CThe Breeding of the Capybara (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris) as a Productive Alternative for the Amazonian Department of Caquetá: A Literature Review

The Federal nutrition assistance safety net represents the first line of defense in boosting the food purchasing power and improving the nutritional status of lowincome households in the United States. In fiscal 2000, USDA spent an estimated $32.5 billion on food assistance programs, over half of its annual budget. Community-based initiatives, such as farmers markets and community gardens, can boost the effectiveness of USDA nutrition assistance and education programs by increasing the availability of high-quality and affordable food in a community. Such initiatives also support rural comunities by strengthening the traditional ties that exist between farmers and urban consumers. Following congressional passage of the Community Food Security Act of 1996, USDA launched the Community Food Security Initiative in February 1999. This nationwide initiative seeks to forge partnerships between USDA and local communities to build local food systems, decrease need, and improve nutrition. Community food security is a relatively new concept with roots in a variety of disciplines, including community nutrition, nutrition education, public health, sustainable agriculture, and community development. As such, community food security has no universally accepted definition. Researchers at Tufts University view community food security as an expansion of the concept of household food security, which focuses on the ability of a household to acquire enough food for an active, healthy life. Community food security focuses on the underlying social, economic, and institutional factors within a community that affect the quantity, quality, and affordability of food. Researchers at Rutgers University see community food security as a process in which community-based programs work in tandem with a strong Federal nutrition safety net and emergency food assistance programs to move people from poverty to self-sufficiency and food security (see box). This article examines a variety of community food security programs, looking at their scope, their limitations, and their successes.

While the right to food and community self-reliance underpin current knowledge and interpretation of community food security (CFS), the literature on CFS seldom accounts for the ways in which gender-based violence (GBV) disrupts and undermines CFS. In this review, we make the case that GBV in CFS contexts manifests as a continuum, involving different forms of violence that blend into and reinforce each other, fueling social degradation and undermining the capacity of community food system workers to prioritise and pursue CFS. We show that harms to CFS resulting from GBV manifest through (i) GBV-induced social degradation, (ii) erosion of moral and ethical values anchoring CFS, (iii) disruption of crucial food systems sustainability pathways to CFS, (iv) the challenges, behaviours and activities of community food system workers, and (v) the crippling of community-level on-farm and off-farm food value chains, which oftentimes disrupt food access, consumption and utilisation. We further outline that the diversion of CFS funds into GBV prevention services may reduce CFS-related economic outputs and that CFS efforts that are GBV-blind can undermine the agency of community food system workers, pushing them into decisions that undermine CFS. We conclude that there is a dearth of information on how to mainstream GBV-sensitivity into CFS plans, and it is unclear whether GBV-responsive CFS initiatives can enhance the legitimacy of CFS efforts in GBV-exposed settings. We suggest that the spectrum of what is considered “community” in relation to CFS be expanded; and that scholars and practitioners pay attention to the dynamics of GBV, focusing on how GBV occurring at individual and household levels spills over into communities to undermine CFS. Finally, since GBV is not only a human rights violation issue but also a catalyst for social degradation and food insecurity, we encourage refocusing CFS efforts to prioritise early detection and prevention of GBV across specific community-level, on-farm and off-farm food value chains in order to better enhance community ties and foster food security.

The study examined environmental management strategies for sustainable food security in rural communities in Rivers State. The design of the study was descriptive survey design. The population of the study comprised 450 farmers in Bodo, Elele and Omoku communities in Rivers State. The study used the entire population of 450 farmers due to its manageability. The instrument for data collection was a structured questionnaire developed by the researcher which was validated by experts and its reliability was tested and obtained an index of 0.81. The analysis of data was done using mean statistics. The study revealed that environmental challenges have a huge impact on agricultural productivity and food security in numerous areas except for the access to farming inputs in these communities. It also revealed that environmental management strategies such as restoration techniques, efficient water management systems, climate-resilient farming practices, pest management strategies, education and training for farmers as well as proper waste management are much effective in enhancing sustainable food security in these communities. It was concluded that implementing environmental management strategies is imperative for achieving a resilient and sustainable food system, which is essential for the well-being of communities in Rivers State and the nation. The researchers therefore recommend amongst others that Government, with help from extension agencies, should organize workshops, training sessions, and demonstration farms to educate farmers on modern agricultural techniques and environmental conservation methods.

