Food Program Research Articles

Effects of Inclusion of Food Purchase Restrictions and Incentives in a Food Benefit Program on Diet Quality and Food Purchasing: Results From a Randomized Trial

BackgroundThere is interest in reshaping the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) to better support family nutrition. ObjectiveThe Grocery Assistance Program Study (GAPS) for Families evaluated the effects of prohibiting using program funds for the purchase of certain sugary foods on the nutritional quality of foods purchased and consumed by program participants. DesignA randomized experimental trial was carried out with participants randomized to one of three food benefit conditions. Baseline and follow-up measures collected included interviewer-administered 24-hour dietary recalls, food purchase receipts, food security, height, and weight. Participant/settingAdult–child dyads in households eligible for SNAP but currently not enrolled were recruited from the Minneapolis/St Paul MN metropolitan area from May of 2018 through May of 2019. A total of 293 adult–child dyads received the intervention as allocated. Of these dyads, 233 adults completed follow-up measures and met criteria for inclusion in the analytic sample, resulting in an attrition rate of 20.5%. A total of 224 children completed follow-up measures and met criteria for inclusion in the analytic sample, resulting in an attrition rate of 23.5%. InterventionParticipants were randomized to 1 of 3 conditions: restriction (not allowed to buy sugar-sweetened beverages [SSB], sweet baked goods, or candy with program funds); restriction paired with incentive (30% incentive for fruits and vegetables [FV] purchased with funds); and control (funds provided with no restrictions or incentives). Funds were provided on a 4-week cycle for 20 weeks via a study-provided debit card. Main outcome measuresThe primary outcome was the Healthy Eating Index (HEI)-2015 total score. Additional outcomes included selected HEI-2015 component scores; energy intake; food security; body weight; and purchasing of SSB, sweet baked goods, candies, fruits, and vegetables. Statistical analysisLinear regression analyses were conducted with change in the outcome regressed on treatment condition for the primary outcome analyses. ResultsNo differences were observed between conditions in change in the nutrition and food security measures examined. Purchases of SSB and sweet baked goods and candies significantly differed by experimental condition. Purchase of restricted foods was lower at follow-up in the restriction and restriction paired with incentive conditions compared with the control condition. For example, spending on SSB at follow-up was significantly lower in the restriction ($2.66/week) and restriction paired with incentive ($2.06/week) conditions in comparison with control condition ($4.44/week) (P < 0.0003 and P < 0.0001, respectively). ConclusionsThis study failed to find evidence in support of prohibiting the purchase of sugary foods with food program funds as a strategy to improve program participant nutrition, even when paired with an FV incentive. Research carried out in the context of the SNAP program is needed for a more robust evidence base.

Lunchbox shaming: recollections of school lunchtime by young Canadians of Asian descent

ABSTRACT Children’s home-packed lunches to school reflect family’s culinary cultures, social locations, and unique food norms. At Canadian elementary schools, children of Asian heritage sometimes experience “lunchbox shaming” – feeling embarrassed for bringing foods that are seen deviant from dominant food norms. This study explored the recollections of school lunchtime by 25 young adults (aged 17–25 years) from three largest Asian ethnocultural groups (Chinese, Indian, and Filipino) in Toronto, Canada. Two parents of the participants also joined follow-up interviews to provide their insights. Our analysis focused on four layers of meanings at micro-level (personal experiences and emotions), meso-level (family food practices, school food environment), macro-level (socio-historical discourses), and interactional-level (researchers’ positionalities). Many participants recalled painful experiences being teased by classmates of their “stinky” lunch, throwing away homemade lunches, or asking parents to pack “normal” lunches to fit in. Conversely, a few shared positive memories of their lunches being praised and felt proud of their culinary heritage. Many reportedly felt a need to balance affiliation to both their home and school food cultures while growing up in Canada. We conclude by discussing the implications of the study findings for the ongoing debate on Canada’s national school food program and food literacy education.

