaluated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The world is confronting numerous challenges, including global warming, health epidemics, and population growth, each presenting significant threats to the stability and sustainability of our planet's ecosystems. Such issues have collectively contributed to a reduction in agricultural productivity, corresponding with an increase in demand and costs of essential commodities. This critical situation requires more sustainable environmental, social, and technological solutions. Molecular hydrogen (H2) has been suggested as a "green" solution for our energy needs and many health, agricultural, and food applications. H2 supplementation in agriculture may represent a novel and lowcarbon biotechnological strategy applicable to the abundant production of crops, vegetables, and fruits in agri-food chains. H2 is a potential green alternative to conventional chemical fertilizers. The use of a hydrogen-rich water irrigation system may also provide other health-related advantages, i.e., decreasing the heavy metal accumulation in crops. By adopting a H2 strategy, crop producers, food processors, and decision-makers can contribute to sustainable solutions in the face of global challenges such as climate change, communicable disease epidemics, and a growing population. The versatile applications of H2 in agriculture and the wider food industry position it as a uniquely suitable approach to address today's significant challenges, potentially fostering better crop production and positively impacting the agri-food chain. The present review is timely in combining the latest knowledge about the potential applications of H2 in the agriculture and food industry, from farm to fork. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The humanitarian discourse has recently shifted towards bolstering the intervention capacities of affected countries and communities through "localization." However, the implementation of this approach has encountered challenges and disappointments, partly due to conventional short-term interventions driven by external organizations rather than beneficiaries. Empowering women in developing nations is vital for gender equality and women's rights, given the barriers they face such as unequal access to resources and underrepresentation in governance. Malawi"s context, marked by poverty, limited access to education and healthcare, and cultural norms posing barriers to gender equity, complicates efforts to address inequalities against women. This article explores how localization, particularly through local NGOs, can advance women's rights in Malawi by challenging gender norms. While recognizing its potential, caution is advised to avoid reinforcing past exclusions. This research investigates how aid localization, leveraging identification, affects gender equality and women's rights in disaster management and humanitarian efforts. Through field research in Malawi, including 33 interviews with NGO members and beneficiaries, it underscores the role of localization in promoting gender equality and women's rights, advocating for a more equitable and locally responsive approach to humanitarian action. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The UN's Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 12 seeks to achieve sustainable food production and consumption, including reduced food loss and waste; SDG 2 proposes the goal of zero hunger. In pursuit of these goals, technology arguably has a central role, at every level of the food value chain. To establish this role, the authors identify and examine current technologies aimed at increasing food production and suitably redistributing unused food, as tactics to combat food loss and waste, with the shared end goal of reducing food insecurity. A proposed 2 × 2 typology illustrates how existing technologies can influence food production, distribution, and consumption, as well as influence the stakeholders in the food production–consumption chain. These insights also inform a research and development agenda pertaining to the need for technology applications that can increase food production and/or reduce food waste effectively enough to achieve the goal of zero hunger. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We sought to evaluate the acceptability and feasibility of a culturally tailored food box intervention for improving blood pressure (BP), food security and Body Mass Index (BMI) among Chickasaw Nation adults with uncontrolled hypertension. As part of the Chickasaw Healthy Eating Environments Research Study (CHEERS), we administered a group randomized pilot study in four tribal communities (two intervention, two control). Participants in the intervention communities received six heart-healthy food boxes, culturally tailored to traditional Chickasaw diet and current food context. Outcomes were measured over 6 months. We enrolled 262 participants, and 204 with complete data on key variables were included in the analysis. The food boxes were very popular, and we achieved high retention for follow-up data collection. Intervention community participants had 2.6 mmHg lower mean systolic BP and improved diet quality and BMI compared with control participants, although, as expected for a pilot study, the differences were not statistically significant. The culturally tailored diet intervention and randomized trial study design were acceptable and feasible for Chickasaw Nation adults with uncontrolled hypertension. Our findings support the value of tribal-food bank partnerships as a potential approach for reducing food insecurity and hypertension-related disparities in Native American communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Low birth weight (LBW) is a major public health issue associated with increased neonatal morbidity and mortality. This study aimed to examine the association between household food insecurity and LBW in Mashhad, Iran. Study Design: A population-based case-control study. Methods: This study involved 6294 mothers (3247 cases and 3247 controls) who visited healthcare centers affiliated with Mashhad University of Medical Sciences for term births between March 2019 and March 2022. Cases included women who delivered neonates weighing < 2500 g, while controls delivered babies ≥ 2500 g. Food security was measured using the validated Household Food Insecurity Access Scale. Logistic regression models examined the associations between food insecurity and LBW. Geographic information system techniques mapped LBW distribution in Mashhad. Results: Household food insecurity was significantly associated with higher odds of LBW (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 1.25, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.03, 1.53). Other risk factors included younger maternal age (AOR = 1.03, 95% CI: 1.01, 1.04), lower maternal education (AOR = 0.55, 95% CI: 0.43, 0.71), cesarean delivery (AOR = 1.70, 95% CI: 1.40, 2.06), and exposure to secondhand smoke (AOR = 