The role of farm subsidies in changing India's water footprint.

Dwindling groundwater supplies threaten food security and livelihoods. Output subsidies for farmers are a ubiquitous agricultural policy tool, yet their contribution to growing groundwater stress remains poorly quantified. We show how output subsidies guaranteeing the purchase of crops at higher than market prices may have contributed substantially to declining water tables in India. Our analysis suggests that these policies may have led to a 30% over-production of water intensive crops. In the northwestern state of Punjab, rice procurement can potentially account for at least 50% of the groundwater table decline over 34 years. In the central state of Madhya Pradesh, wheat procurement adopted in the late 2000s appears to have driven a 5.3 percentage point increase in dry wells and a consequent 3.4 percentage point increase in deep tubewells. These results suggest that well-intentioned but poorly designed subsidies can impose harmful externalities on the environment and undermine long-term sustainable development.

Food Insufficiency Increased After The Expiration Of COVID-19 Emergency Allotments For SNAP Benefits In 2023.

In response to economic distress and food insecurity during the COVID-19 pandemic, Congress expanded the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) by introducing emergency allotments to increase monthly benefits, starting in March 2020. In March 2023, emergency allotments expired in the thirty-five states and territories still offering them. We provide some of the first evidence of the impacts of this loss of nutrition support-in some cases, more than $250 a month-for economically disadvantaged households. Our quasi-experimental study examined the effects of the program's expiration on food insufficiency, mental health, and financial well-being, using data from the Census Bureau's Household Pulse Survey. In difference-in-differences analyses, we compared pre-post differences among SNAP participants with pre-post differences among income-eligible nonparticipants. The emergency allotment expiration led to a substantial increase in food insufficiency (8.4 percentage points) and greater food pantry use (2.1 percentage points) and difficulty paying expenses (2.0 percentage points). Non-Hispanic Black SNAP participants experienced a greater increase in anxiety symptoms compared with non-Hispanic White SNAP participants. This study has implications for ongoing policy making with respect to nutrition and safety-net programs to support vulnerable families, especially amid inflated food prices.

Effects of agricultural carbon footprints and malnutrition on life expectancy in China.

This study explored the impact of carbon footprints and malnutrition on life expectancy in China over the periods of 2000 and 2021. Data from the World Bank Indicators database was utilized, and Dynamic Ordinary Least Squares (DOLS) was employed to analyse the extracted data. The results show that over the periods of 2000 and 2021, agricultural carbon footprints in China experienced a first sharp decline in 2015. In contrast, per capita food production in China rose from 88.29% in 2011 to over 108% in 2021. Within a space of a decade, the undernourished population in China was reduced by 78.8%. Moreover, per capita food production had a positive impact on life expectancy in China. Conversely, malnutrition exerted a negative and significant influence on life expectancy. Agricultural carbon footprints contributed a positive but insignificant impact on life expectancy, and GDP per capita growth increased life expectancy significantly in the country. We conclude that policymakers in China are should ensure that all citizens have access to food necessary to improve life span of the country`s population.

Cette étude a exploré l'impact de l'empreinte carbone et de la malnutrition sur l'espérance de vie en Chine sur les périodes 2000 et 2021. Les données de la base de données des indicateurs de la Banque mondiale ont été utilisées et la méthode des moindres carrés ordinaires dynamiques (DOLS) a été utilisée pour analyser les données extraites. Les résultats montrent qu'au cours des périodes 2000 et 2021, l'empreinte carbone agricole en Chine a connu une première forte baisse en 2015. En revanche, la production alimentaire par habitant en Chine est passée de 88,29 % en 2011 à plus de 108 % en 2021. en une décennie, la population sous-alimentée en Chine a diminué de 78,8 %. De plus, la production alimentaire par habitant a eu un impact positif sur l'espérance de vie en Chine. À l'inverse, la malnutrition exerce une influence négative et significative sur l'espérance de vie. L'empreinte carbone agricole a eu un impact positif mais insignifiant sur l'espérance de vie, et la croissance du PIB par habitant a considérablement augmenté l'espérance de vie dans le pays. Nous concluons que les décideurs politiques chinois doivent veiller à ce que tous les citoyens aient accès à la nourriture nécessaire pour améliorer la durée de vie de la population du pays.

