Systematic review on the impacts of agricultural interventions on food security and nutrition in complex humanitarian emergency settings.

Complex humanitarian emergencies are a main driver of food and nutritional insecurity. Agricultural interventions are key to improving nutrition and food security, and their positive impacts are well-documented in stable developing countries. However, it is unclear if their positive effects on food security hold in complex emergency settings, too. In this paper, we systematically review empirical articles that apply rigorous designs to assess the causal impacts of agricultural interventions on food security, nutrition, or health outcomes in complex humanitarian emergencies. We only find six articles matching these criteria, which have mixed results on dietary diversity and food security, and little evidence on child nutrition. Our review underscores the need for more rigorous research on the impacts of agricultural interventions in complex humanitarian emergency settings.

The effects of food insecurity on hepatic steatosis and fibrosis in people with HIV.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Food insecurity (FI) is a risk factor for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and advanced fibrosis in the general population, but its impact on liver disease in people with HIV (PWH) is unknown. METHODS: We examined the association of FI with prevalence of NAFLD and fibrosis in a diverse cohort of PWH. PWH aged ≥18 years on antiretroviral therapy, HIV RNA<200 copies/mL, and without other known liver diseases were screened for NAFLD (CAP≥263 decibels/meter) and advanced fibrosis (LSM≥11 kilopascals) by vibration controlled transient elastography at eight US centers. Participants were categorized as food insecure using the Six-Item Short Form Household Food Security Survey. We used multivariable logistic regression to estimate odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) of NAFLD and advanced fibrosis by FI status. RESULTS: Among 654 PWH, NAFLD was present in 348 (53%) and advanced fibrosis in 41 (6%). FI was present in 203 (31%) of participants, including 97/348 (28%) with NAFLD and 18/41 (44%) with advanced fibrosis. In multivariable analysis, FI was associated with lower odds of NAFLD (OR=0.57,95%CI:0.37-0.88) and a greater, but nonsignificant, odds of advanced fibrosis (OR=1.38,95%CI:0.65-2.90). We identified a significant interaction between FI and diabetes (p=0.02) on fibrosis risk, with a greater odds of fibrosis among food insecure PWH and diabetes (OR=3.83,95%CI:1.15-12.73) but not among food insecure nondiabetics (OR=1.12,95%CI:0.47-2.98). CONCLUSIONS: FI is highly prevalent among PWH and associated with lower odds of NAFLD, and among PWH with diabetes, a greater odds of advanced fibrosis. FI may contribute to hepatic fibrosis through mechanisms other than steatosis in PWH.

Food insecurity among low-income households in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

With the rapid urbanization in developing countries, poverty and food insecurity are becoming increasing prevalent, posing a major challenge to urban areas. The COVID-19 pandemic induced job losses and reduced income combined with inflation have further exacerbated the household food insecurity situation, particularly in cities of low-income countries. Our study aims to assess the extent of food insecurity and its determinants among low-income household in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. We conducted a community-based cross-sectional study among a sample of 578 households in Addis Ababa. We estimated the household food insecurity status using the Household Food Insecurity Access Scale (HFIAS). An ordinal logistic regression model was used to assess the relationship between household food insecurity status and the socioeconomic and demographic covariates. The STATA 14 software package was used for data analysis. We found that household food insecurity was prevalent among low-income households in Addis Ababa, with a prevalence rate of 92.4 % (95 % CI: 90.2-94.6 %). Of these households, 33.6 % (95 % CI: 29.7-37.4 %) were severely food insecure. To cope with the food shortage, households were forced to reduce their food quantity and quality. We also found that respondent's education, engagement in income generating activities, and household wealth were independently associated with household food insecurity. We conclude that although supporting people living below the poverty line (pro-poor) remains the top priority for social protection programs, adapting the program to accommodate the working poor (informal sector employees and casual workers) is crucial, especially during shocks.

Reservoir ecosystems support large pools of fish biomass.

Humans increasingly dominate Earth's natural freshwater ecosystems, but biomass production of modified ecosystems is rarely studied. We estimate potential fish total standing stock in USA reservoirs is 3.4 billion (B) kg, and approximate annual secondary production is 4.5 B kg y-1. We also observe varied and non-linear trends in reservoir fish biomass over time, thus previous assertions that reservoir fisheries decline over time are not universal. Reservoirs are globally relevant pools of freshwater fisheries, in part due to their immense limnetic footprint and spatial extent. This study further shows that reservoir ecosystems play major roles in food security and fisheries conservation. We encourage additional effort be expended to effectively manage reservoir environments for the good of humanity, biodiversity, and fish conservation.