1.68, 95% CI: 1.02, 2.75). Gestational diabetes demonstrated a protective effect (AOR = 0.37, 95% CI: 0.15, 0.91). Geographic mapping revealed that regions with higher food insecurity had elevated LBW prevalence. Conclusion: These findings underscore the importance of addressing food insecurity among pregnant women to reduce the risk of LBW and improve newborn outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Food security is a problem across the world, as prices rise under pressure from climate change, geopolitics, demographics and de-globalisation. These factors, when combined, will impact on the food service sector. In this trends article, the authors identify ten trends that reflect the changes occurring in the food service sector. The trends analysis is based on the predictive paradigm in futures studies which draws upon evidence, facts and observational research. The ten trends are: (1) climate change diets; (2) escapist indulgence; (3) moderation mantra; (4) evidence-based eating; (5) mood food; (6) digital food; (7) sustainable dining; (8) ethnic and fusion food; (9) local food; and (10) adventurous dining. The contribution of this article is that it clearly identifies the changes occurring in our eating patterns and food purchase decisions and provides a signal to food service operators and brands about the changes that are occurring and why. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A sound fallow program may potentially reduce food production and hence farmers' income in the short term but can help mitigate farmland pollution, improve food productivity, and enhance ecological protection in the long term. In China, degrading quality of arable land, soil pollution, and groundwater overexploitation require urgent implementation of suitable fallow schemes. We used existing spatial factors influencing the implementation of fallow schemes (including the delineated ecological protection red lines [EPRL], soil pollution, groundwater overexploitation, and arable land quality), and determined farmers' willingness to fallow to understand priority areas of fallow in China under multi‐scenario simulation. Results show that of all farmers willing to fallow, only 2.17% of farmers actively participated in a fallow scheme. Compared to other factors determining fallow implementation, our multi‐scenario simulation found that: (1) scales of the high fallow scheme exhibit a descending order of PES (priority to ecological security scenario, 20.58%) > MCL (minimum production capacity loss scenario, 19.52%) > PFW (priority to farmers' willingness scenario, 18.98%) > PFS (priority to food safety scenario, 15.30%) and that (2) the loss of grain production capacity in implementation of the high fallow scheme is PES (17.32%) > PFW (14.36%) > PFS (13.66%) > MCL (9.67%). We recommend that the implementation of the fallow program at a national level should consider farmers' willingness to participate in a fallow scheme, the loss of food production capacity in the short term, as well as the mitigation of arable land pollution, the improvement of ecological protection, and the safeguard of global food security in a long term. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sabah, Malaysia's biggest palm oil‐producing state, has made Roundtable Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) certification mandatory under Sabah's Jurisdictional Certified Sustainable Palm Oil (JCSPO) initiative. Few studies have examined the independent native smallholders' challenges in adopting the JCSPO initiative. To address this knowledge gap, we engaged with oil palm smallholders via various qualitative methodological approaches over a 14 month period. We identified a range of challenges currently faced by the smallholder; these include RSPO compliance, land tenure issue, low financial and knowledge capacities, increasing food insecurity, and unstable market price of certified crude palm oil. In our article, we argue that the statewide certification policy is consolidating the inequalities in resource access and capacity for growth amongst smallholder groups in different districts. Fair resource allocation to different geographical areas is needed to provide new empowerment mechanisms and remedies for marginalized groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Food waste in Australia is causing a massive financial burden on the country, with an estimated annual cost of $36.6 billion. Several factors, such as food loss and waste (FLW), inflation, unemployment, and low income, concurrently contribute to Australia's food insecurity problem. This study mainly focuses on FLW, which plays a significant role in Australia's food insecurity. This study finds that despite taking numerous initiatives, including the National Food Waste Strategy 2017, National Food Waste Baseline 2021, Australian Food Pact, and Sector Action Plan, the FLW approximately 7.9 million tonnes of food is wasted every year in Australia. This study explores that in 2022, food insecurity severely affects 21% or 2.1 million households, and 94% of households are concerned about not having enough food in Australia. The author finds that the FLW contributes to producing 17.5 m tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO2), 2628.3 gigaliters of water use, and 25 m + hectares of agricultural land use by generating food production. Therefore, this study aims to critically evaluate the FLW scenario and management strategies of the Australian government in order to achieve the sustainable development goal‐12 (responsible consumption and production) and target 12.3 of reducing food waste by 50% by the year 2030. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Bulletin of Soil & Water Conservation is the property of Bulletin of Soil & Water Conservation Editorial Office 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 Acta Prataculturae Sinica is the property of Acta Prataculturae Sinica Editorial Office 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 Acta Prataculturae Sinica is the property of Acta Prataculturae Sinica Editorial Office 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.)