Advancing irrigation management: integrating technology and sustainability to address global food security.

Irrigation management is essential for addressing global food security challenges under changing climate. This review discusses the integration of advanced irrigation technologies and their roles in enhancing water use efficiency and managing energy demands within agricultural systems. High-efficiency irrigation systems, such as drip and sprinkler systems, have significant potential to reduce water use and increase crop yields. However, their adoption varies worldwide, and the efficiency of existing irrigation practices often remains inadequate, resulting in substantial water losses due to outdated management practices. Emerging technologies and innovative irrigation strategies, including precision agriculture and advanced crop models, provide promising pathways for improving irrigation efficiency. Nonetheless, the widespread integration of these technologies is hindered by high costs, the need for technical expertise, and challenges in adapting existing agricultural systems to new methodologies. Irrigation systems can have substantial energy requirements, particularly those dependent on groundwater. The exploration of the water-environment-energy-food (WEEF) nexus illustrates the importance of a balanced approach to resource management, which is crucial for achieving sustainable agricultural outcomes. Future research should include lowering barriers to technology adoption, enhancing data utilization for precision irrigation, promoting integrated management strategies within the WEEF framework, and strengthening policy support for sustainable practices. This review proposes a multidisciplinary approach to irrigation management that includes technological innovation, strategic policy development, and global cooperation to secure sustainable agricultural practices and ensure global food supply resilience in the face of climate change.

Comparison of the nutritional composition and calculated Nutri-score classifications of the Dutch food retail supply in 2018 and 2020.

OBJECTIVE: In the Netherlands, reformulation strategies have been established for several years, whereas Nutri-Score was implemented in 2024. Besides being a helpful tool for consumers to make healthier food choices, Nutri-Score also aims to stimulate food reformulation by food manufacturers. The present study investigates whether changes in food composition could have led to different calculated Nutri-Score classifications. DESIGN: Food compositions and Nutri-Score classifications were calculated using the updated Nutri-Score algorithm. Food groups with the largest change in the distribution of Nutri-Score classifications were analysed in-depth by plotting frequency distributions and calculating median contents for nutrient contents that relatively changed the most in 2020. SETTING: Food composition data were available from the Dutch Branded Food database in 2018 (n 38 295) and 2020 (n 48 091). PARTICIPANTS: Not applicable. RESULTS: In general, median nutrient contents and calculated Nutri-Score classifications were similar for 2018 and 2020. The median sugar and SFA contents were lower for some food groups (e.g. breakfast cereals, meat preserves, sweets and sweet goods) in 2020 compared to 2018. The median SFA content for meat preserves and sweets and sweet goods was relatively low in Nutri-Score classification A ascending towards higher median content in Nutri-Score classification E. CONCLUSIONS: Although food reformulation was not substantial in the Dutch food retail supply in 2018 and 2020, some differences in Nutri-Score classifications were observed. When implemented, Nutri-Score may encourage food manufacturers to increase their reformulation efforts. Repeated monitoring of food compositions and Nutri-Score classifications is recommended to establish reformulation efforts by food manufacturers.

Recurrent Flooding and Household Food Access in Central Java, Indonesia.

It is unknown how recurring flooding impacts household diet in Central Java. We aimed to assess how recurrent flooding influenced household food access over 22 years in Central Java by linking the Global Surface Water dataset (GSW) to the Indonesian Family Life Survey. We examined linear and nonlinear relationships and joint effects with indicators of adaptive capacity. We measured recurrent flooding as the fraction of district raster cells with episodic flooding from 1984-2015 using GSW. Food access outcomes were household food expenditure share (FES) and dietary diversity score (DDS). We fit generalized linear mixed models and random forest regression models. We detected joint effects with flooding and adaptive capacity. Wealth and access to credit were associated with improved FES and DDS. The effect of wealth on FES was stronger in households in more flood-affected districts, while access to credit was associated with reduced odds of DDS in more flood-affected districts. Flooding had more predictive importance for FES than for DDS. Access to credit, a factor that ordinarily improves food access, may not be effective in flood-prone areas. Wealthier households may be better able to adapt in terms of food access. Future research should incorporate land use data to understand how different locales are affected and further understand the complexity of these relationships.

