Food Policy Research Articles

The Food and Nutrition Policy Environment and Drivers of Changes in Key Food System Outcomes in Ethiopia

Background: There seems to be huge gap in our understanding of the changes over time in food system outcomes and their drivers in Ethiopia. The main aim of this study is to examine the food and nutrition programs and policies and their corresponding key food system outcomes in Ethiopia. Methods: The bulk of the information was generated using scooping review of relevant articles and policy documents. About 67 full text records were used for the review. In addition, data were collected using Key Informant Interview (KIIs) purposefully selected from sectoral offices from two major cities (Hawassa and Dire Dawa), of two regions. The analytical framework used in this paper was adopted from previous studies on related subjects and addressed three key components of food system: review of food and nutrition policy environment, key food system outcomes and key drivers. Results: Despite improvement in some food system outcomes (such as child nutrition and survival), food security crises in Ethiopia are still becoming more frequent and more acute, affecting the poor disproportionately. Most food and nutrition policies are constrained by lack of implementation capacities. Indicating the presence of various barriers (socioeconomic, demographic, and environmental). Poor human capital (such as knowledge and attitude), food taboos and tradition, cultural practices such as gender-based norms, poor education, poor delivery/supply chain, demographic pressure and other environmental drivers play critical role in food and nutrition security of most vulnerable population groups in Ethiopia. Conclusion and implications: Given the challenges confronting Ethiopia today, it is imperative to assume that meeting Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 2 (i.e., attaining zero hunger by 2030) becomes challenging. This calls for continuous capacity building to help implement, learn, and adapt a systems approach; and access to education and skill training on food production and consumption and narrowing down the gender differential in food access and consumption.

The Food and Nutrition Policy Environment and Drivers of Changes in Key Food System Outcomes in Ethiopia

Background: There seems to be huge gap in our understanding of the changes over time in food system outcomes and their drivers in Ethiopia. The main aim of this study is to examine the food and nutrition programs and policies and their corresponding key food system outcomes in Ethiopia. Methods: The bulk of the information was generated using scooping review of relevant articles and policy documents. About 67 full text records were used for the review. In addition, data were collected using Key Informant Interview (KIIs) purposefully selected from sectoral offices from two major cities (Hawassa and Dire Dawa), of two regions. The analytical framework used in this paper was adopted from previous studies on related subjects and addressed three key components of food system: review of food and nutrition policy environment, key food system outcomes and key drivers. Results: Despite improvement in some food system outcomes (such as child nutrition and survival), food security crises in Ethiopia are still becoming more frequent and more acute, affecting the poor disproportionately. Most food and nutrition policies are constrained by lack of implementation capacities. Indicating the presence of various barriers (socioeconomic, demographic, and environmental). Poor human capital (such as knowledge and attitude), food taboos and tradition, cultural practices such as gender-based norms, poor education, poor delivery/supply chain, demographic pressure and other environmental drivers play critical role in food and nutrition security of most vulnerable population groups in Ethiopia. Conclusion and implications: Given the challenges confronting Ethiopia today, it is imperative to assume that meeting Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 2 (i.e., attaining zero hunger by 2030) becomes challenging. This calls for continuous capacity building to help implement, learn, and adapt a systems approach; and access to education and skill training on food production and consumption and narrowing down the gender differential in food access and consumption.

Effects of Interventions on Household Food Security in Ilchamus Ward, Marigat Sub-county, Kenya

Widespread hunger and malnutrition persist today despite considerable growth in per capita food availability. This has prompted an evolving conceptualization of food security and of mechanisms to attain and maintain food security. Government and Non-governmental organizations are shifting from food relief provisions to diversification intervention strategies at the household level. However, there has been limited literature, especially from a sociological perspective, on the effects of effects of interventions on household food security. The study adopted the descriptive research design, where household experiences were documented using a structured questionnaire. A proportionate stratified sampling method was used to divide the sample of 170 households into 4 locations. The obtained data was analyzed using SPSS v25.0, and the findings were reported using descriptive statistics, including frequencies and percentages presented in tables and charts. The results show that interventions are on nutrition, health, sanitation, education and local knowledge as ways of improving household food security. The study recommends that apart from providing food relief responses, the government, together with food provision stakeholders, should lay out sustainable food policies, implement them, and conduct capacity building with the farmers by arranging and conducting training seminars and sessions to equip the community with appropriate household food security information.