Although crop insurance is widely acknowledged as an effective risk management strategy for safeguarding food security, the causality between crop insurance premium subsidies and cropland abandonment remains inadequately investigated. This study employs a staggered difference‐in‐differences model to investigate the impact of the Crop Insurance Premium Subsidies Program (CISP) on cropland abandonment using representative household‐level panel data from China spanning from 2004 to 2012. Our analysis reveals that crop insurance premium subsidies significantly mitigate cropland abandonment. This relationship is primarily due to the stabilisation of household income growth, which incentivises farmers to augment agricultural inputs and enhance development resilience. Furthermore, our heterogeneous analysis indicates that the effect of the CISP is more pronounced in households located in non‐grain‐producing regions or areas with lower economic development. These findings underscore the previously overlooked role of crop insurance premium subsidies in preventing cropland abandonment and offer new insights into measures aimed at ensuring food security. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this research is to examine what antecedents of supply chain financing (SCF) should be overcome to ensure that the agricultural supply chain from preplanting to postharvesting generates enough food to achieve sustainable food security in developing countries. Drawing from complex adaptive systems (CAS) theory, we develop and test a model of how a prospective and challenging financing scheme navigates complex social and repayment systems to achieve sustainable SCF. The results of the study show that a challenging financing scheme must navigate complex social and repayment systems to achieve sustainable SCF, while a prospective financing scheme even though it shows a positive influence on sustainable SCF, its effect is higher when it is able to navigate these. The study hence concludes that for agricultural SCF schemes to lead to sustainable food security, they must be accessible and appropriate to the needs of the community, overcome default risk and cumbersome financial arrangements and be able to navigate the complex social and repayment systems. The study recommends that financing schemes should establish proximity to farming communities and engage farmers to determine appropriate funds for different stages among others. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A major global catastrophe would likely disrupt trade in liquid fuels. Countries dependent on imported oil products might struggle to sustain industrial agriculture. Island nations importing 100% of refined fuels are particularly vulnerable. Our case study aimed to estimate the agricultural land area and biofuel volumes needed to feed the population of New Zealand in the absence of trade. Results showed that stored diesel would quickly be exhausted with ordinary use (weeks) and even with strict rationing (months). To preserve fuel, we found that farming wheat (requiring as little as 5.4 million liters [L] of diesel per annum) was more fuel‐efficient than potatoes (12.3) or dairy (38.7) to feed the national population under a climate‐as‐usual scenario. In a nuclear winter scenario, with reduced agricultural yields, proportionately greater diesel is needed. The wheat would require 24% of current grain‐cropped land, and the canola crop used as feedstock for the required biofuel would occupy a further 1%–7%. Investment in canola biodiesel or renewable diesel refineries could ensure supply for the bare minimum agricultural liquid fuel needs. Were subsequent analysis to favor this option as part of a fuels resilience response and as a tradeoff for routine food use, expansion in refining and canola cropping before a catastrophe could be encouraged through market mechanisms, direct government investment, or a combination of these. Logistics of biofuel refining scale‐up, post‐catastrophe, should also be analyzed. Further, biodiesel produced in normal times would help the nation meet its emissions reduction targets. Other countries should conduct similar analyses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The independent innovation of agricultural enterprises ensures national food security through enhancing food production efficiency and optimizing food nutritional quality. Independent innovation is an important way for the sustainable growth of agricultural enterprises. However, in this process, there are issues such as long cycles and high risks. Based on this, using the panel data of China's listed agricultural enterprises from 2007 to 2021, this study empirically examined the impact of independent innovation on the sustainable growth of agricultural enterprises, as well as the moderating effects of internal drivers (digital transformation) and external pull factors (government subsidies) through a two-way fixed effects model. The findings are the following: (1) The impact of independent innovation on the sustainable growth of agricultural enterprises exhibits an "inverted U-pattern". When the R&D investment of agricultural enterprises accounts for 77.85% of operating income, the sustainable growth ability of agricultural enterprises is the highest. (2) Compared with large agricultural enterprises, small and medium-sized agricultural enterprises reach the threshold of independent innovation ability later, and the incentive effect range of independent innovation is longer. (3) Independent innovation exerts a more significant "inverted U" effect on the sustainable growth of non-state-owned agricultural enterprises and agricultural enterprises in the mature stage, while its impact on the sustainable growth of state-owned agricultural enterprises and agricultural enterprises in the growth and decline stages is not significant. (4) Government subsidies can help enhance the positive impact of independent innovation on the sustainable growth of agricultural enterprises when it does not exceed the threshold but cannot alleviate the negative impact of independent innovation on the sustainable growth of agricultural enterprises when it exceeds the threshold; investment in digital transformation not only helps to enhance the positive impact of independent innovation on the sustainable growth of agricultural enterprises when it does not exceed the threshold but also helps to alleviate the negative impact of independent innovation on the sustainable growth of agricultural enterprises when it exceeds the threshold. The research results provide data support for agricultural enterprises to carry out innovation activities under internal drive and external pull. At the same time, it is of great significance for the national implementation of the strategy of storing food in technology and food security strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Income-related food insecurity is an important determinant of health. This study aimed to provide an update on the food security status of Canadian households using the most recent available data from a health-oriented national-level survey. This study also examined trends in food insecurity since 2017, and how these have tracked with changes in price inflation. Data and methods Data on household food security status in the 10 Canadian provinces came from five annual cycles of the population-representative cross-sectional Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS): 2017, 2018, 2020 (September to December), 2021, and 2022. The Household Food Security Survey Module was used to categorize household food security status during the previous 12 months as food secure or marginally, moderately, or severely insecure. Results Before 2019, approximately 1 in 10 households had experienced some level of food insecurity in the previous 12 months (9.6% in 2017 and 11.6% in 2018). Household food insecurity prevalence was slightly lower and stable during the COVID-19 pandemic years (8.5% in fall 2020 and 9.1% in 2021) and increased to 15.6% in 2022. Levels of household food insecurity generally tracked with changes in consumer price inflation. Compared with 2021, there were notable increases in levels of moderate and severe food insecurity in 2022 among one-parent households with children, renters, and those reliant on government financial assistance. Interpretation The prevalence of household food insecurity in the CCHS was relatively stable from 2017 to 2021, increased in 2022, and generally tracked with changes in price inflation. Monitoring levels of household food insecurity will continue to be important as price inflation eases but the cost of living remains high. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study is an exploratory examination of the effect of the Ghana government's flagship program known as the One-Village-One-Dam (1V1D) initiative on the livelihoods of rural farmers in the five regions of Northern Ghana. A total of 15 constituencies proportionate to the number of constituencies in each of the five beneficiary regions were selected from the region. Data were collected from a total of 1585 respondents, comprising 785 from the control group and 800 from the treatment group. The survey focused on access to water, crop and livestock productivity, income generation, and overall well-being. Four main findings are reported. First, the results show differential effects of the 1V1D initiative. There was an increase in reliance on 1V1D dams for water, particularly in the Northern region, where challenges such as insufficient water storage and poor dam maintenance hindered their effectiveness for irrigation and livestock rearing. Second, the use of water from boreholes was more popular in the other parts of Northern Ghana. Third, the shallowness of most of the dams meant that they dried up during the dry season and, therefore, did not have a significant effect on crops and livestock productivity. Finally, the dams had a marginal effect on food security, income levels of the farmers, and consequently on their overall livelihoods. The findings of this exploratory study will provide insights to enrich further studies based on the second and third rounds of data collection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Malnutrition is a global problem that affects all countries in one or more of its forms, representing one of the greatest challenges worldwide. One of the key contributing factors is food insecurity, which must be evaluated in children with moderate and severe acute malnutrition, as they are at imminent risk of death. Objective: Our objective was to assess food insecurity among children under 5 years old with moderate, and severe malnutrition from Valle del Cauca, a state located in the southwestern region of Colombia. Methods: A descriptive observational study was conducted, including children whose weight-for-height (W/H) indicator was below 2 SD, as recorded on the World Health Organization (WHO) growth charts, or who exhibited severe malnutrition phenotypes such as marasmus or Kwashiorkor. Family and child food security were evaluated using the Latin American and Caribbean Food Security Scale (ELCSA). Results: 58.6% of households with acutely malnourished children experienced food insecurity. A statistically significant relationship was found between food insecurity and children of Afro-Colombian and Indigenous descent. According to caregivers' perceptions, 30.2% of child malnutrition cases were related to poor feeding and caregiving practices. Conclusions: Not all children with acute malnutrition suffer from food insecurity. Therefore, the findings of this research suggest that governmental efforts should focus not only on ensuring food availability, but also on educating caregivers about the importance of a balanced and nutritious diet tailored to the specific characteristics of each region and promoting appropriate caregiving practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the existence of a calorie gap (CG) within gender, caste, and religion groups utilising an entitlement framework. We employed National Sample Survey data on consumer expenditure spanning from 2004–05 to 2011–12 and applied the Oaxaca-Blinder decomposition technique for our analysis. The results of the Oaxaca decomposition indicate that entitlement failure plays a significant role in expanding the CG amongst gender and caste groups in both rural and urban areas, while its impact is only seen within religious groups in urban areas. The failure of exchange entitlement intensifies the CG amongst caste and religious groups in rural areas. Moreover, our quantile-specific Oaxaca decomposition findings reveal that the contributions of entitlement and exchange entitlement gaps to the overall CG fluctuate across quantiles. We propose that increased social awareness and public exposure aimed at reducing caste and religion-based discrimination, alongside programmes and policies designed to enhance the resource base of female-headed households, minority castes, and religious minorities, may aid in the reduction of the CG. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Socialized services are crucial for addressing the issue of "who will farm the land" and subsequently enhancing agricultural economic resilience (AER). However, few studies have examined the mechanisms and effects of socialized services on AER. Consequently, this study aims to elucidate the impact and mechanisms of socialized services on AER, with the objective of providing new policy recommendations for enhancing AER and ensuring food security. Based on provincial panel data from China spanning 2009 to 2021, this paper examines the impact and mechanisms of socialized services on AER using a two-way fixed effects model, a mediated effects model, and a panel threshold model. The findings reveal that socialized services significantly enhance AER. Mechanism analysis indicates that socialized services enhance AER by accelerating the substitution of machinery for manpower and promoting the efficiency of labor division. Heterogeneity analysis indicates that in regions with high grain cropping ratios and high internet penetration rates, the enhancement effect of socialized services on AER is stronger. Further analysis uncovers a significant nonlinear threshold effect of socialized services on AER. The impact becomes more pronounced when AER surpasses 0.4689. Consequently, this study argues that in the process of constructing a modern agricultural business system, it is essential to focus on improving the differentiated socialized service system and accelerating the development of rural digital infrastructure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mechanical transplanting has become an important part of modern Chinese rice production, and an inadequate sowing rate severely inhibits rice seedling growth and