Practitioners and advocates of community food security (CFS) envision food systems that are decentralized, environmentally-sound over a long time-frame, supportive of collective rather than only individual needs, effective in assuring equitable food access, and created by democratic decision-making. These themes are loosely connected in literature about CFS, with no logical linkages among them. Clear articulation in a theoretical framework is needed for CFS to be effective as a guide for policy and action. CFS theory should delimit the level of analysis (i.e., what are the boundaries of “community”); show how CFS relates to individual, household, and national food security and explain emergent properties, which are important at the community level of analysis; point to the best indicators of CFS or its lack; clarify the determinants of CFS; and clarify the stages of movement toward CFS. This theoretical base would allow researchers to develop valid and reliable measures, and allow practitioners to weigh alternative options to create strategic plans. A theoretical base also would help establish common ground with potential partners by making the connections to anti-hunger work, sustainable agriculture, and community development clear.

Achieving food and nutrition security for all people remains one of the defining challenges for humanity in the 21st century. The crisis related to strengthening food security during the Covid-19 pandemic has become a global concern. The World Food Program states that despite developments in agricultural technology, micronutrient deficiencies and stunting remain problems. The purpose of this study was to determine the pattern of food and non-food consumption of the community in Temanggung Regency, as well as the efforts in dealing with community food security. A qualitative approach was used in analyzing a model to formulate policies for strengthening community food security during the COVID-19 pandemic. The results showed that the Temanggung Regency Government has designed an intervention by preparing a strategic plan and implementing a cross-sectoral approach. The policy programs and activities relate to food safety, quality of food intake and nutrition. However, according to the results, promoting food security in villages does not guarantee a decrease in malnutrition, and in some villages such as Kalimangis, the health status of children has actually deteriorated. The relationship between food security and family nutritional conditions is not linear due to factors related to environmental health, cleanliness and healthy lifestyle behaviors. Therefore, interventions in the field of food security have to be followed by interventions related to personal health status and environmental conditions. Keywords: food security, program intervention model, environmental health

Indonesia is an agrarian country that has abundant natural resource potential, so that the agricultural sector becomes dominant. Agricultural is a sector has an important role in the national economy but also in regional economic development. Therefore the potential of the existing agricultural resources needs to be developed to improve the community welfare and fulfillment of community food security. The purpose of this study is to determine the potential of agricultural resources, the level of community welfare, food security and strategies in increasing agricultural production to improve the welfare of the people of Penimbun Village. The study was conducted using a baseline survey method to collect primary data through interviews with the local community and stakeholders in Penimbun Village. The data were analyzed with a quantitative descriptive method the results of which were visualized using tables, figures, and maps. The results showed the potential of agricultural resources in Penimbu Village, there were six commodities with the highest amount of production being cassava (449 kg/household) and the highest commodity price was chilli (IDR 25,000/kg). The level of household welfare in Penimbun Village is classified as very poor (32.21%) with rice consumption of 181-240 kg/capita/year. Whereas the level of household resilience of Penimbun Village is categorized as food insecurity (89%). Given the majority of people in Penimbun Village are farmers, the improvement of community welfare and food security can be done by increasing agricultural production (use of superior varieties of seeds, balanced fertilizers, appropriate planting supervision, and post-harvest handling, and intercropping practices).

Understanding dairy livestock farmers’ intention to adopt sociocultural dynamics for food security using the theory of planned behaviour

A small but growing body of peer-reviewed research suggests that school gardens can play a role in building community food security (CFS); however, to date little research exploring the role of school gardens in supporting CFS is available. This paper begins to address this gap in the literature. A qualitative, exploratory, single-case study design was used. The focus of this case study was the school food garden at an elementary school in the River Valley, Nova Scotia, school community. Results provide useful information about potential CFS effects of school gardens in addition to the environmental effects on school gardens important to their effectiveness as CFS tools. Findings suggest children gained food-related knowledge, skills, and values that support long-term CFS. A local social and political landscape at the community, provincial, and school board level were key to strengthening this garden's contributions to CFS. We support Dietitians of Canada's nomination of school gardens as an indicator of CFS with theoretical and practical evidence, underscore the importance of a supportive environment, and need for further research in this area. Health professionals and community organizations provide critical support, helping to weave gardens into a greater movement towards building CFS.

