Biotechnology and its Impact on Food Security and Safety

Reluctance within the European Union to accept genetically modified crops may hinder the benefits of this technology reaching the developing world

Genetic techniques for plant breeding

There is growing evidence of urban poverty in and around cities in sub-Saharan Africa in the form of food and nutrition insecurity. Although many studies have been done across sub-Saharan Africa on urban agriculture, food and nutrition insecurity, little is known about the association of urban agriculture to household food and nutrition insecurity along the urban–rural continuum, especially in West African cities. Therefore, a survey was carried out between August and September 2014 in and around Ouagadougou (Burkina Faso), using a transect approach to guide the data collection. The purpose of this study was to understand the dynamics of urban, periurban and rural agriculture and its association with household food and nutrition insecurity. A total of 240 households participated in the survey. From these households, data were collected on 179 women of reproductive age (15–49 yr) and 133 children under the age of 5 yr to compute Women's Dietary Diversity Scores (WDDS) and other anthropometric indices. The results of this study provide a general picture of crop production which is inclined to subsistence and income generation. Households in rural and periurban areas were more engaged in crop and livestock production compared with their urban area counterparts. Households in periurban areas had the highest relative proportion (54%) of food insecurity (household food insecurity access scale (HFIAS) > 11), compared with urban areas (39%) and rural areas (45%). At the same time the periurban households had the highest relative proportion of stunting and wasting prevalence compared with urban and rural households. Households in the rural areas had the highest dietary diversity (WDDS ≥ 6), compared with periurban and urban households. Households keeping livestock significantly experienced less wasting (weight-for-height index (WHZ)) (coef = −0.15;P= 0.008) by a factor of 0.15, and overweight (body mass index (BMI)-for-age (BAZ)) (coef = −0.12;P= 0.015) by a factor of 0.12 compared with households not doing livestock keeping. Households involved in crop production significantly experienced more food insecurity, HFIAS (coef. = 2.55;P= 0.042) by a factor of 2.55 compared with households without crop production. The complexity of periurban areas coupled with the scourge of food and nutrition insecurity will require more periurban agriculture and food policy consideration.

Purpose. Food insecurity maps reveal the spatial variability of relevant indicators in relevant units in geographically disaggregated levels. This study is based on a systematic analysis of the least studied areas related to food insecurity in Pakistan, such as district-level Small Area Estimation (SAE) analysis of food insecurity by integrating several well-established datasets, including PSLM 2014–2015 and HIES 2015–2016. Methodology / approach. We investigate the food insecurity situation at the district level in Pakistan by applying the household level technique of SAE method. The geographically disaggregated indicators of welfare are estimated by using SAE that integrates the census and survey datasets. This study estimates incidence and density indictors at the district level of food insecurity. The accessibility aspect of food security is taking into account by calculating monthly equivalent food expenditure per adult. In addition, the food insecurity headcount ratio is calculated to identify the food insecurity incidence at district level, and density are visualized using ‘spmap’ in STATA 14. Results. The results of this study indicate that the districts with low food insecurity incidence are dense in terms of food insecure people. The second least food insecure district, according to food insecurity incidence estimates, has become the most food insecure in terms of food insecurity density. However, the most food insecure district with respect to food insecurity incidence has been identified as one of the least food insecure districts in terms of food insecure people. For instance, Washuk district in Balochistan, has been identified as the most food insecure district with almost 93 % food insecurity incidence. However, Washuk has only 0.17 million food insecure people according to food insecurity density estimates. Originality / scientific novelty. The study highlighted the importance of food insecurity density estimates in addition to the food insecurity incidence for targeted policy interventions. In this study we have integrated a large and relatively smaller data set that covers most of the districts from all provinces of Pakistan for addressing the small sample issue which have been identified in previous studies. The variables that are common to both data sets are included after a screening process that include Variance Inflation Factor for multicollinearity, forward – backward selection criterion with model adjustment criterion either adjusted R2, Akaike Information Criterion (AIC) or Bayesian Information Criterion (BIC), least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO). Practical value / implications. The results of the study indicate that the policy makers should consider both the density and incidence of food insecurity for targeted policy interventions. This is because several districts with low food insecurity incidence are found to be dense with food insecure people. Moreover, the obtained results can be complemented by the results of the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) which is based on relatively very small samples from few districts of three provinces. This can be useful in efficient implementation of food security policy and programs in targeted areas. Furthermore, the results highlight that the efforts reduce food insecurity should be targeted at district level in Pakistan.