development. Precision drill sowing is an effective method for obtaining higher quality seedlings during machine transplanting. There is a lack of systematic research on the precision drilling of rice. Therefore, we carried out research on the quality of machine-transplanted seedlings and precision drill sowing transplantation. A greenhouse experiment (Liaoning Rice Research Institute) and field experiment (Sujiatun District, Shenyang City, Liaoning Province, China) were conducted between 2020 and 2021 to analyze the influence of precision drill sowing on rice growth and yield. Precision drill sowing was conducted at four sowing rates (3400, 3600, 3800, and 4000 seeds/tray), and traditional broadcasting was also conducted at a sowing rate of 4000 seeds/tray. We evaluated the seedling rice quality, physiological and biochemical characteristics and transplanting quantity. The results indicated that precision drill sowing at a sowing rate of 3400 seeds/tray resulted in the highest plumpness value (0.18) and seedling strength index (0.42) of individual plants. However, the empty hill rate was as high as 3.05%, which did not satisfy the field seedling number requirement. Precision drill sowing at a sowing rate of 4000 seeds/tray resulted in the lowest physiological (the average levels of SOD, POD and soluble protein were 311.78 µg/g, 8.25 µg/g and 1.28 µg/g) and biochemical indices of individual plants. The damaged seedling rate increased by 2.07%, and the dead seedling rate increased by 0.25%, resulting in poor seedling and transplanting quality. In this study, 3800 seeds/tray was the best option and had the highest yields of 10,776.60 kg/ha and 10,730.85 kg/ha over the two years. This sowing approach performs well in terms of field transplanting, provides a balance point between seedling number and quality and is conducive to rice yield production. The results of this study are important for improving rice seedling quality, enhancing field transplanting quantity and increasing rice yield and food security. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Improving productivity is an important channel for satisfying household food needs through food availability. Increasing the productivity of small-scale farmers is linked to a number of factors, including land access, labor, chemicals, fertilizers and so on. Most farmers resort to expanding their cultivated areas to increase production because of insufficient financial resources available for purchasing inputs during agricultural seasons. This situation, combined with increasing pressure on land, does not favor agricultural production and, by extension, food security. This study therefore assesses the impact of different modes of access to land on agricultural productivity. Regime-switching multinomial regression techniques were used to account for endogeneity bias due to observed and unobserved factors. The results of the study show that access through free loans, tenancy and sharecropping negatively affect agricultural yields. The counterfactual analysis reveals a positive gain estimated at 509.9 kg/ha from land access by landowners. If the lenders were landowners, their gain would be 396.6 kg/ha, whereas the farmers would gain 485.1 kg/ha if they were landowners, and similarly the sharecroppers would gain 389.8 kg/ha if they were landowners. It is clear from these results that improving agricultural yields depends on securing land and requires the establishment of an effective land ownership system. This research impacts land ownership policies, which need to be revised to address customary rights and reduce inequalities in access to secure land. It highlights the way land tenure security drives agricultural advancements and offers actionable recommendations for policy improvements on food security. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change poses a significant risk to the long-term viability of smallholder agriculture in developing countries. Climate change has a direct effect on agricultural output, ultimately impacting the food security of smallholder farmers. However, the link between climate change and food security in developing countries is underexplored. This article investigates the effect of climate change adaptation strategies on household food security. A survey was conducted among 400 smallholder farmers in the uMkhanyakude district of KwaZulu-Natal using a stratified random sampling procedure. Survey data were analysed using descriptive statistics. The findings indicate that factors such as access to credit, access to government funding, and participation in agricultural groups play an important role in supporting adaptation to climate change. Adaptation to climate change is associated with reduced levels of food insecurity. These results underscore the important role of climate change adaptation in enhancing household food security. The study recommends that programmes that target smallholder farmers should focus on enhancing the adaptive capacity of smallholder farmers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite recent attention, the concept of food agency has been largely overlooked in academics as a food security dimension. In this study, we define lack of food agency as the inability to make food choices and the consumption of non-preferred and undesirable foods, and examine its relation to other food insecurity domains and household characteristics. Our analysis is based on data collected from 486 households in the impoverished regions of northern Burundi. Specifically, we use the responses to two questions of the Household Food Insecurity Access Score scale that examine the consumption behavior of non-preferred and undesirable foods. The results highlight a worrying lack of food agency in this area of research, as more than 80% of households admitted to consuming such foods. Our study also shows that only households with additional off-farm income are able to avoid non-preferred foods. This study serves to highlight the critical issue of food agency, particularly among low-income consumers in the Global South, and underscores the widespread nature of this problem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to determine (1) food security (FS) status of Syrian refugees who arrived in Canada under the Government's 2015 initiative, and (2) whether the province of residence and type of refugee resettlement program are associated with refugees' FS. In a cross-sectional design, 282 Syrian refugee households resettled in Ontario, Quebec, and Saskatchewan were recruited. The status of FS was determined using the validated Household Food Security Survey Module used by Statistics Canada. Binary logistic regression analysis was used to determine sociodemographic and geographic predictors of food insecurity (FI). Overall, the rate of household food insecurity (HFI) was high (77.0%) compared to that of Canadian households (18.4%) and recent immigrants (17.1%) in in 2021. Households in Saskatchewan and Ontario experienced a