Turmeric shortens lifespan in houseflies.

Climate change poses a significant threat to food security and global public health with the increasing likelihood of insect pest outbreaks. Alternative ways to control insect populations, preferably using environmental-friendly compounds, are needed. Turmeric has been suggested as a natural insecticide with toxicity properties in some insect groups. However, empirical evidence of the effects of turmeric - and their interaction with other ecological factors such as diet - on insect survival has been limited. Here, we tested the effects of turmeric and its interactions with diets differing in protein source in the common housefly, Musca domestica. We found that turmeric shortened lifespan independent of diet and sex. Females in turmeric diets were heavier at death, which was likely driven by a combination of relatively lower rates of body mass loss during their lifetime and a higher percentage of water content at death. Each sex responded differently to the protein source in the diet, and the magnitude of the difference in lifespan between sexes were greatest in diets in which protein source was hydrolysed yeast; individuals from both sexes lived longest in sucrose-milk diets and shortest in diets with hydrolysed yeast. There was no evidence of an interaction between turmeric and diet, suggesting that the toxicity effects are independent of protein source in the diet. Given the seemingly opposing effects of turmeric in insects and mammals being uncovered in the literature, our findings provide further evidence in support of turmeric as a potential natural insecticide.

Influence of health food literacy on willingness to pay for healthier foods: focus on food insecurity.

BACKGROUND: The repercussions of food insecurity are widely recognized to negatively impact overall health and are influenced by a complex interplay of physiological, psychological, social, and environmental factors. METHODS: This study examined the disparities in food consumption and literacy between among food security households and food insecurity households using data from the Korea Rural Economic Institute's 2022 Consumer Behavior Survey for Food, which involved 3,321 respondents. RESULTS: Food security households had a greater understanding of and better attitude toward healthier food choices than food insecurity households. Economic ability was identified as having the most significant association with food purchasing behavior, with food security households spending more on average than food insecurity households. Structural equation modeling demonstrated the association of knowledge and attitude with dietary implementation and underscored the significance of consumer literacy as a factor related to willingness to pay for healthier foods. CONCLUSIONS: This study underscores the intertwined relationships among financial capacity, knowledge, and health-conscious dietary choices. It also suggests the need for targeted interventions addressing economic and educational gaps to foster healthier food consumption patterns across different socioeconomic contexts.

The Adoption of Genetically Modified Crops in Africa: the Public's Current Perception, the Regulatory Obstacles, and Ethical Challenges.

Genetically modified (GM) crops are the most important agricultural commodities that can improve the yield of African smallholder farmers. The intricate circumstances surrounding the introduction of GM agriculture in Africa, however, underscore the importance of comprehending the moral conundrums, regulatory environments, and public sentiment that exist today. This review examines the current situation surrounding the use of GM crops in Africa, focusing on moral conundrums, regulatory frameworks, and public opinion. Only eleven of the fifty-four African countries currently cultivate GM crops due to the wide range of opinions resulting from the disparities in cultural, socioeconomic, and environmental factors. This review proposed that addressing public concerns, harmonizing regulations, and upholding ethical standards will improve the adoption of GM crops in Africa. This study offers ways to enhance the acceptability of GM crops for boosting nutrition and food security globally.

Changes in food sufficiency among Korean adults in urban and rural areas during the COVID-19 pandemic: an analysis of the 7th and 8th Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

Objectives: Understanding changes in food sufficiency within various demographic groups during emergency situations, such as the global coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, is crucial in formulating public health policies for future preparedness. This study investigated potential differences between urban and rural residents in food sufficiency trends during the COVID-19 pandemic and examined how these changes varied according to sociodemographic factors. Methods: This cross-sectional study analyzed data from 19,724 adults aged 20 years and older, utilizing information from the 7th-8th Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2018-2021). Results: In urban areas, across all subpopulations, food sufficiency improved significantly during the COVID-19 period relative to pre-pandemic levels (p<0.001). However, in rural regions, a significant increase in food sufficiency during the COVID-19 era was observed only among women, with an odds ratio of 1.42 (confidence interval, 1.06 to 1.89). Nevertheless, no significant interaction terms were found between region and various sociodemographic factors regarding changes in food sufficiency during the COVID-19 period. Conclusion: During the COVID-19 pandemic, food sufficiency among urban residents improved compared to the pre-pandemic era, whereas their rural counterparts saw no such improvement. Additionally, no significant interaction was detected between urban versus rural areas and changes in food sufficiency during the COVID-19 period. These findings indicate the need for targeted food policies to prepare for potential future pandemics, particularly in rural areas, where food sufficiency did not improve.