The Need to Consider Food Systems in Health-Oriented Food Policy and Programs

Produce prescription programs (PPPs) are place-based interventions at the intersection of public health and local food advocacy. These programs have expanded significantly across the United States since 2010, particularly taking off in the state of West Virginia. This article draws on a 4-y institutional ethnography of PPP programs and associated policy. Although the possibilities of building support for improving community health alongside the livelihoods of small-scale producers is compelling, there exists an overall decontextualization from broader social and political determinants of health. This article concludes that although programs are able to meet some acute needs for program participants and provide income for small-scale producers, this decontextualization results from a lack of consideration of wider systems within policy and program construction, leading to missed opportunities for food system transformation.

Diet quality, food choices and food policy and its economic studies

Diet quality, food choices and food policy and its economic studies

A mixed-method study of parents’ views of food and nutrition in Australian primary schools

PurposeSchools have long been perceived as an ideal setting to support the healthy eating behaviours of children. The aim of the study was to examine the views of Australian primary school parents regarding school food and nutrition, including education, practices and policy.Design/methodology/approachAn online survey was conducted among 787 parents in March 2021, which included closed and open-ended questions.FindingsThe results indicated the inconsistent implementation of policies and/or varying practices among different schools. Parents’ views were slightly associated with some demographic and personal measures including their SES levels, education, age, the main language spoken at home and universalism values. Parents viewed healthy food provision through canteens, policies and informing parents, fruit and vegetable breaks and kitchen and garden programs as the main contributors to the promotion of healthy eating. They believed unhealthy options in canteens, school fairs, events and birthdays are the major contributors to the formation of unhealthy eating habits among children at schools. Results revealed the efforts to establish health promoting school food environments in Australian primary schools; however, inconsistencies and discrepancies among schools should be addressed to ensure equity among all children.Practical implicationsThe findings may provide directions for policymakers and school managers and can inform future reforms and initiatives in Australian primary schools and elsewhere.Originality/valueThis is the first study that has examined Australian parents’ views of school food policy, practices and environments using a mixed-methods design.

The time-varying dynamic impact of US renewable energy prices on agricultural prices in China: the case of fuel ethanol.

This paper intends to look into the time-varying dynamic impact of US fuel ethanol, one of the renewable energy sources, on the prices of agricultural products (specifically corn, soybeans, rice, and wheat) in China based on monthly price data from January 2000 to January 2023. To achieve this, a time-varying parameter vector autoregressive (TVP-VAR) model is employed, which takes into account structural changes in emergencies through time-varying parameters. The empirical results show that the equal-interval impulse responses of price fluctuations in agricultural commodities are primarily positive to variations in fuel ethanol prices and production. And the intensity and direction of the effects vary at distinct time lags. Additionally, the magnitude of these responses is most pronounced in the short term for all agricultural commodities except for corn, and the duration of the impulse responses at different time points is generally longer for corn prices compared to other commodities. The study also reveals that the influence of US fuel ethanol on Chinese agricultural commodity prices is not substantial on the whole. Therefore, there is a necessity to advance the growth of biofuels and provide policy support and financial subsidies for agricultural products earmarked for food production. These actions could shed insights into the progression of Chinese renewable energy and food policies, ensuring the stability of the market in the long run.

