A Typology of Food Environments in the Pacific Region and Their Relationship to Diet Quality in Solomon Islands.

Jessica R Bogard,Mario Herrero,Penny Farrell,Michael K Sharp,Neil L Andrew,Jillian Tutuo

doi:10.3390/foods10112592

Abstract

Extensive literature describes the importance of food environments (FEs) as a driver of food choices and nutrition outcomes; yet existing FE frameworks do not adequately capture the diversity of FEs relevant to the Pacific Region. This limits identification of opportunities in food systems to reduce the multiple burden of malnutrition. We present a conceptual typology of FEs including six primary FEs relevant in the Pacific; wild; cultivated; kin and community; informal retail; formal retail; and food aid and services. We then apply this typology to food acquisition data from Solomon Islands 2012/13 Household Income and Expenditure Survey and analyse the relationship between FEs and diet quality. The cultivated FE accounts for 60% of the quantity of food acquired nationally, followed by wild (15%), kin and community (9%), and formal and informal retail FEs (8% each), with wide variation between urban and rural households, provinces and wealth groups. Reliance on different FEs is a significant predictor of diet quality and affirms the importance of subsistence fisheries and agriculture, and community and kinship networks. Integration of a FE typology such as the one presented here in commonly conducted household expenditure surveys offers significant opportunity to advance our understanding of food system leverage points to improve nutrition and health.

Highlights

Malnutrition is ubiquitous throughout the world with hunger and undernutrition affecting one in nine people, and overweight or obesity affecting one in three people globally [1]
Fruit trees grown in areas within or nearby villages might be minimally tended by community members but do not fall neatly within the wild or cultivated Food environments (FEs). Alongside this typology we present the primary exchange mechanisms through which food is most likely to be acquired in the various FEs
We present a novel typology of FEs for the Pacific region that captures the variety of places and pathways through which people acquire food

Summary

Introduction

Malnutrition is ubiquitous throughout the world with hunger and undernutrition affecting one in nine people, and overweight or obesity affecting one in three people globally [1]. This comes at huge health, social and economic costs to countries and communities. Are food systems failing to nourish populations around the world, but they are contributing to unprecedented environmental damage in terms of biodiversity decline, soil degradation, water use, deforestation, and contribution to climate change [2]. Food environments (FEs) are a central component of food systems, but are understudied and methods, tools and indicators for FEs are under-developed, in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) [10,11].

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Conclusion