STUDY OF THE KINEMATICS OF THE POSITIONING MECHANISMS OF WIDE-GRIP MACHINE-TRACTOR UNITS

As stated in the humanitarian food program "Grain from Ukraine", launched by the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyi: "The demand for agricultural products in the world is growing by 2-3% every year, and the shortage of grain on the markets of Africa and Asia may reach 10-15% already in 2024". Therefore, the issue of production of agricultural products is relevant today. As the analysis of the market of agricultural machinery shows, one of the directions of the development of the design of agricultural units is to increase the width of grip of tools for soil cultivation and plant care. The use of agricultural units with an increased working width has certain advantages: - reduction of the number of passes of equipment on the ground; - reduction of fuel consumption; - reducing the negative impact of the unit on soil density. Among the disadvantages of this type of aggregates should be attributed the increase in turning radii, as a result of the increase in width. It is possible to eliminate this shortcoming by quickly transferring the unit from the working position to the transport position and vice versa. To fulfill this task, a review of known designs of wide-grip aggregates was carried out. Known hydraulic drives for raising and lowering and folding and unfolding sections are considered. A kinematic diagram of the mechanism of rotation of the extreme section of the cultivator relative to the frame has been developed. Based on this calculation scheme, the reactions in the hinges were determined and the graphical dependencies of the mutual location of individual elements with respect to the angle of rotation φ were calculated. The existing hydraulic positioning mechanisms, which are equipped with chainless wide-grip machines and tools with articulated frames, do not provide the necessary maneuvering properties of MTA during their movement on the turning lane. Equipping hydroficated positioning mechanisms with follower stabilizing devices is a promising direction for improving hydraulic drives of machine-tractor units, which create prerequisites for reducing the turnaround time on the turning lane by selecting the parameters of the specified equipment. The most important factor affecting the stability of the positioning of the sections of wide-grip machine-tractor units is the variable load that occurs on the hydraulic cylinder rod at the moment of turning the sections around the horizontal hinges at an angle of more than 90⸰, which causes inconsistency in the flows of the working fluid entering and leaving the hydraulic cylinder , which leads to the interruption of the flow in the cavity of the hydraulic cylinder, which is connected to the injection hydraulic line.

Across-Agency Partnerships and Within-Agency Capacities Facilitate Holistic, Tailored Approaches to Addressing Food Insecurity: A Qualitative Study.

Capacity-oriented approaches have the potential to reduce food insecurity (FI) and promote nutrition and health equity in low-resource settings. The objective of this study was to identify multilevel capacities in San Diego County, CA that key informants from diverse food- and nutrition-related stakeholder agencies perceived to be helping to address FI. Trained qualitative interviewers conducted face-to-face, semi-structured interviews (30-60 minutes) with key informants. The Socioecological Model and a capacity-oriented approach informed interview guides. Participants were key informants (n= 23) from diverse purposively sampled stakeholder agencies (n= 16) providing food or nutrition services and programs across San Diego County. Interviews were conducted between April 2019 and December2021. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, and checked for accuracy. The research team conducted thematic content analysis to identify themes. Two interrelated themes, within-agency capacities and across-agency partnerships, collectively appeared to influence each individual agency's ability to provide tailored, holistic care to their clients and, thus, expand each agency's reach and impact to address the 4 domains of food security (ie, quantity, quality, psychological, and social). Multilevel (ie, individual, interpersonal, organizational, and macro) within-agency human, social, and cultural capital (eg, volunteers, staff-client relationships, and cultural competency) positively influenced the reach and impact of the individual agencies by enabling them to provide clients with personalized, holistic care. Alongside within-agency capacities, multilevel (ie, interpersonal, organizational, community, and macro levels) across-agency partnerships allowed individual agencies to address FI more effectively and holistically by connecting clients to other services (eg, housing and mental health) related to the circumstances of FI. In San Diego County, multilevel capacities in the form of within-agency capacities and across-agency partnerships collectively influenced the effectiveness of stakeholder agencies in addressing the 4 domains of FI among at-risk households. Future research should consider how to evaluate the impact of these existing capacities on FI.

In Pursuit of Equitable Access in Federal Food and Nutrition Assistance Programs.

In Pursuit of Equitable Access in Federal Food and Nutrition Assistance Programs.

Mixed-Integer Optimization with Constraint Learning

In today’s data-driven world, there is a growing opportunity for optimization models to more closely resemble real-world scenarios, namely through learning constraints or objective functions that are not explicitly known and must be estimated through data. In “Mixed-Integer Optimization with Constraint Learning,” the authors establish a novel methodological framework for data-driven decision making. Their approach enables constraints and objectives to be embedded directly from trained machine learning models that are mixed-integer optimization representable including linear models, decision trees, ensembles, and neural networks. The authors propose two different strategies to manage uncertainty in learned constraints. The first is based on the concept of trust region where the convex hull of data points is used to avoid extrapolation. Additionally, they present an ensemble learning method for enforcing constraints across multiple estimators, improving the robustness of the downstream prediction accuracy. Practitioners can access this framework through the “OptiCL” Python package. Case studies on World Food Programme humanitarian aid planning and chemotherapy regimen optimization demonstrate the methodology’s ability to produce scalable and data-informed prescriptions.