The purpose of this research is to analyze food processing and food security through optimizing the utilization of local food potential on the Sota border. The data collect that used is descriptive qualitative in the form of observing empirical conditions that occur combined with the results of others previous research. Data analysis uses data reduction, data presentation, verification and data conclusions. The research results show that the Merauke Regency regional government’s policy in food management through the use of local food on the Sota border has not been implemented optimally to maintain community food security. There is no strategic direction for economic development policy for Sota border communities because the border aspect is not only related to territorial sovereignty but food and economic sovereignty of border communities. The local food potential of the Sota border has a diversity of local foods, including tubers, bananas, swamp fish, ant nests, eucalyptus oil and other forest products, the management process of which has been carried out locally and traditionally, with the results not being optimal. For the trade aspect, the government has not yet established a trade zone so that people can market local food products. In order to maintain the sustainability of community food security, the regional government and local communities on the Sota border have not yet implemented it optimally by cultivating local food by utilizing idle land and swamp forests for food cultivation. local and integrated with government policies both nationally and regionally through local food diversification to anticipate food crises.

Hunting and consumption of wild animals, colloquially known as "bushmeat," is associated with health trade-offs. Contact with wildlife increases exposure to wildlife-origin zoonotic diseases yet bushmeat is an important nutritional resource in many rural communities. In this study, we test the hypothesis that bushmeat improves food security in communities that hunt and trade bushmeat regularly. We conducted 478 interviews with men and women in six communities near Cross River National Park in Nigeria. We used interview responses to relate prevalence and diversity of bushmeat consumption to household food security status. Animal-based foods were the most commonly obtained items from the forest, and 48 types of wild vertebrate animals were consumed within the past 30days. Seventy-five percent of households experienced some degree of food insecurity related to food access. Bushmeat consumption was significantly associated with relatively higher household food security status. Rodents were more important predictors of food security than other animal taxa. Despite increased bushmeat consumption in food-secure households, food-insecure households consumed a higher diversity of bushmeat species. Results show that consumption of bushmeat, especially rodents, is uniquely related to improved food security. Reliance on a wider diversity of species in food-insecure households may in turn affect their nutrition, exposures to reservoirs of zoonotic infections, and impact on wildlife conservation. Our results indicate that food security should be addressed in conservation and public health strategies aimed at reducing human-wildlife contact, and that improved wildlife protection, when combined with alternative animal-based foods, would positively affect food security in the long term.

Food security is an indicator of a town’s vitality. Northern Illinois Food Bank, Northern Illinois University, and the rural town of of Rochelle, saw a need to identify what the current food security status was to help bridge gaps for the underserved. The purpose of this community food security needs assessment was to determine (1) the perceptions of food security, (2) awareness of existing resources available to the underserved, (3) how well these resources were able to serve those in need, and (4) if there was a need to strengthen current resources. Additionally, perceived barriers to food security related to the accessibility, availability, and affordability of food were also addressed. This mixed-methods design used focus groups and surveys. Key stakeholders, gatekeepers, and community residents were targeted for various sampling methods. The focus group data was analyzed using Krueger’s Methodology. Survey data used descriptive statistics to summarize demographic variables. Cronbach’s alpha coefficient was used to test the internal consistency of self-efficacy items, and crosstab analysis by Pearson’s chi-square test examined associations among categorical variables. Multinomial logistic regression was used to test the association between perception of barriers and motivators and age, gender, education level, employment status and number of children in household. Multiple linear regression was used to detect associations between risk factors and self-efficacy. Life skills are a necessity to this community in overcoming food insecurity. Self-efficacy was compromised related to eating healthier; however, there was an evident desire to receive nutrition education. Community members would like to see more programs and services offered in addition to food assistance programs, such as job and life skills training, and perhaps all located in the same place that is easily accessible for community members. Implications for future research and community collaborations derived from this community-based participatory research process are discussed.