Exploring driving factors in employing waste reduction tools to alleviate the global food security and sustainability.

To align with the SDG 12.3 target and ensure global food security and sustainability, it is crucial to prioritize the reduction of food loss and waste. This paper aims to synthesize previous research on waste reduction tools like lean manufacturing in the agro-food processing industry and identify areas that require further investigation to assurance worldwide food security and promote sustainability. The study uses a systematic literature review that was proposed by Denyer and Tranfield. This research work provides a descriptive analysis of the evolution of lean manufacturing in agro-food processing and identifies research gaps. The review highlights the importance of demand forecasting, managing variable raw materials and products, increasing management involvement, promoting partnership among supply chain members, and addressing supply and demand seasonality and uncertainty to apply the approach to food waste reduction. Based on the findings, the paper suggests further research areas for future investigation that will help create a more sustainable and equitable food system. Reducing food loss and waste can ensure that everyone has access to safe, nutritious, and affordable food while protecting the planet's resources and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. This study may contribute to the theory of waste minimization, specifically in post-harvest food loss and waste minimization. The findings will help researchers conduct research work interested in minimizing food loss and waste to ensure global food security.

Determination of heavy metals in edible oils by a novel voltammetry taste sensor array.

Herein, a novel voltammetry taste sensor array (VTSA) using pencil graphite electrode, screen-printed electrode, and glassy carbon electrode was used to identify heavy metals (HM) including Cad, Pb, Sn and Ni in soybean and rapeseed oils. HMs were added to edible oils at three concentrations of 0.05, 0.1 and 0.25 ppm, and then, the output of the device was classified using a chemometric classification method. According to the principal component analysis results, PG electrode explains 96% and 81% of the variance between the data in rapeseed and soybean edible oils, respectively. Additionally, the SP electrode explains 91% of the variance between the data in rapeseed and soybean oils. Moreover, the GC electrode explains 100% and 99% of the variance between the data in rapeseed and soybean edible oils, respectively. K-nearest neighbor exhibited high capability in classifying HMs in edible oils. In addition, partial least squares in the combine of VTSA shows a predict 99% in rapeseed oil. The best electrode for soybean edible oil was GC.

Family farming in climate change: Strategies for resilient and sustainable food systems.

Family farming plays a pivotal role in ensuring household food security and bolstering the resilience of food systems against climate change. Traditional agricultural practices are evolving into context-specific, climate-resilient systems such as family farming, homestead gardening, and urban agriculture. This study examines the ways in which family farming can foster climate-resilient food systems amidst climate vulnerabilities. A systematic literature review spanning the past 22 years was undertaken to develop a conceptual framework. From this review, 37 pertinent documents were identified, leading to the creation of a context-specific, climate-resilient food system framework. The research posits that family farming facilitates easy access to food and nutrition by capitalizing on family-sourced land, labor, and capital, and by securing access to technology and markets. Each facet of family farming is intricately linked with sustainability principles. Local adaptation strategies employed by climate-vulnerable households can diminish their vulnerability and augment their adaptive, absorptive, and transformative capacities, enabling them to establish a climate-resilient food system. The research further reveals that farming families employ a myriad of strategies to fortify their food systems. These include crop diversification, adjusting planting times, cultivating high-value crops and fish, planting fruit trees, rearing poultry and livestock, and leveraging their land, labor, and resources-including their homesteads-to access food and nutrition. This study endorses the climate-resilient family farming framework and offers multiple metrics for assessing the resilience of family farming in developing countries.

Optimizing crop planning in the winter fallow season using residual soil nutrients and irrigation water allocation in India.