The debate about the potential risks of genetically modified organisms has lasted for almost three decades without any final conclusion in sight. Why is it that the public remains critical of this technology even though science has so far not demonstrated any tangible risks to human health and the environment?

BackgroundFood insecurity (FI) has been linked to ill mental health. This study aims to explore the association between FI and mental health outcomes during the first United Kingdom (UK) COVID-19...

In this paper, we examine awareness of biotechnology and the attitudes towards products and services derived from Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) in Southwest Nigeria. For this purpose, we surveyed 180 respondents across selected segments of the regional population. The paper demonstrates that while respondents have some awareness of biotechnology techniques, there is little awareness about specific GM crops that include Bt maize, Bt cotton and golden rice. Most of the respondents tend to be in favour of the introduction of GM crops and would eat GM foods if they are more nutritious than non-GM foods. The attitudes of the respondents towards GMOs suggest that though more people are in favour of the introduction of GM crops, they do not consider the current state of Nigeria's institutional preparedness satisfactory for the approval and release of GMOs.

BackgroundDespite 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.MethodsA 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.ResultA 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).ConclusionFood 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.

Yemen conflict takes its toll on civilians

Relevance of a new scientific publication (Trtikova et al., 2015) on previous EFSA GMO Panel conclusions on the risk assessment of maize MON 810 and other Cry1Ab‐expressing Bt‐maize events

This discussion explores the opportunities and challenges in enhancing food production and security in the context of climatic variability in Sub Saharan Africa. The promotion of sustainable use of plant and animal products with emphasis on satisfying basic human needs, improving people’s standard of living, enhancing food security and reducing poverty have taken a center stage in Sub Saharan Africa. However, the efforts in this direction are being impacted negatively by climate change, through animal and crop production which have not been spared due to the natural disasters and environmental challenges which have affected all regions of Sub Saharan Africa indiscriminately. Climate is a particularly important driver of food production systems performance at the agriculture end of the food chain. It can affect the quantities and types of food produced as well as production-related income especially for the poor resource farmers. In order to be able to adequately address food production and security in the context of climate, there is need for the region to carry out thorough climatic vulnerability and adaptation assessments. Supporting research and training of experts to carry out vulnerability and adaptation assessments on crop and livestock production is crucial in order for respective countries to develop climate change adaptation measures to meet the obligation on food production and security. Sub Saharan Africa’s agro-ecological regions are variable and need to develop specific adaptive measures to reduce vulnerability to climate change. Due to the changing climatic conditions which the continent has already witnessed many severe climatic induced vulnerability such as decline in rainfall amounts and intensity, reduced length of rain season and increasing warm and occasionally very hot conditions has affected food production and security. Crop and livestock production systems will need to adapt to higher ambient temperatures, lower nutritional value of feed resources and new diseases and parasites occurrence. It can be seen that the present crop and livestock production systems based on pastoral or rangeland grazing husbandry systems, ecological destruction through climatic variability and overgrazing due to high stocking rates in areas where feed and water has been compromised due to high temperatures caused by climate change does not augur well for future livestock productivity. The understanding of climate change variables and their impacts is the first step in climate change research and prerequisite for defining appropriate adaptive responses by local crop and livestock farmers. Sustainable crop and livestock production supporting rural development should be compatible with the goals of curbing the effects of climate change. Production priorities should be directed towards promoting local crop and livestock genetic resources by providing comprehensive research support services on the impact of climate change. Both crops and livestock play important roles in farming systems, as they offer opportunities for risk coping, farm diversification and intensification, and provide significant livelihood benefits and food security. The discussion therefore, concludes that the effectiveness of biophysical responses of crop and livestock production systems to specific environmental challenges that are anticipated as a result of climate change, and then the range of adaptive measures that might be taken by local producers to ameliorate their effects will be the prerequisite for defining appropriate societal responses and meet food security targets.

Food safety risks and consumer health

Israel’s policy on GMOs during the past decades focused primarily on managing its agricultural research and development to promote national economics. Similar to the European Union’s policy on the same issue, one of the critical and most important activities for Israel are GM crops, over which the government has asserted formal authority. Israeli law permits the development and growth of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) for research purposes in accordance with requirements established by subsidiary legislation. This chapter explores Israel's environmental and safety policy on GM food and crops and places it in an explanatory perspective. First, this chapter briefly outlines the Israeli GMO policy, and the differences in the development of GM regulations for different sectors. Second, the chapter continues to analyze the governmental, legal and regulatory frameworks for sectoral activity on GMOs. Third, the chapter follows with an examination of the roles of economic interests, institutional structure and cultural factors in explaining Israel's GMO policy. Fourth, the discussion points to contemporary developments and their implications for sustainability. Finally, the chapter concludes by emphasizing the importance of sustainability in providing a basis for the development of future policy.