FROM MOBILIZATION TO POLITICIZATION: UNDERSTANDING POLITICAL DYNAMICS OF COMMUNITY-BASED URBAN FOOD SECURITY POLICY IN CITY OF MAKASSAR

Since decentralization was reinforced in 1999, local politicians have exploited local policies to enhance their popularity and electability. In this study, I describe the implementation of a food security policy to demonstrate how the local arena had undergone massive political dynamics through unintegrated food governance demonstrated by local governments in Makassar City. This article aims to analyze the dynamic of urban food policy implemented by the municipality from 2013 to 2023. A qualitative approach had been employed through a case study of the implementation of food security policy. Data were collected by snowball method to eminent informants. Also, focus group discussions were employed in certain community groups. This study found that food policy in Makassar City during the study period had shown a political mobilization rather than a pure food security policy to help the community. In the policy planning, the failure was found in the limited technical analysis. The people who dwell in this city were not prepared for agricultural activities, including planting, maintaining the plants, and soil treatment. Also, the typical vegetables that were planted were not suitable for the climatic characteristics of this city. This study also found that media framing was massively exploited to escalate the positive framing of the ‘inclusivity’ of the leadership and attract the people to engage beyond food diversification. On the other side, as this policy was funded through a discretionary approach, massive negative sentiment had emerged, particularly from the legislative. They felt like an abandoned partner. Consequently, the government should create an alternative mechanism through shadow bureaucrats, designed by the mayor.

The Society of Behavioral Medicine urges passage of the PLANT (Peas, Legumes, And Nuts Today) Act.

Current US diets negatively impact human health and the environment, while shifting toward increased intake of plant-based foods could mitigate these issues. Current food policies exacerbate these problems, necessitating a reevaluation and the implementation of new policies. The Society of Behavioral Medicine urges legislators to support the PLANT Act (H.R.5023), which would enhance production, research, and development of plant-based foods and address both health and environmental concerns.

The Impact of Political Orientation and Government Change on Public Satisfaction with Food Policy in South Korea.

This study investigates the relationship between political orientation, government change, and public satisfaction with food policies in the Republic of Korea. Utilizing data from the Consumer Behavior Survey for Foods (CBSF) conducted by the Korea Rural Economic Institute from 2020 to 2021, we employ fixed effects models to examine the impact of political orientation, the presence of a conservative government, and their interactions on satisfaction across various dimensions of food policy. We also analyze the change in satisfaction levels from 2020 to 2021 based on shifts in political orientation. The results reveal complex dynamics between political alignment, government performance, and public perceptions. While conservatives and liberals exhibit higher satisfaction with labeling policies, they show lower satisfaction with safety and redress policies. The presence of a conservative government is associated with higher satisfaction in specific policy areas but lower overall satisfaction. Changes in political orientation significantly influence policy satisfaction, with shifts away from conservatism and towards liberalism leading to decreased satisfaction. The findings highlight the importance of understanding the nuanced preferences of different political groups and the need for responsive and transparent food policy frameworks. This study advances the theoretical understanding of the political economy of policy satisfaction and provides novel policy implications for effective governance.

An indicator framework to guide food system sustainability transition – The case of Sweden

Well-aligned food policies are needed at both national and international level to guide food system transformation towards sustainability. Rigorous indicator frameworks are essential in order to facilitate discussion of priorities, enable comparisons, assessment and progress monitoring, and ensure accountability. In this study, we develop a national framework for a sustainable food system, using Sweden as a case. Our framework, the Food System Sustainability House, advances the literature on sustainable food system frameworks in three distinct ways. Firstly, it is tailored to a specific national context (Sweden in our case); secondly, it distinguishes between impacts of domestic production arising within territorial boundaries and impacts related to Swedish consumption independent of country of origin; and thirdly, to facilitate policy priorities, it suggests how different dimensions of sustainability are interlinked at a conceptual level. From a scientific perspective, the Food System Sustainability House postulates the interlinkages between the societal objectives of the food system, the environmental foundations on which production takes place, and the economic system and governance which in the framework are suggested to function as enablers for an overall sustainable system. From a policy perspective, the framework provides a much-needed basis for assessing food system sustainability by suggesting indicators within a comprehensive set of sustainability themes at national level for monitoring distinct perspectives. It also provides the necessary basis for a discussion on how sustainability dimensions are interlinked.