Why biodiversity matters in agriculture and food systems.

Imagine a world where the variety of food sources we rely on is reduced to a mere handful of species. This is not a dystopian future. It's the path we are on right now, and it's happening silently in fields, farms, and forests across the globe. Biodiversity-the lifeblood of our ecosystems and food systems-is under siege. Driven by climate change, habitat destruction, and the relentless march of agricultural expansion, we are witnessing an unprecedented erosion of genetic diversity. This loss is more than just a scientific or environmental concern; it's a direct threat to global food security, and by extension, human survival.

Using spatial analysis to examine inequalities and temporal trends in food retail accessibility.

OBJECTIVE: In this paper, we examined whether there are inequalities in access to food retail (by type and healthiness) across local government areas (LGA) in Greater Melbourne and by LGA grouped based on their distance from the central business district and Growth Area designation. We also examined whether these inequalities persisted over time. DESIGN: This is a secondary analysis of a repeated cross-sectional census of food outlets collected at four time points (2008, 2012, 2014 and 2016) across 31 LGA. Using Geographical Information Systems, we present a spatial analysis of food retail environments in Melbourne, Australia, at these four times over eight years. SETTING: Greater Melbourne, Australia. PARTICIPANTS: 31 LGA in Greater Melbourne. RESULTS: Findings show significant inequalities in access to healthy food retail persisting over time at the LGA level. Residents in lower density urban growth areas had the least access to healthy food retail. Unhealthy food retail was comparatively more accessible, with a temporal trend indicating increased accessibility over time in urban growth areas only. CONCLUSION: Accessibility to food outlets, particularly healthy food outlets and supermarkets, in Greater Melbourne is not equal. To identify and address health inequalities associated with rapid urban growth, further understanding of how people interact with the food environment needs to be explored.

The impact of the digital economy on food system resilience: Evidence from China.

Despite the widespread influence of the burgeoning digital economy on agricultural productivity in recent years, China's food system confronts numerous challenges. Notably, research exploring the digital economy's impact on food system resilience remains scarce, and the pivotal role of industrial agglomeration in this context remains unclear. Therefore, this article is based on the panel data of 30 provinces in China from 2011 to 2021, this paper empirically examines the direct effect, the mechanism of action, and the spatial spillover effect of the resilience of a digital economy-enabled food system using a double fixed-effects model, mediated-effects model, and spatial econometric model. The results show the following: (1) The resilience of China's urban food system shows obvious spatial differences, but the overall trend in improvement requires attention. (2) The development of a digital economy has a facilitating effect on the level of resilience of the food system, and industrial agglomeration induces an intermediary effect. (3) The digital economy has a significant positive spatial spillover effect on the resilience of the food system; i.e., the digital economy can improve the resilience of the food system in the region and the neighboring regions. Accordingly, policy recommendations have been put forward to improve infrastructure construction and promote the development of digital villages; strengthen the construction of industrial agglomerations and promote the enhancement of the quality and efficiency of industries; and promote the development of regional linkages and build a solid foundation for food security.

Patients with diabetes struggling to afford food and control their HbA1c in food-insecure areas in Bronx, NY.