Food insecurity has been associated with poorer dietary quality in Australian adults(1). Understanding the relationship between food insecurity and healthy lifestyle behaviours is crucial for developing effective personalised nutrition interventions. This study aimed to investigate differences in healthy lifestyle and food choice behaviours like food shopping, food preparation skills, and nutrition knowledge between food-secure and insecure adults. An online, cross-sectional survey using a convenience sample of Australian adults measured food insecurity using a single-item food insecurity screening tool(2). Healthy lifestyle and food choice behaviours were measured through the validated psycho-behavioural living and eating for health segments (LEHS) survey(3). Differences in survey responses between food-secure and food-insecure respondents were explored using Chi-square tests and t-tests. Among respondents (n = 148; 68% female; 92% tertiary educated; mean age 34.4 ± 10.9 years), 22% were classified as food insecure. According to the LEHS, food-secure participants are predominantly ‘Balanced All Rounders’ (n = 39; 33.6%) who try to live a balanced lifestyle and ‘Health Conscious’ (n = 36; 31.0%), who prioritise healthy eating. Food-insecure participants had a higher percentage identifying as ‘Lifestyle Mavens’ (n = 6; 18.8%) compared to the food-secure group (n = 4; 3.4%); who are passionate about healthy eating and use social media to follow active lifestyles. Both groups have similar proportions of ‘Aspirational Healthy Eaters’ (n = 32; 27.6% food-secure vs n = 8; 25.0% food insecure), who aspire to eat healthily but find it challenging, and ‘Contemplating Another Day’ (food insecure group n = 2; 6.3% compared to the food-secure group n = 5; 4.3%); who acknowledge the importance of healthy eating but do not prioritise it. Between group differences are statistically significant (p = 0.042). Regardless of food insecurity status, most respondents considered themselves highly skilled at various aspects of food preparation, food shopping and nutrition knowledge. A higher proportion of food-insecure individuals reported that people sought them out for healthy eating advice (43% vs 29%; p = 0.026). On average, food-insecure respondents reported being more knowledgeable about food budgeting (mean score difference on 5-point Likert scale = 0.5; p = 0.048) and buying cheaper cuts of meat to save money (mean score difference = 0.7; p &lt; 0.001). However, food-insecure respondents reported being less able to keep basic pantry ingredients stocked for meal preparation (mean score difference = −0.6; p &lt; 0.001). Unlike other Australian research(4), food insecurity in this convenience sample of Australian adults does not appear to be associated with a lack of food skills, and food-insecure people may be more health conscious, and better at food budgeting despite more limited resources. The LEHS survey may offer a valuable framework for tailoring personalised nutrition interventions in a manner that respects and supports the dignity of food-insecure individuals.

Even after more than 15 years of the emergence of modern biotechnology in agriculture, much of Africa remains reluctant if not hostile to it. Some view modern biotechnology as the new messiah to lift Africa from starvation and food insecurity while others hold the contrary view and advise Africa to stay away from the technology for reasons ranging from health and environmental concerns to economic considerations. They fear that the unfolding ‘gene revolution’ is destined to fail on its promises because of the existing complex economic, social, and political circumstances in Africa as was the case in the green revolution. Africa continues to be gripped in the polarized debate so much so that it is unable to make informed decision on a technology with promises that could potentially address some of the problems of agriculture in the continent. This paper explores issues related to modern biotechnology in general and genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in particular in the context of Africa. To that end, it begins by briefly exploring the debate on modern biotechnology and relating it to the context of Africa. It then presents the state of modern biotechnology in Africa and the different positions of African countries, and it subsequently examines the different concerns on GMOs in the context of Africa. The paper makes the conclusion that while technology alone may not necessarily resolve all the ills of Africa’s agriculture, modern biotechnology should certainly be attractive to Africa- a continent known for a long history of poverty, chronic food insecurity and malnutrition. Modern biotechnology may assist in improving yields and quality of crops- plants could be more resistant to diseases, pests, drought or any other strenuous environmental conditions or improved strong properties or quality characteristics which are all the very evils of Africa’s agriculture. The existence of divergent views on modern biotechnology should not prevent Africa from making informed decision and harnessing the benefits while at the same time ensuring its safety in terms of health and the environment as well as its relevance to the needs and priorities of the continent.Presented at the SIEL 2010 Conference in Barcelona.