Food Security Challenges Research Articles

Enhancing the bioconversion rate and end products of black soldier fly (BSF) treatment – A comprehensive review

AbstractFood security remains a pressing concern in the face of an increasing world population and environmental challenges. As climate change, biodiversity loss, and water scarcity continue to impact agricultural productivity, traditional livestock farming faces limitations in meeting the growing global demand for meat and dairy products. In this context, black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) have emerged as a promising alternative for sustainable food production. BSFL possess several advantages over conventional livestock, including their rapid growth, adaptability to various organic waste substrates, and low environmental impact. Their bioconversion rate, the ability to transform organic waste into valuable products, and final product optimization are key factors that enhance their potential as a nutrient-rich protein source, fertilizer, and biofuel. This review explores strategies to enhance the bioconversion rate and improve the end products derived from BSF treatment. It highlights the benefits of using BSFL over other interventions and underscores the significance of optimizing their bioconversion rate to meet the challenges of global food security sustainably. Despite the promising prospects of BSF-derived products, consumer acceptance and regulatory hurdles remain critical aspects to address in realizing their full market potential. The utilization of BSFL as a sustainable source of food and feed can contribute to waste management, reduce environmental pollution, and address the pressing issue of food security in an environmentally responsible manner. However, there is a need for further research and innovation to ensure the safety, quality, and economic viability of BSF-based products for both animal and human consumption.

Food Security Challenges Need to be Resolved

Human society has been enlightened by the light of civilization through the introduction of the agricultural system. The agriculture sector has been making an important contribution to the development of the rural economy, food security, employment, poverty alleviation and self-reliance for a long time. Agricultural-based economic activities of the people of Bangladesh were all covered by agriculture. Industry and trade-services sector developed significantly after independence, but for a long time, these too were dependent on agriculture. As a result, agriculture has become the mainstay of this country's economy. And this success has been made possible by the labor of farmers, the supervision of agricultural extensionists, the research of agricultural scientists and the combined efforts of various public and private organizations. In addition to continuing food production, ensuring sustainable production, producing nutritious crops, preventing food wastage and ensuring food and nutrition security for every human being, it will start a new trend in the economy of Bangladesh.

The impact of watershed on household food security: A comparative analysis

Watersheds provide a substantial contribution to household food security. The study investigates whether watershed development and management practices (WDMP) can help with food security challenges, and it compares the impact of WDMP on household food security status among practitioners and non-practitioners in the central highlands of Ethiopia and identified the determinants factors. The study employed a mixed research design with a cross-sectional approach. Household Dietary Diversity Score and Household Food Insecurity Access Scale were used to estimate households' food security status and An Ordered logit econometric model was applied to identify determinant factors. The study resulted in 44.65 % of non-practitioners and 18.30 % of practitioners had a low level of dietary diversity; whereas, 43.40 % of non-practitioners and 38.56 % of practitioners were severely food insecure. The household head's age, the number of laborers, income, livestock size, and agricultural land size highly determined the food security status of households. The HDDS and HFIAS findings reveal a statistically significant difference between WDM practitioners and non-practitioners. Therefore stakeholders must stress the promotion of WDMP to achieve food security.

Revitalizing Millets for Nutritional Security & Fortifying Food and Uplifting Small and Marginal Farmers in India: A Review

This comprehensive analysis explores the significance of millets as a solution for small and marginal farmers in India. The country faces substantial challenges in food and nutritional security, exacerbated by climate change, inequality, and inadequate infrastructure. Millets offer a promising solution, addressing malnutrition, ensuring food security, and demonstrating resilience to climate change. By diversifying cropping systems and promoting value addition, millets provide income-generating opportunities for farmers. However, challenges such as low productivity, limited awareness, insufficient value chain infrastructure, and market linkages hinder the widespread adoption of millets. Government initiatives, including the National Mission on Sustainable Agriculture and the National Food Security Mission, aim to support millet cultivation and production. Furthermore, policies promoting research and development, market access, and minimum support prices contribute to the growth of the millet sector. The nutritional benefits, climate resilience, and income opportunities associated with millets make them a valuable solution for small and marginal farmers. By investing in technology, infrastructure, and policy sup-port, India can harness the potential of millets to achieve sustainable agricultural practices, improve livelihoods, and ensure food and nutritional security.