OBJECTIVE: To characterise the association between risk of poor glycaemic control and self-reported and area-level food insecurity among adult patients with type 2 diabetes. DESIGN: We performed a retrospective, observational analysis of cross-sectional data routinely collected within a health system. Logistic regressions estimated the association between glycaemic control and the dual effect of self-reported and area-level measures of food insecurity. SETTING: The health system included a network of ambulatory primary and speciality care sites and hospitals in Bronx County, NY. PARTICIPANTS: Patients diagnosed with type 2 diabetes who completed a health-related social need (HRSN) assessment between April 2018 and December 2019. RESULTS: 5500 patients with type 2 diabetes were assessed for HRSN with 7·1 % reporting an unmet food need. Patients with self-reported food needs demonstrated higher odds of having poor glycaemic control compared with those without food needs (adjusted OR (aOR): 1·59, 95 % CI: 1·26, 2·00). However, there was no conclusive evidence that area-level food insecurity alone was a significant predictor of glycaemic control (aOR: 1·15, 95 % CI: 0·96, 1·39). Patients with self-reported food needs residing in food-secure (aOR: 1·83, 95 % CI: 1·22, 2·74) and food-insecure (aOR: 1·72, 95 % CI: 1·25, 2·37) areas showed higher odds of poor glycaemic control than those without self-reported food needs residing in food-secure areas. CONCLUSIONS: These findings highlight the importance of utilising patient- and area-level social needs data to identify individuals for targeted interventions with increased risk of adverse health outcomes.

Development of the Local Food Systems Policy Index (Local Food-EPI+) tool and assessment process to benchmark the implementation of local government policies for creating healthy, equitable and environmentally sustainable food systems.

OBJECTIVE: Local governments have an important role to play in creating healthy, equitable and environmentally sustainable food systems. This study aimed to develop and pilot a tool and process for local governments in Australia to benchmark their policies for creating healthy, equitable and environmentally sustainable food systems. DESIGN: The Healthy Food Environment Policy Index (Food-EPI), developed in 2013 for national governments, was tailored to develop the Local Food Systems Policy Index (Local Food-EPI+) tool for local governments. To incorporate environmental sustainability and the local government context, this process involved a literature review and collaboration with an international and domestic expert advisory committee (n 35) and local government officials. SETTING: Local governments. RESULTS: The tool consists of sixty-one indicators across ten food policy domains (weighted based on relative importance): leadership; governance; funding and resources; monitoring and intelligence; food production and supply chain; food promotion; food provision and retail in public facilities and spaces; supermarkets and food sources in the community; food waste reuse, redistribution and reduction; and support for communities. Pilot implementation of the tool in one local government demonstrated that the assessment process was feasible and likely to be helpful in guiding policy implementation. CONCLUSION: The Local Food-EPI+ tool and assessment process offer a comprehensive mechanism to assist local governments in benchmarking their actions to improve the healthiness, equity and environmental sustainability of food systems and prioritise action areas. Broad use of this tool will identify and promote leading practices, increase accountability for action and build capacity and collaborations.

What does it take for healthy food retail programmes to be successful? Lessons learned in New York City.

OBJECTIVE: Healthy food retail programmes (HFRP) in the USA generally aim to increase healthy foods access to improve diet quality and health, yet the impact is mixed. These programmes primarily target adults, even though adolescents frequently and independently visit stores to purchase snacks. This study's aims are to explore successes and challenges of implementing HFRP (Aim 1) and examine how HFRP can be tailored to adolescents (Aim 2). DESIGN: One-time, virtual, semi-structured interviews with individuals who were involved in a HFRP, followed by a socio-demographic characteristics survey. Interviews were designed based on the RE-AIM framework and the Hexagon Tool and analysed using Braun and Clark's (2006) thematic analysis approach. Descriptive statistics were used to summarise participants' socio-demographic characteristics. SETTING: New York City (NYC). PARTICIPANTS: Adults (18 years or older) who have designed, implemented and/or evaluated an HFRP in NYC and speak/understand English (n 21). RESULTS: Aim 1: For successes, strategies to build relationships with the community were most discussed. Regarding challenges, securing reliable funding was the hardest to overcome. Suggested solutions included designing profitable HFRP, targeting shortcomings in food distribution systems and increasing consumer demand. Aim 2: Most participants had not considered adolescents in previous HFRP but suggested involving youth in developing HFRP to encourage youth-driven solutions and promote youth advocacy. CONCLUSIONS: Future HFRP should focus on activities that help store owners purchase affordable healthy foods from distributors, which translates to affordability for customers. Federal and local policies can assist by funding complementary programmes. Additionally, adolescents should be considered in these efforts.

Consumer food environments change over a 5-year period.