A Compliance Return Method to Evaluate Different Approaches to Implementing Regulations: The Example of Food Hygiene Standards

Abstract We investigate how different approaches to the implementation of regulations affect compliance by evaluating the implementation of food hygiene standards in four English authorities. We draw upon regulatory theory in general together with specific literature on food hygiene standards to advance a new “compliance return” concept, which enables compliance outcomes and resource inputs to be considered jointly. We operationalize “compliance return” as part of a low-cost methodology for evaluating the relative effectiveness of different approaches to implementing food hygiene standards. We find that different approaches to implementation have significant impacts on food policy outcomes. Specifically, implementation ranged from a greater emphasis on deterrence to a greater emphasis on cooperation, with cooperation resulting in greater compliance and deterrence requiring less resource input. When compliance level is considered alongside resource input, to assess the overall “compliance return,” a stronger case emerges for a deterrence approach. The food policy implications are two-fold: (i) implementation affects policy outcomes, and (ii) the measure of “compliance return” developed and implemented in this article offers a low-cost approach to support the ex-post evaluation of implementation choices. The Compliance Return approach may be applicable more widely, especially where there is discretion regarding how regulations are to be implemented.

Green Consumer Profiling and Online Shopping of Imperfect Foods: Extending UTAUT with Web-Based Label Quality for Misshapen Organic Produce.

Misshapen organic vegetables in the food supply chain can easily be discarded in the market if they do not meet aesthetic standards. E-commerce technology enables the distribution of imperfect organic produce from farmers to potential customers, mitigating agri-food waste issues. Green consumers are prospective customers of imperfect produce because their purchasing decisions are made based on sustainability and environmental considerations. However, each individual's degree of green consumption differs, impacting their preferences and behaviors toward green buying activity. Considering the gap between the varying levels of green consumers and their intention to purchase imperfect organic produce through e-commerce, this study aimed to profile three distinct green consumers and explore factors affecting their Online Green Purchase Intention (OGPI) for imperfect organic vegetables. The Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) was applied in this study, and Web-Based Label Quality (WLQ) was introduced as an extended construct to describe green consumers' perceptions of the credibility and reliability of labels or product-related information displayed on e-commerce platforms. This study involved 668 internet users from environmental platforms and online communities of organic food enthusiasts. First, the consumers were classified into dark-green, semi/light green, and non-green using a cluster analysis approach. Then, Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) and Multi-Group Analysis (MGA) were employed to determine the factors affecting OGPI among green consumer groups. This research found that Performance Expectancy (PE), Social Influence (SI), and WLQ positively influenced dark-green consumers' online green purchase intention. Only Performance Expectancy (PE) positively affected semi/light-green consumers' OGPI. Meanwhile, the Facilitating Condition (FC) positively affected non-green consumers' online green purchase intentions. This research revealed dark-green consumers as the target segment, broadening customers' perspectives on accepting imperfect organic products, including e-commerce technology. Moreover, the research results can be utilized for marketing and business purposes and contribute to food policy.

Evaluating Ghana’s Youth-Centered Food-Security Policies: A Collaborative Governance Approach

Food-security issues remain essential for decision-makers at all levels in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), and youth-oriented food-security policies in Ghana are no exception. While there are no “one-size-fits-all” policy pathways to eradicate poverty and hunger, various governments, civil society, youth groups, and citizens can afford to ignore the present food policies’ status quo. This paper examines the perspective of sustainability when collaborative and open governance approaches are adopted by central governments and their sub-national departments, institutions, and agencies in youth-oriented food-security policymaking, implementation, and evaluation. The extent to which active stakeholder participation and collaboration, or the lack thereof, has either negatively or positively impacted food-security policies is another tangent this paper explores, including the sustainability of the youth-centered food-security policies in Ghana. Using qualitative documentary analysis technique through collaborative and open governance frameworks and drawing on the literature on multisectoral governance and youth-focused food-security policies, this paper identifies several disjointed youth-focused food-security intervention policies in Ghana with hazy institutional arrangements that have failed to ensure adequate implementation and assessment to promote cooperation, accountability, and transparency. The paper suggests the need for collaborative governance, effective policy monitoring, and evaluation strategies that involve government institutions, departments, agencies, civic societies, youth organizations, and citizens’ commitments to food security. This research finds that collaborative strategies and active youth participation in all food-security-related policies are essential for Ghana to achieve Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 1 and 2.