Effective management of water resources is essential for crop diversification and food security. This study proposes an Irrigation-Food-Environment-Chance-constrained Programming (IFEC) model for simultaneously optimizing crop planting area, irrigation water, and residual fertilizer considering inflow uncertainty along with farmer preference crop. Eight irrigation water allocation optimal models were constructed, fixing the preference crop cultivation area, while deviations in downstream release, and vegetable crop area cultivation were executed for sensitivity analysis. Model is then applied in a command area fed by a sub-tributary of Brahmaputra, India. On averaging, plant available N and P for the area were 62.14 kg ha-1 and 1.13 kg ha-1 respectively. With variation in available water, changes would occur in vegetable and cereal crops having higher yield and relatively less crop water requirement as compared to maize. Results showed that complying with preference crop area up to 60% would decrease the profit by 49% as compared to 20% at even 10% risk probability for 70% release. At existing conditions, water would be insufficient at 60% preference crop. Further, R2 value between benefit and water availability for vegetable cultivation varies from 0.99 to 0.78 for all scenarios. The tool featured that, setting specific preference crop areas provides equitable situation rather than mono-cropping. From the study findings, we suggest two salient recommendations: (1) promoting policies with appropriate financial subsidies for vegetable cultivation that focus on intensification with less water-requiring crops and (2) optimization results could be achieved by expanding the water utilization in the present condition while increasing efficiency.

Clients' experiences and satisfaction with produce prescription programs in California: a qualitative evaluation to inform person-centered and respectful program models.

Background: Produce prescription programs have strong potential to improve food security, fruit and vegetable consumption, and health across the life course. Understanding clients' experiences and satisfaction with produce prescription programs is critical for evaluating the person-centeredness and quality of these programs. The objectives of this study were to (1) describe client experiences and satisfaction with produce prescription programs, with an emphasis on the extent to which they felt they were treated with respect and dignity, and (2) identify recommendations for improving client experiences. Methods: We conducted four focus group discussions with clients of produce prescription programs in two Federally Qualified Health Centers in California. We used a modified framework analysis approach and organized participants' experiences with programs into themes. Results: Three themes captured participants' program experiences. First, respectful produce prescription programming encompassed interactions with individuals delivering the programs that felt respectful (e.g., program staff showing they cared about participants' health and offering timely assistance with financial incentives) and disrespectful (e.g., not receiving prompt responses to questions about incentives), as well as aspects of program design perceived to be respectful (e.g., provision of gift cards as financial incentives, which offered privacy when purchasing produce). Second, having autonomy to use gift cards to choose their preferred fresh fruits and vegetables was viewed as a positive experience, though participants desired greater autonomy to shop at stores other than the program designated stores. Third, participants frequently discussed program usability, with some reporting that joining the programs and using the cards was easy, and others describing difficulties activating cards and using them at stores due to cashiers' lack of awareness of the programs. Overall, participants were highly satisfied with the programs. To improve client experiences, they recommended increasing privacy (e.g., by educating cashiers on the programs so that clients do not need to explain in public what the card is for) and autonomy (e.g., allowing cards to be used at other chain or local stores). Discussion: Our findings inform efforts to make produce prescription programs more person-centered and respectful, which in turn may increase program demand, engagement, and impact.

Does urban agriculture contribute to food security, and how might this be achieved?

Food system challenges exacerbate inequalities in access to fresh healthy food and threaten food security. Lack of food security, referred to as food insecurity, is associated with poorer physical and mental health outcomes and has been identified as a key challenge to address by calls for food system transformation. Increasing food production through urban agriculture, the production of fruit and vegetables in urban areas, has been identified as a potentially effective contributor to food system transformation, but the effect of this on household or UK-level food security is unclear. This paper reviews international evidence of urban agriculture's impact on food security. While findings are mixed, available evidence suggests that urban agriculture makes a modest, yet positive, contribution to food security by facilitating the availability of and access to fresh fruit and vegetables to food insecure households. In the UK, studies have shown this to be particularly beneficial during times of food system disruption. Capitalising on such benefits to improve food security requires government investment and support at both the national and local level, therefore increasing access to land for food growing, reducing costs of related resources, and collaboration with existing community groups to enhance sharing of skills and expertise, are identified as avenues for exploration that may help to achieve this. This review also highlights opportunities for future research in this field that may strengthen the quality of the evidence supporting urban agriculture's impact on food security.

Assessing the impact of agriculture, coal mining, and ecological restoration on water sustainability in the Mu Us Sandyland.