OBJECTIVE: Evaluate the 5-year changes in the consumers' food environment in the area of a health promotion service in Brazilian primary health care. Our hypothesis is that the consumers' food environment in the areas with primary healthcare services has changes that may favour healthy eating habits over time. DESIGN: Longitudinal study. SETTING: The territory around the primary healthcare services in Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil. PARTICIPANTS: All food stores and open-air food markets that sell fruits and vegetables around the primary healthcare services in 2013 (n 272) and in 2018 (n 265). RESULTS: Fruit diversity increased by 13·4 % (P < 0·001) and vegetables variety and quality by 16·1 % (P = 0·003) and 12·5 % (P < 0·001), respectively. Corn snacks showed an increase in availability (13·5 %; P = 0·002). The increase in advertising was observed for fruits and vegetables (34·6 %; P < 0·001) and ultra-processed foods (47·6 %; P < 0·001). Supermarkets showed an increase in the Healthy Food Store Index (three points; P < 0·001), while fruits and vegetables stores showed a decrease of one point in the index (P < 0·001). CONCLUSIONS: The unequal changes in the consumers' food environment according to the food stores types demonstrate the importance of food supply policies that promote a healthy environment and favour the maintenance of traditional healthy food retailers.

The impact of food aid interventions on food insecurity, diet quality and mental health in households with children in high-income countries: a systematic review.

OBJECTIVE: Households with children accessing food aid in high-income countries are often food insecure. We aimed to review the evidence on food aid interventions in households with children and impact on food insecurity, diet quality and mental health. DESIGN: A systematic search was conducted using Web of Science, MEDLINE, CINAHL and PsycINFO. Articles published from January 2008 to July 2022 including cross-sectional, cohort and interventional studies in high-income countries were eligible. SETTING: Food aid is defined as the use of interventions providing free food items by community and/or charitable organisations. PARTICIPANTS: Two-parent, lone parent or households with a primary caregiver with at least one child ≤ 18 years. RESULTS: From a total of 10 394 articles, nine were included. Food banks, mobile pantry combined with a free meal for children, backpack provision during school term and food parcel home delivery interventions were evaluated. Food bank models offering additional support such as community programmes, health and social services, cooking classes and free meals for children, client-choice-based models and programmes providing convenient access were associated with improved food security and diet quality (increased intake of wholegrains, fruit and vegetables). One study reported an improvement in mental health and food bank access at the end of 18 months but not at earlier timepoints and one study reported no change in parents' mental health. CONCLUSIONS: Accessing food aid was linked to improved diet quality and reduced food insecurity in some studies. Allowing clients to choose food items and providing support services were most effective.

Adolescents' perceptions of food outlets in the school neighbourhood and their unhealthy snacking behaviour on the way to and from school.

OBJECTIVE: To understand the relationship between adolescents' unhealthy snacking behaviour during their school journey and their perceived and objective measures of food outlet availability in the school neighbourhood. DESIGN: A cross-sectional survey enquired about socio-demographic information, school transport modes, perceived presence of food outlets in the school neighbourhood and unhealthy food purchase and consumption on the school journey. A geographical information system analysis of the food outlets within 500 m and 1000 m school buffers was undertaken. Data were analysed using generalised linear mixed modelling. SETTING: All twelve secondary schools in Dunedin, Aotearoa New Zealand, March 2020-June 2022. PARTICIPANTS: Adolescents aged 13-18 years (n 725) who reported being familiar with their school neighbourhood. RESULTS: Perceived availability of food outlets in the school neighbourhood was inversely correlated with distance to the closest food outlet from school and positively correlated with food outlet density within 500 m and 1000 m school buffers. Adolescents' purchase and consumption of unhealthy snacks and drinks during the school journey were associated with perceived availability of food outlets and with shorter distance to the closest food outlet from school. Mixed transport users, girls and those living in high-deprivation neighbourhoods had higher odds of purchasing and consuming unhealthy snacks and drinks during the school journey than active transport users, boys and those living in low-deprivation neighbourhoods, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Adolescents perceptions of the food environment and close access to food outlets in the school neighbourhood may influence adolescents' food purchase and consumption behaviours during the school journey.

