Food Security Information Research Articles

Household Food Sourcing Patterns and Their Associations With Food Insecurity in Appalachian Ohio

BackgroundHouseholds experiencing food insecurity may use dynamic strategies to meet food needs. Yet, the relationship between household food sourcing behaviors and food security, particularly in rural settings, is understudied. ObjectiveTo identify food sourcing patterns and their associations with food insecurity among households in rural Appalachian Ohio during the COVID-19 pandemic. DesignSurvey data were collected from a cohort of households in Athens County, OH, in July 2020, October 2020, January 2021, and April 2021. Participants/settingThe sample included 663 households with household food sourcing and food security information for ≥1 survey wave. Main outcome measuresHousehold food sourcing patterns. Households reported the frequency with which they obtained food from various retailers and charitable sources, classified as supercenters, supermarkets, convenience stores, farmers markets, or charitable sources. Statistical analysesPrincipal component analysis was used to identify food sourcing patterns. Linear mixed models were used to assess changes in food sourcing behaviors over the study period and to determine whether food sourcing behaviors differed according to food security status. ResultsTwo patterns were identified: Convenience Stores and Charitable Food and Supermarkets and Farmers Markets, not Supercenters. Relative to July 2020, alignment of households’ food sourcing behaviors with the Supermarkets and Farmers Markets, not Supercenters pattern was higher in October 2020 (β .07, 95% CI .02 to .12) and alignment with the Convenience Stores and Charitable Food pattern was lower in April 2021 (β –.06, 95% CI –.11 to –.02). Compared with food-secure households, food sourcing behaviors of food-insecure households were more closely aligned with the Convenience Stores and Charitable Food pattern (β .07, 95% CI .00 to .13); no statistically significant difference in scores was observed for the Supermarkets and Farmers Markets, not Supercenters pattern (β –.07, 95% CI –.15 to .02). ConclusionsThese findings support efforts to increase access to healthy, affordable options at venues where food-insecure households may be likely to obtain food, such as convenience stores and charitable sources.

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.

Factors associated with stunting among children aged below 60 months from rural Malawi: a matched case-control study

Stunting currently affects 37% (1.1 million) of Malawian children and causing unfavorable impact for both children and their households. Identifying risk factors to stunting would go a long way in developing appropriate interventions. The objective of this study was to identify the risk factors of stunting among children aged below 60 months from Balaka, Dedza and Mzimba districts in Malawi. A matched cross-sectional case-control study was conducted among 913 (446 controls; 467 cases) children aged below 60 months from three regions of Malawi. Household demographic, anthropometric measurements, dietary intake, food security, and morbidity information were collected. Case-Control Stepwise multiple logistic regression models are used to determine risk factors of stunting. The following were identified as risk factors for stunting including; age of child (AOR= 6.3; 95% CI: 2.9, 8.9), polygamy (AOR= 8.9; 95%, CI: 3.3, 13.03), maternal education (AOR= 9.9; 95%, CI: 2.8, 20.1), access to markets (AOR= 1.3; 95%, CI: 0.2, 2.4), childhood infections (AOR= 2.11; 95%, CI: 1.4, 4.2) and presence of oedema (AOR= 2.5; 95%, CI: 1.3, 4.1). Also, lack of food any month (AOR= 1.31; 95%, CI: 1.01, 4.9), purchasing food on credit (AOR= 1.48; 95%, CI: 1.4, 1.7), begging for food (AOR= 1.55; 95%, CI: 1.2, 2.1), mothers or caregivers consuming less than 5 food groups (MDD-W) (AOR = 4.83; 95% CI: 1.9, 16.4), exclusive breastfeeding (AOR= 5.45; 95%, CI: 4.33, 7.61) children weaned on plain water (AOR= 1.6; 95%, CI: 1.6, 2.41), powdered milk (AOR= 0.63; 95%, CI: 0.4, 1.32), juices (AOR= 0.44; 95%, CI: 0.12, 0.96) and children fed on sugary food (AOR= 0.66; 95%, CI: 0.4, 0.99) were significantly related to stunting. Stunting is associated with increasing age of children, boys, polygamous households, lack of education by mothers or caregivers, inaccessible markets, childhood infections and presence of oedema, food insecurity, breastfeeding and complementary feeding among children and dietary diversity of mothers or caregivers. These results suggest that interventions against childhood stunting should be designed according to the factors that significantly affect stunting. Key words: child growth, Malawi, stunting and complementary feeding, Regression, Food Security and Health

The Role of Healthy Social Life, Food Security, and Nutrition in Shaping a Healthy Island: An Analysis Using Structural Equation Modeling

Several important factors are associated with establishing a healthy island including a healthy social life, food security, and nutrition but in-depth information related to these dimensions is limited. The relationship dimensions include addressing poverty, managing natural and social disasters, handling disabilities, food availability, and food security. Therefore, this study aimed to identify the best model for establishing a healthy island in South Sulawesi. The experiment was carried out on five islands located in three municipalities/regencies in South Sulawesi, namely Tanakeke Island in Takalar Regency, Barrang Caddi Island and Lummu-Lumu Island in Makassar Municipality, as well as Saugi Island and Sapuli Island in Pangkep Regency. The sample consisted of 196 households, while data were analyzed using multivariate analysis through structural equation model tests. The results showed that addressing poverty (t value = 13.77; R2 = 0.75), managing natural and social disasters (t value = 12.15; R2 = 0.61), as well as handling disabilities (t value = 12,53; R2 = 0.64) significantly affected healthy social life. Additionally, food availability (t value = 6.25; R2 = 0.66), and security (t value = 2.72; R2 = 0.85) played key roles in the relationship between food security and nutrition affecting a healthy island. The best indicator of a healthy social life variable was addressing poverty (t value = 13.77; R2 = 0.75). Meanwhile, the best indicator of food security and nutrition variables was food availability (t value = 6.25; R2 = 0.66).