Automation of aquaponics systems through integration of RTC modules, turbidity sensors, and water level sensors

Automation of aquaponics systems is key in increasing agricultural efficiency and productivity. A system considered an innovative method of sustainable food production that combines fish farming with agriculture simultaneously. The problem that often occurs is crop failure, due to the lack of technology that can monitor automatically, so that farmers experience losses as a result of fish and plant growth does not thrive, and problems in urban areas that require land for planting and fish farming due to limited land in urban areas. There is another problem with the lack of accurate timing and monitoring of water quality in aquaponics. The purpose of this research is to implement an IoT system in aquaponics that is connected to various sensors, such as Turbidity sensors, Water Level sensors, and RTC Modules. To monitor water quality conditions in tilapia habitat and accurate time measurement to provide fish feed automatically so as to improve fish health and growth and support better and consistent yields. The findings of this study show that the implementation of IoT systems in aquaponics can overcome environmental monitoring and control problems effectively. Using the integration of RTC modules, turbidity sensors, and water level sensors effectively improves the automation of aquaponics systems. This optimized system provides better monitoring of environmental conditions, reduces reliance on manual maintenance, and increases overall productivity. It helps increase tilapia growth and plant productivity in a modern aquaponics system. This research demonstrates the great potential of IoT technology in increasing efficiency and productivity in aquaponics aquaculture, so that it can push the fisheries sector towards a more advanced and competitive direction. So the main conclusion is expected that this automation can increase the productivity of ecosystem balance, and can face food security challenges and move towards more environmentally friendly solutions, towards effective management in the future.

Enhancing Spinach growth and yield through the synergistic effects of Rhizobacter-Enriched compost

Plant Growth-Promoting Rhizobacteria (PGPR) and compost present promising solutions for bolstering agricultural sustainability by stimulating plant growth and yield while lessening dependence on chemical inputs. Our investigation delved into the combined effects of PGPR and compost on spinach cultivation, conducted at Amity University’s Organic Farm. Employing a Randomized Block Design (RBD) with six treatments and three replications, we evaluated how these treatments influenced spinach growth parameters and photosynthetic pigment levels. Results showed that treatment T5 (AIOA Strain + Compost) outperformed others, significantly boosting plant height, leaf breadth, root length, and leaf count per plant. Furthermore, T5 exhibited elevated chlorophyll and carotenoid levels, indicating enhanced photosynthetic function and overall plant vigor. These outcomes underscore the potential synergy between PGPR and compost in fostering sustainable crop production. By diminishing reliance on chemical fertilizers and pesticides while enhancing soil health and nutrient cycling, integrating PGPR and compost-based biofertilizers offers an economical and environmentally friendly avenue for augmenting agricultural productivity and mitigating environmental hazards. Further exploration into optimization techniques and underlying mechanisms is crucial to fully harness the potential of these microbial and organic interventions across varied agroecological settings. Overall, this study contributes to advancing our knowledge of employing microbial and organic methods in sustainable agriculture, crucial for addressing global challenges in food security and environmental conservation.

Environmental Changes and Food Security in Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria

This study aims at evaluating the role of Geo-spatial techniques in vegetation cover analysis and mapping, environmental changes and food security in Nigeria. The challenges of food security in Nigeria especially in urban centres are enormous. The unmitigated rural-urban drift as a result of socio-economic development has made it imperative to address the problem of food security in the study area. Also, the issue of rapid urban development without appropriate attention given to the important issue of food security with persistent deteriorating infrastructure for urban food processing has led to rapid price changes, in food and other agricultural products. This study, therefore, attempts to demonstrate that the recent advancements in remote sensing integration with Geographic Information System technologies provide powerful tools for mapping and detecting changes in land use and land cover using Ado-Ekiti as a case study. The digital image processing techniques of remote sensing (RS) was employed to enable speedy, accurate and objective interpretation of the multispectral data used for the study, in order to understand the extent, rate and the magnitude of land use and land cover dynamics in the study area. The study reveals that the agricultural land and natural vegetation have the highest change. Much of their land areas were converted to built-up areas for the three study epochs (1992,2007,2022). The study concludes that there is a progressive encroachment of built-up areas to other land use in the study area, thereby resulting in significant environmental changes and affecting food security.