Balancing water demand for socio-economic development and ecosystem stability presents a challenge for regional sustainable management, especially in drylands. Previous studies have indicated that large-scale ecological restoration projects (ERPs) lead to a decline in terrestrial water storage (TWS) in the Mu Us Sandyland (MUS). However, the effects of other human activities (e.g., cropland reclamation, coal mining) on water resources remain unclear, raising concerns regarding water crisis and human-natural system sustainability. Through the utilization of coal mine location data, we found that the impact of coal mass loss on the Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) products cannot be ignored in MUS, especially in the coal-rich northeastern part. Combining these data with auxiliary datasets, we observed a significant (p < 0.05) decrease in TWS (-0.85 cm yr-1) and groundwater storage (GWS, -0.95 cm yr-1) in the MUS, with human activities accounting for 79.23 % of TWS and 90.45 % of GWS reductions, primarily due to increased agricultural and industrial water consumption. Agricultural water consumption increased 2.23 times from 2001 to 2020, attributed to enhanced water use intensity (62.6 %) and cropland expansion (37.4 %). Industrial water consumption in Shenmu, a representative coal county, experienced a 4.16-fold rise between 2001 and 2020. Despite these challenges, local governments have alleviated water stress, ensured food security, and increased household income by comprehensive management strategies, such as enhancing water-saving technology and enforcing stringent policies. Previous studies have overestimated the amount of water resources consumed by ERPs. However, ERPs has played a critical role in stabilizing the regional ecological environment and ensuring the region as a vital food and energy supplier. Our findings can guide for socio-economic development and water management policies in similar regions.

Too Little, Not Enough: Impact of Safety Nets on Food Security Among Households with Disabled Members in Nigeria.

This study assessed the impact of safety nets on food insecurity in households with people with disabilities (PWD) in Nigeria. Using data from the 2019 Nigeria General Household Survey, we assessed the risk of experiencing food insecurity among households and the moderating role of safety nets using households without PWDs as a reference. PWD households were three times more likely to experience severe food insecurity compared to households without PWDs. The impact of the safety net program on the risk of food insecurity showed that receiving social benefits had little effect among households with disabled members experiencing severe food insecurity.

Characterizing Food Policy Councils' Network Partnerships and COVID-19 Responses.

The COVID-19 pandemic pushed millions of Americans into food insecurity. Food policy councils (FPCs) across the country played a vital role in organizing coordinated food responses across multiple sectors. We used a social network analysis (SNA) approach to investigate: (1) the network of partnering organizations and agencies within FPCs; (2) how the characteristics of FPCs' network partnerships (i.e., degree, coreness, and density) related to programmatic, policy, and advocacy actions in response to the pandemic; and (3) how FPCs' use of a racial or social equity framework shifted their network partnerships and responses. Local government agencies and food supply chain actors were core in FPCs' network partnerships, while public utilities, correctional facilities, social justice groups, and others were non-core partners. Network density was more likely to be associated with any action by FPCs, and it was especially pronounced for advocacy actions taken by FPCs; trends were similar among FPCs that reported using a racial or social equity framework. The findings begin to uncover core actors in FPCs' partnerships and opportunities to establish new partnerships, particularly with social justice groups. The results also suggest that network density (interconnectedness) may be more important than other network characteristics when responding to food-related needs.

Evolution of Food and Nutrition Policy: A Tasmanian Case Study from 1994 to 2023.

Food security is a concept with evolving definitions and meanings, shaped by contested knowledge and changing contexts. The way in which food security is understood by governments impacts how it is addressed in public policy. This research investigates the evolution of discourses and practices in Tasmanian food and nutrition policies from 1994 to 2023. Four foundational documents were analysed using qualitative document analysis, revealing persistent food insecurity issues over three decades. The analysis identified a duality in addressing the persistent policy challenges of nutrition-related health issues and food insecurity: the balancing act between advancing public health improvements and safeguarding Tasmania's economy. The research revealed that from 1994 to 2023, Tasmania's food and nutrition policies and strategies have been characterised by various transitions and tensions. Traditional approaches, predominantly emphasising food availability and, to a limited extent, access, have persisted for over thirty years. The transition towards a more contemporary approach to food security, incorporating dimensions of utilisation, stability, sustainability, and agency, has been markedly slow, indicating systemic inertia. This points to an opportunity for future policy evolution, to move towards a dynamic and comprehensive approach. Such an approach would move beyond the narrow focus of food availability to address the complex multi-dimensional nature of food security.