Though food is a basic need, achieving food security is a challenge to the world today. Thus, stakeholders have used and continue to search for appropriate strategies of promoting food security in different contexts. This is particularly important in rural areas where food insecurity has been a menace in many jurisdictions. After several years of emphasis on household and national food security approaches, the concept of Community Food Security emerged on the agenda, accompanied by interventions that take inspiration from the concept. Being relatively new to food security discourse and practice, “Community Food Security” has received little attention in many areas. However, it could hold potential for rural food security promotion. Using content analysis of literature, the research outlines the emergence of community food security, its theoretical approach, and drivers of the approach in recent times. The concept is then positioned in the context of food security promotion in Newfoundland and their implications for rural food security. The research outlines current projects and interventions that takes inspiration from the concept, and what that holds for rural food security promotion in the province. The research also highlights the key features of community centered food security interventions in the province while raising important questions about their appropriateness for food security promotion and directions for future research. This will provide important inputs to policy and planning towards food security as the community is called upon to drive food security promotion.

The practice, policies, and debate associated with U.S.-based community food security (CFS) reflect the historical development of food rights and food security at the International and US national, state, and local community scales. First, CFS in the U.S. has multiple and conflicting definitions that are locally defined within a context of entitlement rights and global trade. Second, the political economy that generates conditions of local food Insecurity is increasingly countered within a framework of international economic and political rights. Third, the capability to claim economic rights may require the cross-sectoral efforts of activists, public officials, entrepreneurs, and academics. In this paper, we provide a short history of international food rights and food security and a background on the diversity of CFS perspectives and practice in the United States. We identify some of the many entry points for CFS activities to portray the need for a system-wide strategy to address food security.

Pacific Island Countries and Territories (PICTs) are experiencing a Diet-Related Non-Communicable Disease (DR-NCD) health crisis(1). Increasing rates of DR-NCDs such as Type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease have been linked to dietary transitions and increasing food insecurity in the region(2). Anthropogenic climate change has also been identified as a significant threat to food security in PICTs(3). Additionally, the impacts of the COVID-19 Pandemic have been identified as both a contributor to food insecurity in the region and as an opportunity to transform PICT food systems and reduce rates of DR-NCDs(4). Yet, the drivers of dietary change, food security and agricultural practices in peripheral PICT communities are not well documented or understood. To determine how these drivers may change in the future and the impacts this may have on Pacific peoples, a deeper understanding of the historical and contemporary drivers of change is necessary. The aim of this scoping review was to collate existing information to improve this understanding, by mapping key factors evident in the literature that underpin the links between DR-NCDs and food security with a focus on women in PICT peripheral communities, to better clarify the challenges, working definitions and conceptual boundaries in the research area. The review maps where research has been conducted geographically and how the links between DR-NCDs and food security in PICTs have been investigated over time and identifies projections and suggestions for the future. The scoping review was conducted in accordance with a pre-defined protocol available online(5). A total of 476 peer-reviewed sources and 126 grey literature sources were identified by the initial search criteria. Two independent researchers completed title/abstract and full text screening using Covidence, and data extraction using a data extraction tool. The resulting data was quantified in table format, with common themes and ideas presented qualitatively. Sources spanned all sectors of PICT food systems with a heavy focus on production from fisheries and agriculture. Most PICTs were represented in the findings. Many drivers of change within food systems were identified, some of which included the impacts of anthropogenic climate change, the COVID-19 pandemic, and urbanisation. The drivers impacted all four pillars of food security, and many were directly or indirectly related to dietary and lifestyle changes associated with DR-NCD risk factors. This data is accompanied by an interpretation of results and a narrative summary. These results provide a useful platform to further explore the drivers of dietary change, food security, agricultural practices and DR-NCD’s in this region.

Mountain agriculture is more vulnerable to adverse impacts of climate change as it heavily relies on rainfall. Although the impact of the climate change on agriculture and food security has become a serious concern, so far limited efforts have been made to understand how climate change impacts food security of the mountain communities of the HKH region, how poor households adapt to changing conditions, and what options are available to facilitate better adaptation. The nature and causes of agriculture and food security in mountains is quite different from the plains and require a specific set of policy measures. This chapter aims to provide a better understanding of the vulnerability of mountain agriculture and food security to climate change risks. It analyses the appropriateness of existing policies and programmes for mountains, policy and local level adaptation trends, areas of adjustments, and possible adaptation options such as climate smart agriculture, rainwater harvesting technologies, solar energy for irrigation, and better crop choices based on agro-ecological potential of specific areas conducive to improved food and livelihood security in the mountains. One of key questions that arises in the chapter is “How can the poor and marginalized mountain farmers be included in the adaptation process?”