Food security challenges: Evidence from the southeast Europe countries

Description of the subject. In the past half-century, the world has become increasingly aware of the challenges and threats to food security. The challenges of maintaining food security have been further increased under the influence of crises (COVID-19, Russia-Ukraine war). Many factors affect food security, and the effects of crises have additional negative consequences on food systems, with direct and indirect implications on the lives of everyone, especially the developing countries, such as countries of Southeast Europe. Objectives. Therefore, the aim of the research is analyzing the effects of socio-economic factors and policy factors on the level of food security of Southeast Europe countries. Method. This research covered countries of Southeast Europe: Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Croatia, Slovenia, and North Macedonia. The research data were taken from the FAOSTAT database and World Bank for the countries of Southeast Europe during 15 years (2006-2020), and in this paper panel data analysis was used. Results. The results of the research showed that there is a statistically significant influence of socio-economic factors and policy factors on the level of food security of the Southeastern Europe countries. Conclusions. The results of the research showed that food production variability, food supply variability, food imports, inflation, GDP per capita and political stability have a significant impact on the level of food security in the countries of Southeast Europe.

Compounding impacts of COVID-19, cyclone and price crash on vanilla farmers' food security and natural resource use.

The intersection of the COVID-19 pandemic with other crises can amplify vulnerabilities and push communities further into poverty. In low-income countries, the dual impacts of COVID-19 and extreme weather events, along with multidimensional poverty and structural vulnerabilities in agriculture can decimate farmer livelihoods. This study aims to understand the effects of individual and compounding crises (COVID-19, cyclones, and vanilla price collapse) on smallholder vanilla farmers and local coping strategies in Madagascar, one of the world's largest vanilla producers and poorest countries. We used semi-structured and scenario-based interviews across two case study villages with contrasting enforcement of forest regulations. We found that the impact of the pandemic, combined with the cyclone event, disrupted livelihoods, resulting in income losses and food security challenges that exacerbated farmer vulnerabilities. Sixty eight percent of households reported crop losses due to strong winds and heavy rainfall brought by cyclone Enawo in 2017. The COVID-19 outbreak struck the region just as the residents were recovering from the effects of the cyclone. COVID-19-related travel restrictions in the aftermath of the cyclone took a substantial economic toll, with 54.1% of respondents experiencing a decline in earnings, and 17% facing a total loss of income due to the imposed lockdown. The decline in vanilla prices at the onset of 2020 had a far-reaching additional impact, affecting not only farmers but also residents who rely on other sources of income. Local communities reported using the forest resources more frequently as a safety net during crises in the village with more lenient regulations. This study underscores the importance of understanding the interconnectedness and compounding impacts of cascading crises on food security and natural resource use. We highlight the need for a comprehensive approach to increasing farmer resilience, particularly for those reliant on global market crops such as vanilla.

An emerging role beyond genetics: DNA methylation in horticultural quality shaping

<p>Horticultural products play an increasingly vital role in addressing the nutritional needs of the world��s expanding population, which has surpassed 8 billion. The global trend towards health-oriented diets has motivated consumers to seek high-quality natural horticultural food consumption. This highlights the pressing requirement for updated guidance and strategies for sustainable horticultural quality upgrading. Meanwhile, DNA methylation, an epigenetic modification having transcriptional-regulation potential, is emerging as a crucial quality dominator of horticultural food. In this current investigation, we integrate valuable methylation loci regulating quality traits in fruit and vegetable, elucidating the underlying mechanisms and emphasizing the impressive species-specificity. At this early stage, the most extensively studied aspects of DNA methylation include promoter methylation and transposable elements. Additionally, we delve into locus-specific methylation-editing techniques, whose achievable genetic-modification-free advantages are promising to alleviate consumer concerns regarding genetic-modification products. Overall, this review is devoted to providing insights into the sustainable development of horticultural produce and food quality design strategies in response to global food quality and security challenges.</p>