Opportunities to Improve Access to and Retention in the Child and Adult Care Food Program: Key Recommendations From Early Childcare Providers in Illinois, December 2020-July 2021.

Objectives. To identify recommendations to improve access to and retention in the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) as critical strategies to address health equity for low-income children. Methods. We conducted a qualitative key informant study of early childcare center and home providers (n = 35) in low-income urban and rural census tracts in Illinois between December 2020 and July 2021. Interviews with providers were organized and analyzed by the study team in MAXQDA Qualitative Data Analysis software. Themes were refined and finalized via member checking with an expert panel of providers and advocates. Results. Overall, providers spoke positively of the benefits of CACFP participation. Themes that centered around strategies to improve awareness of and access to CACFP included (1) conducting systematic statewide outreach, (2) improving technical assistance for enrollment, and (3) supporting positive sponsor-provider relationships. Themes related to retention included (1) alleviating procurement burdens, (2) extending reimbursement rates, and (3) expanding flexibilities. Conclusions. Policymakers looking to increase access to and retention in CACFP could consider state-level strategies such as systematic outreach and more targeted technical assistance. (Am J Public Health. 2024;113(S3):S231-S239. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2023.307433).

THE ROLE OF THE WORLD FOOD PROGRAMME (WFP) IN ADDRESSING THE FOOD CRISIS IN HAITI (2019-2021)

This paper focuses on the role of the World Food Program (WFP) as an international organization in dealing with threats to human security, namely the food crisis in Haiti in 2019-2021. This study uses explanatory qualitative research methods using data sourced from books, scientific journals, websites, and the official website of the WFP. The results of the research show that the WFP acts as an instrument for the Haitian government to work together to deal with the food crisis, acts as an arena for other international organizations in dealing with food crises and acts as an actor in dealing with the food crisis in Haiti through the Country Strategic Plan program (CSP).

State Regulations Set the Stage for Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) Participation in Home-Based Childcare.

State Regulations Set the Stage for Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) Participation in Home-Based Childcare.

The Child and Adult Care Food Program: A Critical Component of the Nutrition Safety Net for More Than 50 Years.

The Child and Adult Care Food Program: A Critical Component of the Nutrition Safety Net for More Than 50 Years.

Perspectives of Home-Based Child Care Providers in New Mexico on Barriers and Facilitators to Participating in the Child and Adult Care Food Program, 2021-2022.

This study examined New Mexico home-based child care provider perspectives (n = 75) on barriers to and facilitators of Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) participation. Two thirds of the sample were Spanish speakers. Providers reported that CACFP reimbursement does not cover actual food costs and the time-and-effort costs of obtaining qualifying foods and completing required documentation. They noted that additional reimbursed meals are needed for children in care for extended hours and that linguistically competent CACFP sponsor staff facilitated their participation. (Am J Public Health. 2023;113(S3):S215-S219. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2023.307402).

Leveraging the Child and Adult Care Food Program to Facilitate Healthy Behaviors and Environments in Early Care and Education Settings.

Leveraging the Child and Adult Care Food Program to Facilitate Healthy Behaviors and Environments in Early Care and Education Settings.

A review on biodegradable polymers: Used as packaging Materials

In current years littering of plastics and the problem associated with their chronic inside the environment have end up a primary awareness in the each studies and information. There is high need of biodegradable polymers and especially in the discipline of packing and additionally want to create biodegradable polymers for traditional packaging material. The current review paper focuses towards the various types of biopolymer sources that are available in nature which are able to reduce the risk of environment damage through the use of alternative of plastics as a packaging material. This review present review of the exclusive biodegradable polymers and records about biodegradable polymers which are degraded by way of microorganisms and additionally include biodegradation technique. The excellent of biopolymers can be expressed as distinct properties like gas barrier, thermal and mechanical barrier, and moisture barrier properties. Biopolymers may be classified into classes in keeping with natural, synthetic and based totally on repeating units. Biodegradable polymers can be used as an approach to the troubles posed via plastics as they effortlessly degrade inside the surroundings and also mimic the properties of traditional polymers. Starch, cellulose based totally biodegradable zero waste plastics can update with non-renewable plastics with comparable packaging properties. Some of organic substances can be incorporated into biodegradable polymers materials with the maximum common being PLA, PCA, protein, starch cellulose etc. This overview additionally nation the biodegradable polymers bundle of food programs and utilized in other discipline and which merchandise are made from this.