An exploration of community food pantries in Scotland: strategic and operational perspectives on addressing food insecurity and health inequalities.

INTRODUCTION: Food insecurity and health are inextricably linked. Since 2008, Scotland has witnessed a proliferation of both food insecurity and emergency food provision. There is a recognised commitment from Scottish Government to 'end the need for food banks', however, the food aid landscape was 'turbo-charged' during COVID-19 leading to intense expansion and diversification of food-based projects, including the development of community food pantries (CFPs). These 'new' models are relatively under-researched, meaning we do not adequately understand their potential or realised impacts on food insecurity and health. This study aims to fill that gap. METHODS: A qualitative methodology was used to collect and analyse data from in-depth interviews with 10 representatives from both operational and policy settings related to food insecurity in Scotland. In addition, we conducted an analysis of policy documentation from Scottish Government related to tackling food insecurity to understand how CFPs fit into its overall strategy to transition away from food bank use. RESULTS: We found there were variations in conceptualisations of CFPs and how they operate, challenges related to addressing food insecurity at a community level and varied narratives around the role of community level interventions in tackling health inequalities. Choice and access to services were viewed as central components to the pantry model. However, there were significant challenges faced by CFPs, including territorialism, funding and food supply. Articulations of health were often multi-layered and complicated with strong recognition of the social determinants as well as acknowledgement of the limitations of tackling food insecurity and health inequalities solely at the community level. CONCLUSIONS: Despite a commitment to transition away from emergency food provision, CFPs in Scotland appear to face many of the same issues as food banks, particularly those which impact health. Urgent critique of their reliance on surplus food redistribution is required alongside investigation of how these 'new' models are experienced by the people who access them. Further expansion of these models should be viewed with caution and in the same vein as traditional emergency food provision: a symptom of, rather than a solution to, the problem of food insecurity.

Popularity and parity assessment for more inclusive and balanced aquaculture development.

Aquaculture, a rapidly expanding food production system, holds promise for improving global food security and resilience. However, imbalanced growth has led to a highly uneven distribution of aquaculture production among countries, a concern that has not been comprehensively examined. This paper fills this knowledge gap by developing an innovative indicator system to assess this issue based on aquaculture development in ~ 200 countries over five decades. The system utilizes the "effective number of countries" (ENC) as a basic measure of production distribution and extends it into two novel indicators, popularity and parity, to gauge inclusiveness and balance. The assessment from 1970 to 2020 reveals that aquaculture has become a global enterprise, operating in nearly 90% of countries. Nevertheless, there is still substantial potential for growth in aquaculture popularity across most of 43 species groups examined here. Regarding concerns over persistently imbalanced aquaculture growth, our assessment reveals that aquaculture parity increased during 1970-2020 in the majority of 85 country groups examined here, including 18 of 27 regions and subregions. Global parity is also on the rise in the new millennium (2000-2020). However, the global aquaculture parity remains considerably lower than those of capture fisheries and terrestrial meat production. This suggests that imbalanced global aquaculture development cannot be solely attributed to countries' comparative advantages. This extraordinary imbalance could compromise global food security and food system resilience, but it also signifies untapped growth potential. Mainstreaming aquaculture popularity and parity as policy indicators can foster more inclusive and balanced development and unlock this potential. The proposed indicator system can be applied across diverse sectors and scales, contributing to a broader and refined understanding of the dynamics within the global food system.

Cross-border supply chain coordination of low-carbon agricultural products under the risk of supply uncertainty.