Key trends in the global biotechnology market

The global biotechnology market is is experiencing a dynamic transformation, showing a substantial upswing and diversification. The main trends forming this sector are considered in detail in this study in terms of extensive data collection and reliable analytical techniques. The main conclusions point to sustained growth in the market with a significant shift towards the Asia-Pacific region. Therapeutic advances, such as those in regenerative and personalized medicine, provide revolutionary approaches to healthcare. Simultaneously, agricultural biotechnologies are becoming a beacon of light for the challenges of food security and climate change. Due to the combination of biotechnology with digital tools, it foretells a new era of interdisciplinary research to facilitate rapid discoveries. However, the rapid pace of innovations necessitates vigilant and adaptive regulatory frameworks. This article reports on the multidimensional nature of the biotechnology landscape, highlighting its potential in forming a sustainable, healthy, and equitable future.

ПЕРСПЕКТИВИ ЗАБЕЗПЕЧЕННЯ ПРОДОВОЛЬЧОЇ БЕЗПЕКИ УКРАЇНИ В УМОВАХ НАДЗВИЧАЙНИХ ВИКЛИКІВ

The article is exsimined to the definition of conceptual issues in the direction of the war impact diagnosing on the state of national food security and the international trade development, as well as the identification of prospects for ensuring the national food security of Ukraine in the conditions of active military operations. A significant number of works by well-known scientists in the field of state regulation of ensuring the appropriate level of food security have been developed and researched, in particular: state food programs and tools for ensuring the agrarian sector functioning and development, laws, regulatory acts and other documents. It was determined that as a result of armed aggression in the agro-industrial complex, part of the production potential was lost both in the field of direct production of agricultural products and in the field of its processing, stable product promotion chains were partially or completely destroyed. In the article have been identified the key and significant consequences of armed aggression, which directly and indirectly affect the provision of food security in the country in today's conditions. It is declared that armed aggression has become a global challenge for food security not only for our country, but also for the whole world and may cause political instability in other countries in the future. The main indicators of the Global Food Security Index were evaluated at the national level, namely: economic availability, physical availability, sustainability and adaptability, food quality and safety factor. The key problematic aspects of the functioning of the agro-industrial complex, which arose as a result of armed aggression on the territory of Ukraine, were identified. It was diagnosed that in the field of international legal regulation of world food security issues, no measures have been developed at all, which would contribute to the prevention of threats in this field of interstate trade relations. The world practices of independent search for solving problems’ mechanisms that arose in connection with the aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine were studied in the direction of taking into account the main principles and methods of international law regarding the development of effective measures to stop the Russian Federation from its illegal behavior. Argued proposals are given regarding the urgency of solving the tasks of reforming the system of state reserves, intended to meet the needs of Ukraine in a special period, strategic needs and providing humanitarian aid in the direction of an effectively functioning system formation of state reserves in the conditions of ensuring the country's food security in the long run.

Circular economy-based integrated farming system for indigenous chicken: Fostering food security and sustainability

Addressing the global challenge of food security necessitates innovative and sustainable approaches capable of meeting the demands of a growing population while ensuring a sufficient and nutritious food supply. This study explores circular economy-based integrated farming systems for indigenous chicken, focusing on the principles of circular economy, TBL approach and sustainable agriculture to enhance the food security landscape. To comprehensively assess the status of the indigenous chicken sector, a detailed analysis of farm operations is conducted. Qualitative data collection and a system dynamics approach provided valuable insights into the intricate dynamics of the system. Leveraging simulation and modelling, interactions and behaviours within the sub-systems are unveiled, ultimately leading to the integration of forward and reverse value chain linkages. The Indigenous Chicken-based Integrated Farming System value chain, developed because of this study, offers a transformative model for sustainable food production. This model provides clear insights into the dynamics of indigenous chicken farming, highlighting the importance of circular economy principles. It also aids in understanding the impact of varying parameters, such as egg production and parent chicken population, on the system's behavior. Moreover, the research identifies exponential growth patterns in critical components, shedding light on the system's scalability potential. Additionally, it emphasizes the significance of integrating forward and reverse linkages in achieving sustainability and minimizing waste throughout the value chain.