significantly higher rates of HFI (87.5%, P < 0.001, 79.2%, P = 0.001, respectively) compared to Quebec (52.1%). The rate of HFI was significantly higher among government-assisted refugees compared to privately-sponsored refugees (79.5% vs 62.2%, P = 0.039). Households living in Saskatchewan and Ontario were almost three and a half times and over two times, respectively, more likely to experience HFI compared to those in Quebec (OR = 3.43, 95% CI [1.070–11.010]), (OR = 2.30, 95% CI [0.860–6.120], respectively). Recent Syrian refugees in Canada are at high risk of experiencing HFI, with the province of residence and income level, but not the type of refugee resettlement program, being significant predictors of HFI. The link between refugees' FS and provincial variations in the resettlement program policies and practices should be examined to better understand how they shape refugees' FS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Across the globe, an ongoing urban food system (UFS) transformation has made street food trade (SFT) fundamental for urban food security (FS). It also highlights the central role of city governance in SFT. However, large gaps exist in understanding of the regulatory arena, that constrains policy discussion, hinders traders, and inhibits access, affordability, and availability of safe street food. This paper examines implications of SFT regulations on FS and urban livelihoods. We focus on a cross-section of 260 street food enterprises (SFEs) in urban Kumasi, Ghana, and explore interactions of compliance with SFT regulations, adoption of improved practices, enterprise performance and their links to FS in UFSs. We find that though vendors are generally aware and willing to invest in improved practices, compliance levels with regulations are below average due mainly to insufficient, inconsequential, and uneven regulatory enforcement. We also find that compliance costs are high whilst detected non-compliance neither bears sufficient legal nor financial consequences. Lastly, compliance requirements negatively impact urban FS such that, annual compliance costs inhibit the supply of over 103,000 food servings from the UFS whilst compliance-induced innovations siphon out over half a million food servings from it annually. The later also increases prices of street-vended food by about 6%. From a modern urban food policy perspective, our findings suggest urban food policy and city management efforts could enhance the FS role of SFT, if they prioritize promoting improved practices, simplifying regulations, and assisting vendors in compliance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rapid urbanisation in low- and middle-income countries, which has encroached on agricultural lands but has not been consistently accompanied by corresponding improvements in water and sanitation services, has raised questions about its impact on the food and nutrition security of households living in transitional, peri-urban areas. Through an analysis of survey data collected from 518 households living around the town of Eldoret, Kenya, we investigate the existing links between peri-urban households' engagement in agriculture, their dietary behaviour, and their children's nutrition outcomes. We find that peri-urban households engaged in agriculture, particularly in crop growing and in the sales of their agricultural produce, have more diverse and nutritious diets than agriculturally non-engaged households, all other things being equal. However, a significant improvement in children's health outcomes is observed in these households only when coupled with improved water, sanitation, and hygiene conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Food insecurity is a pressing issue facing our world, particularly affecting coastal communities who rely on marine resources. The problem is further compounded by the rapidly changing climate, a deteriorating environment and growing human populations. It is essential to evaluate this issue accurately to reduce risk and improve the situation of coastal communities, especially in countries with less socioeconomic development. To this end, we develop a food security social-ecological risk assessment framework for developing communities in coastal areas of the Western Indian Ocean facing a changing environment. The framework integrates local ecological knowledge, expert scientific opinion, survey data, and satellite sea surface temperature (SST) and chlorophyll-a observation. We conducted a local-scale case study in four regions in Tanzania; Mafia, Pemba, Tanga, and Unguja, revealing that they face moderate to high risk levels of food insecurity. The highest risk was observed in the island communities of Pemba and Unguja, while the communities of Mafia and Tanga had the lowest risk due to lower exposure and sensitivity to climate change. Our results show that recognizing the key differences across risk components is crucial in identifying effective intervention strategies for local practitioners. This study highlights the need for detailed assessments to provide accurate information on local-scale food security dynamics, specifically when assessing impacts induced by environmental and climatic changes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Forests can help rural households cope with food insecurity challenges in the face of climate change while also sequestering carbon and advancing other sustainability objectives in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). As such, participation in the forestry sector can contribute to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially on hunger and food security (SDG 2) in forest rich, but economically poor areas of LMICs. However, analysis of the effects of forest sector participation on food security in such contexts remain limited. Here we estimate the effects of participation in forest-based activities like collection and processing of timber and non-timber forest products (NTFPs) on household food security in Liberia, the most forested country in West Africa. We applied endogenous switching poisson regression to data from 1408 households living in the proximity of forests included in Liberia's 2019 national household forest survey to estimate the effect of forest sector participation on food security (in terms of reduction in the number of months households reportedly had insufficient food). Results show that forest-sector participation reduced the number of months households had insufficient food by 84% (about 2.7 months). Heterogeneity analyses show that NTFPs affected food security by 80% (about 2.5 months) compared to timber and wood products, which had a 66% effect size (about 2.1 months) on average. Our results provide new, national-scale evidence on the role of forests in enhancing food security in Liberia and suggest the importance of forest sector participation for food security and achieving SDG 2 more generally. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we experimentally addressed the impact of different pollination treatments on the morphological, reproductive and chemical traits of fruits and seeds of two crop species, the wild strawberry (Fragaria vesca L.) and cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.). Multiple flowers from each plant were exposed to different pollination treatments: (1) self pollination, (2) hand cross pollination and (3) open pollination. Both crops were positively affected by open pollination in terms of morpho-chemical parameters concerning the marketability (e.g., 35% decrease in sugar/acid ratio in open pollinated strawberries compared to the autogamous ones) and the seed germination rate as a proxy of reproduction efficiency (e.g., the almost complete absence of seed abortion in the open pollination treatment). Remarkably, the pollination treatment also strongly influenced the phytochemical composition. Open-pollinated strawberries exhibited a higher relative concentration of compounds endowed with nutraceutical properties such as anthocyanins, ellagic acid derivatives and flavonoids. At the same time, cowpea seeds displayed higher concentrations of anti-nutrients in the self pollination treatments, such as saponins, compared to the open and hand cross pollinated seeds. This study suggests the presence of a link between the pollination mechanism, market quality, plant reproduction and chemical properties of fruits and seeds, supporting the intricate interplay between pollinators, plants and human nutrition, highlighting the crucial importance of animal pollination in the ecological and dietary contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Mental health outcomes can be influenced by various factors, one of which has recently gained attention, namely food security. Food security is paramount to maintaining not only physical, but also mental health. There is an increasing need to understand the interplay between food insecurity (FI) and mental health outcomes, especially among vulnerable populations. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of FI on psychological health (anxiety and depression) as well as to examine the modifying effect of socioeconomic position on this relationship. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in Maputo City, Mozambique, in 1,842 participants. Data were collected through structured interviews using a modified version of the US Department of Agriculture Household Food Security Module to measure FI, and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale to measure anxiety and depression. A composite variable for psychological health was created. Propensity score matching and interaction effect analyses were employed to examine the effects of FI on psychological health and the moderating role of socioeconomic position. Results: Of the 1,174 participants randomly assigned to propensity score matching, 787 were exposed to FI while 387 were unexposed. The analysis revealed stark disparities in psychological health outcomes associated with FI. The risk of poor psychological health among those exposed to FI was 25.79%, which was significantly higher than the 0.26% in unexposed individuals. The risk difference was 25.54% points (95% CI: 22.44–28.63), with a risk ratio of 99.82. Our assessment of population attributable fractions indicated that nearly all the risk for poor psychological health in the exposed group could be ascribed to FI. The interaction effects analysis revealed that socioeconomic status modifies this relationship. Specifically, heads of food-insecure households with a lower socioeconomic position tended to report poor mental health compared to their food-secure counterparts with a higher position. Conclusions: The findings underscore the profound impact of FI on the mental health of household heads in Maputo City, socioeconomic position being a significant modifier. Addressing household FI along with the socioeconomic position of household heads could be pivotal to mental health promotion, especially among vulnerable populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Data on the association between food insecurity and depression in single parents in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) are limited, and no study has reported the serial mediation effects of psychosocial factors in this association. This study examines the extent to which anxiety and sleep serially explain the food insecurity and depression link among single parents in Ghana. Methods: Data on 627 single parents were obtained through a multi-stage stratified sampling technique. Food insecurity was assessed using the Food and Agriculture Organization Food Insecurity Experience Scale (FIES), and depression was assessed using the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CES-D-10). Multivariable OLS models and bootstrapping serial mediation analyses were performed to evaluate the hypothesized associations. Results: The mean age (SD) was 45.0 (14.7) years; 67.3% females. After full adjustment, food insecurity was significantly associated with increases in anxiety symptoms (β = 0.61, 95%CI = 0.476 − 0.737), sleep problems (β = 0.04, 95%CI = 0.02 − 0.07), and depression (β = 0.24, 95%CI = 0.12 − 0.36). Food insecurity indirectly related to depression via anxiety (β = 0.35, 95%CI = 0.26-0.44) representing 55.8%, sleep (β = 0.03, 95%CI = 0.0032-0.0575) suggesting 4.0%, and anxiety→sleep (β = 0.013, 95%CI = 0.0024-0.0265) yielding 2.0% of the total effect. Conclusions: Food insecurity was positively associated with depression. This association was partially and serially explained by generalized anxiety and sleep problems. Efforts to address depression among single parents should consider interventions for food insecurity and psychosocial problems, particularly in LMICs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Poor psychological well-being, including depression, anxiety, and low self-esteem, is both prevalent among young South Africans living with HIV and associated with poor HIV clinical outcomes. By impacting food insecurity and employment, the COVID-19 pandemic may have influenced psychological well-being in this population. This analysis sought to examine whether food insecurity and unemployment mediated the relationship between study cohort (pre- versus during-pandemic) and psychological well-being in our sample of young South Africans living with HIV. Methods: This was a secondary analysis comparing baseline data from two cohorts of young South Africans ages 18–24 from the Cape Town and East London metro areas who tested positive for HIV at clinics (or mobile clinics) either before or during the COVID-19 pandemic. Baseline sociodemographic, economic, and psychological outcomes were analyzed through a series of bivariate logistic regression and mediation analyses. All data were analyzed in 2023 and 2024. Results: Reported food anxiety, insufficient food quality, and insufficient food quantity were lower in the cohort recruited during the COVID-19 pandemic than those