Governing the reterritorialization of agricultural activities: An assessment of food planning policies in France

This paper examines how food planning policies address the reterritorialization of agricultural activities (RAA), a crucial component of local food systems. While food planning as an integrated local policy promoting local food systems has gained increasing research attention, most of the research has been urban-centric, resulting in a limited understanding of how it includes RAA. This paper fills this research gap by assessing 39 food planning projects in France, where the state defines food planning by national law and supports local projects. Through document analysis and semi-structured interviews, RAA-associated food planning policy goals, instruments, and agri-food professional actors' involvement are identified. The empirical findings highlight the central role of RAA in French food planning projects; it either serves as the primary motivation behind these projects or evolves into a substantial component as the projects develop. A wide range of policy instruments with local innovation to support RAA are identified, with more frequent use of informational and economic than regulatory and coercive instruments, and more focus on economic development than on ecological transition. Minority and majority farmers’ organizations are involved in food planning processes with varying degrees of engagement across territories, reflecting local governance strategies. The analytical methods in this study may contribute to future research to better comprehend RAA in local food policymaking. The systematic overview of RAA-associated food planning measures also offers insights to policymakers in other contexts regarding food policy design. The paper concludes by arguing that food planning extends beyond urban food supply; it also presents an opportunity to leverage RAA for rural revitalization and transformation, in terms of production models, rural-urban links, and local governance.

An emerging food policy domain: The effects of autonomous transport technologies on food access and consumption

Innovations in food home delivery systems have seen rapid growth in the consumption of food prepared outside the home. Such food is often higher in negative nutrients than home-prepared food. Technological advancements in the transport sector are set to amplify the availability of food delivery services via the introduction of autonomous (driverless) vehicles. Very little is known about how consumers are likely to react to this change, and relevant regulatory frameworks are lacking. To address this evidence gap and inform policy in this emerging domain, the aim of the present study was to provide preliminary insights into how and why consumers may choose to use autonomous food delivery services once they are widely available and the potential impacts on their diets. A sample of 100 adults currently residing in Australia participated in one-to-one interviews. Quotas were applied for the attributes of age, sex, and geographical location to ensure appropriate demographic distribution. Around two-thirds of interviewees reported intending to use autonomous food delivery services for receiving groceries and around one-half for receiving fast food. Perceptions of increased convenience dominated interviewees’ expressed reasons for intending to use autonomous delivery services. Overall, interviewees saw few impediments to the widescale use of autonomous delivery services, and some expected to consume more unhealthy food due to increased access. While autonomous delivery services have the potential to substantially increase access to both healthy and unhealthy food products, effective policy actions are needed to ensure health outcomes are optimized.

Coproducing “Planetary” Eating Futures from Dakar

Reform of the global food system needs to be initiated and coordinated on a global level to meet the challenges of sustainably producing sufficient food within planetary boundaries. The EAT-Lancet Planetary Health Diet sought to establish a set of “planetary” eating norms that would constitute “healthy and sustainable” diets “for all.” In this article we present the findings from a co-production workshop held in Dakar that examined dilemmas of defining “healthy and sustainable” diets and “planetary” eating norms from a Senegalese perspective. We describe the concrete strategies for negotiating dietary change that emerged from the workshop, including interdisciplinarity, reciprocity, reparation and substitution, and collective reflection on eating histories. By working within the fraught project of planetary dietary design in a manner that resists an imperial logic that we designate as “dietary diffusionism,” we argue that theories of “planetarity” can be used to leverage deliberative approaches to the design of more just, inclusive, and effective food policy.