IoT Based Solar Powered Agriculture

The integration of the Internet of Things (IoT) and solar power technology has heralded a new era in agriculture, offering sustainable solutions to age-old challenges. This paper represents an innovative approach to modern farming practices. In this paradigm, autonomous agricultural robots equipped with IoT sensors and powered by solar panels navigate fields, gathering data on soil conditions, crop health, and environmental parameters. This data is then processed using artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms to make real-time decisions about precision farming activities such as irrigation, pest control, and weed management. By harnessing renewable energy from the sun, these robots not only reduce the carbon footprint of agriculture but also promote resource efficiency and sustainability. This abstract explores the key components and functionalities of IoT-based solar-powered agriculture, highlighting its potential to revolutionize the agriculture industry and address the pressing challenges of food security and environmental conservation.

Nano-sized metal oxide fertilizers for sustainable agriculture: balancing benefits, risks, and risk management strategies.

This critical review comprehensively analyses nano-sized metal oxide fertilizers (NMOFs) and their transformative potential in sustainable agriculture. It examines the characteristics and benefits of different NMOFs, such as zinc, copper, iron, magnesium, manganese, nickel, calcium, titanium, cerium, and silicon oxide nanoparticles. NMOFs offer unique advantages such as increased reactivity, controlled-release mechanisms, and targeted nutrient delivery to address micronutrient deficiencies, enhance crop resilience, and improve nutrient efficiency. The review underscores the essential role of micronutrients in plant metabolism, crop growth, and ecosystem health, highlighting their importance alongside macronutrients. NMOFs present significant benefits over traditional fertilizers, including enhanced plant uptake, reduced nutrient losses, and decreased environmental impact. However, the review also critically examines potential risks associated with NMOFs, such as nanoparticle toxicity and environmental persistence. A comparative analysis of different metal types used in nanofertilizers is provided, detailing their primary advantages and potential drawbacks. The review emphasizes the need for cautious management of NMOFs to ensure their safe and effective use in agriculture. It calls for comprehensive research to understand the long-term effects of NMOFs on plant health, soil ecosystems, and human health. By integrating insights from material science, plant biology, and environmental science, this review offers a holistic perspective on the potential of NMOFs to address global food security challenges amid resource constraints and climate change. The study concludes by outlining future research directions and advocating for interdisciplinary collaboration to advance sustainable agricultural practices and optimize the benefits of NMOFs.

Farming in the Digital Age: Smart Agriculture with AI and IoT

This review article titled “Revolutionizing Agriculture: The Impact of AI and IoT” delves into the transformative role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the Internet of Things (IoT) in modern agriculture. It encapsulates the burgeoning wave of digitalization and its implications for data-driven farming practices. The paper comprehensively reviews the advancements in digital agriculture management, highlighting the integration of AI, IoT devices, machine learning, and sensor technology in enhancing farming efficiency and productivity. Emphasis is placed on the use of robotics, drones for crop monitoring, and smart irrigation systems, which leverage real-time data for optimized agricultural operations. The role of high-speed 5G networks in enabling these smart farming solutions is also discussed, particularly their impact on data transmission and connectivity in rural settings. Challenges and opportunities in implementing Smart Decision Support Systems (SDSS) in developing countries are explored, focusing on real-time soil analysis and decision-making aids for farmers. The review further discusses a proposed cloud-based system for remote farm monitoring, employing AI-based models for efficient data processing and improving farming practices. This article aims to provide a nuanced understanding of the current and future potential of AI and IoT in reshaping agricultural practices, addressing global food security challenges, and supporting sustainable development.

Food Security Determinants and Coping Strategies in Central Highlands of Ethiopia

Food insecurity has emerged as a key problem and development challenge in Ethiopia even after the country has shown some economic recovery. The main objective of this study was to analyze food security determinants and coping strategies in central highlands of Ethiopia. The data were collected from 123 households from three Kebeles, nine key informant interviews, and three focus group discussions. The methods of analysis included household food balance model (HFBM), Foster–Greer–Thorbecke (FGT), household food consumption score (HFCS), and binary logistic regression model (BLR). The results indicated that 62% of the households were food insecure. The mean calorie intake of the households was 2051.02 kcal/person/day. A statistically significant difference across the agroecological zones was observed in terms of food insecurity at the p = 0.05 level. Empirically, landholding size and soil fertility were the significant determinants of food security status at p = 0.01 level. Changes in consumption patterns and the sale of livestock are the dominant coping strategies reported by 88% and 84% of households, respectively. This study recommends changes in government policies and strategies to sustainably mitigate food security challenges by focusing on the district’s potential.