recruited before the pandemic (p < 0.001). Higher levels of food insecurity predicted higher depressive and anxiety symptoms and lower self-esteem. Food anxiety, insufficient food quality, and insufficient food quantity, but not unemployment, mediated the relationship between study cohort and depressive symptoms, anxiety symptoms, and self-esteem. Conclusion: Food insecurity may have decreased amongst our sample of young people during the COVID-19 pandemic. Our findings build on our understanding of how the psychological well-being of young people living with HIV was affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and may lend support to interventions targeting food insecurity to improve psychological well-being in this population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We aimed to assess the associations between sociodemographic, mental, and physical health factors and incident depressive symptoms (IDS) among ageing men and women in rural South Africa over time. Data from the 7-year South African longitudinal Health and Ageing in Africa INDEPTH Community study (HAALSI: 2015–2022) were used in the analysis (study sample: n = 3 122, aged 40 and older). The proportion of IDS was in 28.2% in 2019 and 30.0% in 2022 among men, and 30.3% in 2019 and 2022 among women. Among men, the adjusted model indicated that older age, food insecurity, poor life satisfaction, physical pain, functional disability, diabetes, kidney disease, anaemia, and obesity were positively associated, and hypertension was negatively associated with IDS. Among women, food insecurity, poor life satisfaction, physical pain, and diabetes were positively associated, and current smokeless tobacco use was negatively associated with IDS. By sex, a high proportion of IDS were found, as was the prevalence of food insecurity, poor life satisfaction, physical pain, and diabetes associated with IDS. Among older men only, older age, functional disability, kidney disease, anaemia, and obesity, but not hypertension were associated with higher odds for IDS. Among older women, only current smokeless tobacco use was negatively associated with IDS. Interventions addressing the risk for depression should consider specific sex differences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The second Sustainable Development Goal of Zero Hunger, defined by the United Nations, broadly focuses on several dimensions of food access and availability, including measures of hunger and undernourishment, food insecurity, and malnutrition. Progress toward the Zero Hunger goal is monitored using indicators like the Prevalence of Undernourishment and the prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity. These indicators are widely regarded as accurately portraying the underlying phenomena of concern. There are, however, other considerations one may want to include when considering the broader food system, including the role of food access and sovereignty in the rural areas of low-income countries. This paper reviews measurements of food insecurity and reflects on how food access and sovereignty may improve food security and, conversely, how it may impede advances toward alleviating food insecurity. These considerations can be helpful in tracking the need and progress toward the Sustainable Development Goal of Zero Hunger. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nature-based solutions are approaches that draw inspiration from and are supported by nature, offering environmental, social, and economic benefits for enhancing urban resilience and sustainability. One of the greatest land use changes affecting the urban landscape is agricultural land conversion which affects the food security. Urban agriculture will not only generate livelihood opportunity for the urban poor but be the urban lung and heat sink, allow solid and water waste disposal and facilitate eco-cultural community bonding. A vast majority of the global urban dwellers live in the small and medium sized cities. However very little study has been done on urban agriculture in these areas although agricultural loss is more pronounced here. The objective of this paper is to examine through remote sensing data, in a time series between 2011 to 2023, the loss in agricultural land in one such smaller city- Bhubaneswar, which lies on a very fertile agricultural belt. This paper examines the decline of agricultural land in comparison to the rise in built up area within the specified timeframe and goes on to suggest a nature-based solution which makes the city self-sufficient in terms of food security. The research methodology involves mapping the spatial distribution of both the supply and demand for ecosystem services and quantifying the impact of Agriculture land use conversion on agriculture production. It concludes by deriving a framework which will identify the policy and governance interventions required so that the SDG goals 2 and 11.3 are realized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The continuing oil palm expansion on food security has prompted fierce debate. On one side, analysts argue that local community incorporation in the oil palm sector can increase food purchasing in the market. However, the expansion has also brought unprecedented consequences of losing highly nutritious food due to forest conversions. This study aims to analyze oil palm expansion and local food security in various regions in Indonesia by tackling the following questions: (a) Which factors influence palm oil expansion, and does foreign investment play a role? (b) How does palm oil expansion affect food security in Indonesia? Socioeconomic methods have been applied in this study, including a systematic literature review and qualitative interviews with key stakeholders from various domestic and international organizations. These two methods help us triangulate the academic literature findings with real-world situations as perceived by the actors in the related field. Results indicate that, firstly, foreign investors have not only made a direct investment to facilitate oil palm expansion, but also indirect financial intermediaries are held without holding financial equities to upstream oil palm companies (e.g., supply chain financing contracts, channeling using local financial institutions such as credit union). Secondly, while large corporations asserted monoculture oil palm expansions, some smallholding farmers use mixed cropland expansion to share food and oil palm crops in their own smallholding terms. With the oil palm expansion, farmers can secure a cash flow from palm oil, but an unintended outcome is less nutrition diversification, and often because of the distance to markets, some commodities are favored over a more diverse diet. The outcomes of oil palm development vary and are multifold, as some stakeholders report that some studies show improving cash flows at the farm level, but other studies insist that food insecurity still prevails. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]