Integrating STEM based Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) to Promote Quality Education: A Systematic Literature Review

Promoting quality education through the integration of STEM-based Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) has become a significant area of interest. Integrating STEM-based ESD can enhance the quality of education by providing interdisciplinary learning opportunities that engage students in authentic, hands-on experiences. The objective of this study is to analyze existing empirical research on the utilization of STEM-ESD in order to investigate their effectiveness in fostering quality of education. The review process involved a systematic examination of journal papers published between 2018 and 2023, using both keyword search and snowballing techniques on the Scopus database. A total of 15 journal papers were selected for inclusion in this comprehensive review. The analysis indicates that STEM-ESD program is capable in increasing student self-efficacy and student engagement, STEM-ESD learning support student’s critical thinking skills and system thinking, Implementing Local Wisdom Based ESD can increase student knowledge, STEM learning in Sustainable Food Program as an effort to increase sustainable literacy in student, ESD can increase student’s environmental awareness. In this research there are a few implications such as that STEM-ESD need to be implemented in school curriculum in order to support education that is environmentally insightful.

Contextual Factors Influencing the Adoption of Physical Activity Direct Education and Policy, Systems, and Environmental Change Initiatives by Virginia EFNEP and SNAP-Ed Staff

ObjectiveTo explore factors influencing the adoption of direct education programs and policy, systems, and environmental (PSE) change initiatives focused on physical activity for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program-eligible audiences by Virginia Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program-Education (SNAP-Ed) staff. MethodsOnline survey with Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program and SNAP-Ed peer (paraprofessional) educators (n = 28) and SNAP-Ed agents (master of science level) (n = 9) in Virginia. Descriptive statistics were computed for sociodemographic characteristics and responses to questions on the basis of Likert-type scales. Exploratory factor analyses were run to identify the underlying structures of the different variables. ResultsThe main factors for peer educators were related to substituting nutrition programs or content for physical activity programs. Other factors included staff qualifications and expectations about leading vs teaching physical activities. For PSEs, the top factors were the capacity to reach many community members, attract new partners and stakeholders, and personal interest in the PSE. Conclusions and ImplicationsThe results provide insight into potential barriers and motivators for adopting physical activity education and PSEs within community-based initiatives and can be used to inform program planning and staff training. Additional research is warranted to examine other factors influencing the adoption and implementation of physical activity programs and PSEs.

Is localization better than globalization for sustainability? Evidence from the nutraceuticals industry for managing malnutrition in India

The socioeconomic consequences of the worldwide burden of malnutrition are substantial, with long-term consequences for individuals, their families, and their countries. Despite being one of the world's greatest producers of various agricultural products, India has regularly performed poorly in the Global Hunger Index. The World Food Programme provides funds to deliver a nutraceutical product (Plumpy Nut) to malnourished children in Low- and Medium-Income Countries (LMIC). The cost of obtaining these items from the international market is high, and worldwide logistics contribute to pollution. Despite these efforts, there has been insufficient food to feed nearly 40% of malnourished children in India, owing to budget constraints. This research provides a linear programming model and the Augmented ε-Constraint Method for developing a sustainable nutraceutical network. The model examines whether localizing the availability of nutraceutical items, in comparison to global sourcing, might be a viable option for improved managing malnutrition in LMIC's. The findings illustrate that localization can lead to a significant reduction in both cost (50%) and greenhouse gas emissions (90%). In addition, localization leads to feeding increased number of malnourished children in the budget constraint environment. Localization can also lead to a reduction in lead time related to due import-related logistical delays. The study offers insights into various policy interventions for stakeholders such as the government, producers, malnourished children (consumers), and others, to reduce malnutrition, while contributing towards United Nations Sustainable Development Goals of Zero Hunger and Responsible Consumption-Production by 2030. We use a case study from India to validate the model.

'I know you like the back of my hand': biometric practices of humanitarian organisations in international aid.