Integrated safety for sea and air transportation during the COVID-19 pandemic

Climate change and COVID-19 have disrupted food supply chains and exacerbated food security challenges (Rasul, 2021). The safety of sea and air transportation in food delivery is also a disruption that impacts logistics in the food value chain (Singh et al., 2021). Integration of sea and air transportation safety during the COVID-19 pandemic, with a focus on the impact of climate change on food supplies and the rapid spread of viruses through air travel, is essential to ensure that food distribution is not disrupted. The research investigates the response of countries and major international organizations such as the World Health Organization (WHO), the International Maritime Organization (IMO), and the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). The methodology used in the study was a systematic literature review (SLR) by identifying 875 journals in the first stage. Then, through strict screening, 50 articles were selected and further analyzed. Covering continents, specific countries, and important ports, the research uses quantitative databases such as the Scopus journal index. The study results reveal the long-term impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the aviation and maritime sectors and its influence on global passenger and goods transportation. SLR’s findings also bring together insights from diverse research on safety integration across different modes of transportation during the pandemic. Research provides recommendations — climate-related changes for safe transportation, applicable in normal and pandemic circumstances. In conclusion, this article comprehensively explains maintaining a safe and efficient transportation network amidst complex challenges.

Economic Viability and Marketing Networks of Finger Millet in North Coastal Andhra Pradesh

Finger millet (Eleusine coracana) is vital in global agriculture for its nutritional value, adaptability, & capacity to tackle food security challenges. Data was gathered during 2024 from farmers, local traders, wholesalers and retailers in three districts of the North coastal region of Andhra Pradesh, i.e., Srikakulam, Vizianagaram, & Visakhapatnam, to know the major marketing channels of finger millet. This study analyzes the cost structure and marketing margins in finger millet production across three channels, detailing each stage from farmers (net price Rs. 3300-3320 per quintal) to retailers. Channel 1 had a final retail price of Rs. 5000 with a margin of Rs. 1681, Channel 2 reached Rs. 5500 with a margin of Rs. 2000, and Channel 3 peak at Rs. 6500 with a margin of Rs. 3170. Additionally, it details the costs per acre, with a gross return of Rs. 37950 and a net return of Rs. 1471, revealing a return per rupee of 1.04. The findings highlight the impact of each marketing stage on consumer prices.

Challenges of Implementing Anchor Borrower Programme for Food Security in Nasarawa State, Nigeria

In recent years, the Nigerian government has intensified efforts to address food security challenges by implementing various initiatives aimed at encouraging local food production and restricting the importation of certain agricultural products, such as rice produced abroad. However, the implementation of these policies faces significant challenges. This study examines the obstacles to implementing the ‘Anchor Borrowers Rice Programme’ for small holder rice farmers in Nasarawa State, using the Diffusion of Innovation Theory as a theoretical framework. Employing a survey research design, the study gathered primary and secondary data through questionnaires, interviews, and a literature review. The analysis revealed that while the programme has effectively increased rice accessibility, several barriers persist. Environmental challenges, including climate variability and pest infestations, pose substantial risks to crop yields. Inadequate funding limits the resources available to farmers, leading to disruptions in agricultural cycles and reduced yields. Additionally, infrastructure and logistics issues, along with administrative and bureaucratic problems, further complicate program execution. To address these challenges, it is recommended to allocate sufficient funding and resources to the programme, including increasing initial capital for farmers and ensuring the timely disbursement of funds. Investing in sustainable agricultural practices and financial support mechanisms, such as promoting drought-resistant crop varieties, implementing water management strategies, and providing access to weather forecasting services, may help mitigate the adverse effects of climate variability and pest infestations. Furthermore, enhancing coordination between government agencies, financial institutions, and other stakeholders can streamline administrative processes and improve programme delivery efficiency.