Fish markets facilitate nutrition security in coastal Kenya: Empirical evidence for policy leveraging

Fish markets are key to supporting the availability and accessibility of nutritious food but are often overlooked in food and nutrition research and policy. This study investigated fish markets in coastal Kenya, using data from 223 semi-structured interviews collected through market surveys, and analyzed their potential to meet recommendations for consumption and alleviate malnutrition in a vulnerable coastal population (children under five years). Findings reveal that women small-scale traders dealt in lower quantities of fish per trader than the other traders, yet sold more nutritious fish. Fish shop traders sold enough fish to meet 129% of the recommended intake of fish (10.4 kg cap−1 yr−1) for all people within the assessed towns, whereas women small-scale traders sold enough to meet 84% of the intake. All market traders were key to making nutrient-dense fish available, with a 100 g portion of fish providing at least 25% of required intakes, across five nutrients, and women small-scale traders providing over 25% of required intakes across six nutrients for a child under five years. The average cost of a nutritious portion of fish was KES 31 (USD 0.22), ranging from KES 12 (USD 0.08) to 49 (USD (0.34), which provide 33.3% of the required nutrients (averaged across six nutrients), with nutrient-dense fish being notably cheaper. This study contributes empirical evidence on how territorial fish markets support nutrition, which is important for food policy interventions that promote nutritional literacy, address nutrient gaps, and improve postharvest practices and infrastructure for fish quality and safety in Kenya.

More than the worksite cafeteria: the workplace food environment of small and medium-sized enterprises in the Netherlands.

To characterise the food environment of Dutch small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), encompassing physical, sociocultural, economic and policy features and to explore variations within SMEs according to company characteristics (number of employees, location of work and presence of worksite cafeteria). Online cross-sectional survey study of a representative Dutch SME sample by a panel agency. Dutch SMEs. Three hundred and fifteen employees of Dutch SMEs responsible for food and drink in their company. Most SMEs did not have a worksite cafeteria, no provision of fruits or vegetables, and did not offer discounts on food or drinks. The food environment of these SMEs varied significantly based on company characteristics. For example, SMEs with a worksite cafeteria were significantly more likely to have fruits (OR = 8·76, 95 % CI (4·50, 17·06)), vegetables (OR = 10·29, 95 % CI (5·49, 19·31)) and company food policies (OR = 5·04, 95 % CI (2·08, 12·20)) than SMEs without. Additionally, SMEs with ≥ 50 employees were more likely to have fruits (OR = 2·39, 95 % CI (1·42, 4·03)), vegetables (OR = 1·89, 95 % CI (1·04, 3·46)) and company food policies (OR = 2·82, 95 % CI (1·09, 7·29) than SMEs with < 50 employees. Moreover, having a worksite cafeteria (B = 0·23, 95 % CI (0·08, 0·38)) and employees working mostly on-site (B = 0·14, 95 % CI (0·01, 0·28)) were associated with stronger social norms of healthy and sustainable eating at work compared to SMEs without a worksite cafeteria and working mostly off-site. In SMEs, an overall comprehensive picture of the food environment points to its limited active encouragement of healthy food choices, particularly so in small SMEs without a worksite cafeteria. Company characteristics strongly influence SME food environments and should be considered when developing interventions improving SME workplace food environments.

Online training needs assessment (TNA) among Municipal Nutrition Action Officers (MNAOs) in the Philippines

Introduction: A training needs assessment (TNA) was conducted by the Department of Science and Technology, Food and Nutrition Research Institute (DOST-FNRI) to design appropriate and relevant trainings for Municipal Nutrition Action Officers (MNAOs). In the Philippines, MNAO is a nutrition officer who serves at the municipal level and is tasked to ensure the localisation of the Philippine Plan of Action for Nutrition (PPAN) in Local Government Units (LGU) to ensure proper implementation of activities on Public Health Nutrition (PHN). Methods: A total of 162 MNAOs in the country answered the online TNA survey conducted from April to May 2023. Results: Based on the results of the TNA survey, there was a need for DOST-FNRI to design and conduct trainings related to the top three core competencies identified by MNAOs: Creating policies and standards related to food and nutrition; advocating legislation, regulation, and nutrition policies; and designing appropriate nutrition information education and communication (IEC) materials. Conclusion: Based on the study results, it is recommended that LGUs allocate funds for capacity building of the public health workforce to create a skilled workforce in the community that will coordinate the formulation, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of nutrition plans at the municipal level. For future consideration, curriculum design for professional development in public health nutrition should include core competencies on food and nutrition policy programme, nutrition programme management, and IEC development.