Humanitarian organisations are increasingly utilising biometric data. However, we know little about the extent and scope of this practice, as its benefits and risks have attracted all the attention so far. This paper explores the biometric practices of the United Nations Refugee Agency, the United Nations World Food Programme, the International Committee of the Red Cross, Médecins Sans Frontières, and World Vision International. The study analysed relevant documents published over the past two decades and 17 semi-structured interviews with humanitarian workers conducted between June 2021 and June 2022. The findings reveal that humanitarian organisations use diverse types and functions of biometric data for different services, collaborate with many actors, and employ various data protection measures. Ultimately, challenging the straightforward generalisations about the use of such data, the paper argues that variational applications of biometrics in the humanitarian context require case-by-case analysis, as each instance will likely produce a different outcome.

Shortening food supply chain in home-grown school feeding: experiences and lessons from south central China

Abstract Both home-grown school feeding (HGSF) and short food supply chain (SFSC) emphasize on proximity and aim to strengthen the competitiveness of local smallholder farmers. From a theoretical perspective, HGSF implemented as a type of SFSC could help deliver synergies. A pivotal question is how HGSF can be combined with SFSC and the benefits and drawbacks of such combination. Using an HGSF program which was implemented as an integral part of a free preschool lunch pilot in South Central China, this paper shows that HGSF and SFSC (in its full term) could be combined through one structured demand intervention. This study uses both qualitative and quantitative materials. Qualitative data were collected through focus group discussions with government and preschool staff, parents or caregivers, cooks, World Food Programme representatives and other stakeholders involved in the pilot program. The quantitative part used both small panel data and cross-sectional data from 106 smallholders. This study analyzes the design, implementation, good practices, benefits and constraints of the HGSF-SFSC model. We find that direct purchase from smallholder farmers was linked with higher income and production and dietary diversity. Moreover, this study identifies several constraints of the current HGSF-SFSC model. The policy implications for sustaining and scaling up the current pilot are discussed in the paper.

State Agency Perspectives on Successes and Challenges of Administering the Child and Adult Care Food Program

The federal Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) improves nutrition and reduces food insecurity for young children while helping cover food costs for care providers and families. Despite its important benefits, the program is underutilized. This report uses qualitative interviews with state CACFP administrators representing 28 states to explore federal and state policies and practices that support or discourage CACFP participation among licensed child care centers. We report on successful approaches to program outreach and administration, barriers that make CACFP participation challenging, and recommendations to expand access to CACFP for eligible child care providers and the populations they serve.

Global and national aspects of food security in the minds of an unstable economy

As a result of Russia's aggression and the cessation of the export of Ukrainian agricultural products by sea, 22 million tons of grain were blocked in Ukrainian ports. This has significantly limited the ability of Ukrainian farmers to sell grain for the 2021 and 2022 harvests, while at the same time increasing the threat of global hunger, since almost half of all supplies under the UN World Food Program come from Ukraine. The subject of the study is ensuring food security in Ukraine and the world as a whole. The purpose of this scientific work is the analysis of modern conditions that affect compliance with food security in the global dimension. The main scientific methods used in writing the article were: analysis, synthesis, systematization, comparison, abstract-logical method. It has been established that the unblocking of Ukrainian ports and the resumption of grain and oilseed exports is of crucial importance both for the economy of Ukraine and for global food security. The results of the study indicate that Ukraine currently has three export routes - ports on the Danube, railways and highways. However, each of them has its own shortcomings. For example, the Danube ports have limited capacity due to the lack of barges, berths and terminals. Previously, Ukraine almost did not use this export route and therefore did not invest in it. In turn, railway and road logistics are hampered by heavy traffic jams at the borders, lack of wagons and fuel, phytosanitary procedures, as well as the difference between the European and Ukrainian (wider by 9 cm) tracks. Another significant problem is the lack of storage capacity in European ports, which are not adapted to such volumes of grain transshipment. It has been studied that almost a third of agricultural land is unsuitable for planting because it is mined. It was considered that even if the Ukrainian government manages to organize new ways of exporting food from the country, the export of the 2021/2022 marketing year was significantly smaller than last year. In 2023, due to the significant reduction in cultivated areas caused by the war, it is likely that it will not be possible to collect too large crops, and therefore, the share of Ukrainian products in the world food market will significantly decrease. Ukraine's place can be taken by other producers, in particular Brazil, Argentina, India, Canada and the USA. A significant reduction in Ukraine's exports has been established. The food security system is presented, which includes the conditions for ensuring food security and dimensions of food security. Russian aggression against Ukraine has been proven to be another economic challenge for developing countries in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, which threatens their food security. A decrease in the production and export of grain from Ukraine and Russia, as well as an increase in the price of energy raw materials and fertilizers will lead to an increase in food prices in the world. Key words: food security, war in Ukraine, export, food security system.