The purpose of this paper is to discuss how cross-border e-commerce enterprises can promote the sustainable development of the supply chain by optimizing the risk of supply disruption and product quality control mechanism of the cross-border supply chain of low-carbon agricultural products in the face of the problem of uneven quality and inventory shortage that prevails in the supply chain of low-carbon agricultural products under the framework of low-carbon economy. Methods: A two-level supply chain model consisting of a risk-averse cross-border e-commerce enterprise and two risk-neutral overseas suppliers is constructed to compare the optimal strategies and their coordination effects under the centralized and decentralized decision-making modes, and to deeply analyze the supply chain's operation mechanism. Further, the quality cost factor is introduced and an option contract model is designed to quantitatively analyze the impact of different decision-making scenarios and parameter changes on the overall supply chain performance. The results of the study show that under the coordination of option contract, the profit of cross-border e-commerce companies tends to decrease as the risk of supply disruption increases, while the profit of suppliers rises accordingly. Meanwhile, improving the quality of agricultural products can significantly improve the overall profitability of the supply chain. The cost-sharing mechanism is positively related to the profit of cross-border e-commerce companies, but negatively affects the profit of suppliers. In addition, the adjustment of the option price is directly associated with the increase of the specific supplier's profit and the decrease of the cross-border e-commerce enterprise's profit. Conclusion: By constructing and analyzing the option contract model considering the risk of supply disruption, this study effectively reveals the key influencing factors and their interactions in the cross-border supply chain of low-carbon agricultural products, and provides cross-border e-commerce enterprises with specific strategies to achieve coordination of the supply chain contract, improve product quality, and mitigate the risk of supply disruption, and then promote the sustainable development of the supply chain of low-carbon agricultural products.

Food insecurity and its determinants in pastoralist and agrarian communities in South Omo Zone, Southern Ethiopia: a community-based cross-sectional study.

Background: Despite the implementation of different interventions, food insecurity remains a major public health issue in rural areas of Ethiopia. However, there has been limited evidence regarding food insecurity and responsible factors in rural areas of Ethiopia, particularly in South Omo, Ethiopia. Hence, this study aimed to assess food insecurity and determinants in agrarian and pastoralist communities of South Omo Zone, Southern Ethiopia. Methods: A cross-sectional study was done among 605 randomly selected households in Benatsemay and South Ari districts from February 1 to 28, 2023. A standardized and validated Household Food Insecurity Access Scale (HFIAS) was used to measure food insecurity status. Data were entered using Epi-Info 7.1 and then transferred to SPSS V25 for analysis. To identify associated factors, a binary logistic regression model was employed. The strength of association was evaluated considering the adjusted odds ratio (AOR) and a 95% confidence interval (CI). A statistical significance was stated at p-value <0.05. Result: A total of 597 participants were involved in the study with a response rate of 98.7%. The overall prevalence of food insecurity using HFIAS was 42.2% (95%CI: 38.2, 46.3%), among which mild, moderate, and severe food insecurity accounted for 17.4, 16.6, and 8.2%, respectively. Of pastoralists, 114 (47.1%) were food insecure whereas 138 (38.9%) were food insecure in the agrarian. Food insecurity was affected by household head sex (AOR = 1.73, 95%CI: 1.14, 2.62), high dependency ratio (AOR = 2.53, 95%CI: 1.53, 4.20), no formal maternal education (AOR = 2.11, 95%CI: 1.07, 4.18), productive safety net program (AOR = 2.00, 95%CI: 1.16, 3.46) and land ownership (AOR = 1.80, 95% CI: 1.19, 2.72). Conclusion: Food insecurity was a significant problem in the study areas. Thus, it is crucial to improve female education, advance agricultural technologies, advocate family planning, and broaden productive safety net programs.

Identifying the risk factors associated with food insecurity in the UK veteran population: a nationwide survey.

There has been limited focus placed on exploring food insecurity within the UK-ex-Armed Forces population. The present study aims to build on initial work by investigating the prevalence and associated factors of food insecurity within UK veterans and their families and their current health status. 881 veterans (or a family member) who previously served in the Royal Navy and Royal Marines, Army and the Royal Air Force completed an online survey to explore health status, food insecurity and receipt of benefits. In total, 16.9% of survey respondents were part of food-insecure households, with 12% of these also experiencing some element of hunger. Working age, non-officer rank at the time of service discharge, not being married, living in rented accommodation, having at least one medical condition and in receipt of other benefits were significant risk factors associated with food insecurity. Understanding the specific risk factors associated with food insecurity is vital to develop personalised interventions and policies, such as income support programmes and affordable housing initiatives. However, more work is needed to further explore the factors associated with food insecurity, particularly in the long term.