Food Insecurity Transitions and Changes in Employment and Earnings

Many low-income U.S. households experience food security changes over time, but little is known about how labor market transitions contribute to these changes. This paper uses longitudinal survey data collected from 2017 to 2020 to explore how changes in employment and earnings are associated with changes in food security status. Analyses were conducted in the spring of 2022 and include nearly 3,500 individuals who participated in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Employment and Training program. Individuals responded to surveys at 2 points in time-12 months and 36 months after study enrollment-which asked for employment, earnings, and food security information. Logistic regression models were used to estimate the associations between food security transitions and employment and earnings changes. Analyses also were conducted to assess whether these associations differed on the basis of individuals' previous employment and earnings volatility. Individuals who experienced a job loss 2 months before the second survey interview had higher odds of becoming food insecure (OR=2.67; 95% CI=1.24, 5.75); those who experienced an earnings reduction in the month before the interview also had higher odds of becoming food insecure (OR=1.89; 95% CI=1.03, 3.47). The association between experiencing a job loss and becoming food insecure was greater among those who had experienced past earnings changes. There were no statistically significant associations between changes in earnings and employment and the likelihood of becoming food secure. Employment losses and earnings reductions are associated with becoming food insecure among Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Employment and Training participants. Providing additional support to individuals who experience these losses and reductions may reduce their risk of becoming food insecure.

Geoportal platform design for agricultural development of small island based on geosmart system

Sustainable management of agricultural resources aims to achieve global food security and the greater interest in achieving several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as proposed by the United Nations, particularly the goals without poverty, without hunger, and terrestrial ecosystems. One method that can be done to facilitate policy-making in achieving these goals is to build a web-based food security information system on the basis of a geosmart system. The purpose of this study is to develop a user-friendly information system that provides thematic databases obtained from various sources, particularly remote sensing data, GIS, GPS, and field surveys, with metadata information that has a coordinate system. The development of this system is expected to provide various thematic services on land and land resource information to facilitate visualization, access, and information services in the study area. This study was conducted on a small island of Kaledupa island, in Wakatobi Regency. In addition to biophysical information, it is expected that this system can also provide information services on socio-economic conditions, agricultural commodities, production, agroecology, soil, and crop suitability. The data presented on the website is currently in the form of a thematic map, a plan map in the form of a map of the island’s spatial pattern, and documentation of sampling data. The long-term target of developing this information system is expected to facilitate users and policy makers in Wakatobi Regency in managing land resources, assessing land degradation, and user-friendly agricultural planning in Wakatobi Regency.

Ketahanan Pangan Sebelum dan Selama Pandemi Covid-19 di Kabupaten Bandung

The World Food Programme said that in 2020 there were 768 million people who experienced chronic hunger due to the increase in world poverty during the Covid-19 pandemic. In facing the spread of Covid-19, the agricultural sector is a priority because it is directly related to national food security. As a national food barn, West Java is affected by the increase in poor people. Pada in 2021, Bandung Regency experienced extreme poverty, which is 2.64%; this will affect food security in particular, in terms of affordability. Therefore, the availability of accurate and fast food security information is needed to prevent and handle food insecurity in order to provide direction and recommendations for preparing programs and policies, especially during the Covid-19 pandemic. This study was based on analyzing differences in food security before and during the Covid-19 Pandemic in Bandung Regency regarding food availability, affordability, and utilization. The analysis used a descriptive quantitative method with a paired sample t-test. The data source is secondary data from the Food Security and Vulnerability Atlas report of Bandung Regency. The analysis shows a noticeable difference between the food security of Bandung Regency before and during the Covid-19 pandemic, namely the decrease in the composite value of food security, especially in affordability. The most significant average increase occurred in the lowest welfare ratio indicator in 2020. Keywords: food security, Covid-19

ASEAN Vision 2020: The Implementation of Cooperation on Food Security

This paper examines the implementation of the ASEAN Vision 2020 in cooperation on food security. The ASEAN Vision 2020 stated that ASEAN will strengthen their cooperation to enhance food security and international competitiveness of food, agricultural and forest products, to make ASEAN a leading producer of these products, and promote the forestry sector as a model in forest management, conservation and sustainable development. ASEAN had built a well-established framework of cooperation on food security. The establishment of the ASEAN Food Security Information System (AFSIS) was praised as an ASEAN achievement in enhancing the cooperation in food security. Although, compared to the objectives of regional economic cooperation and military security mechanism, the objective in strengthening the cooperation on food security remains less significant within the ASEAN's discussions. The question is then, by conducting numerous frameworks of cooperation, did ASEAN excel to achieve the objectives in ASEAN Vision 2020 in the sphere of food security? This paper argues that ASEAN had successfully delivered some positive achievements in the scope of regional cooperation in food security areas. However, to some extent, some ASEAN state-members are still struggling with problems related to food security, particularly regarding food accessibility. The ASEAN growing market brings about a challenge for food supply and greater pressure for the association to ensure environmental sustainability in the region. Regarding its goals within the scope of ASEAN Vision 2020, the association mostly focused on how to achieve their deeper economic integration. In the area of food security, ASEAN has managed to set up a foundation for further regional cooperation under the framework of the ASEAN Community Vision 2025 and ASEAN Vision 2040.

P86 Impact of Healthy Meal Kits on the Home Food Environment of African Americans with Low Income

<h3>Background</h3> The Home Food Environment (HFE) consists of the home's physical and the sociocultural environments and plays a key role in the healthfulness of one's diet. No known studies have evaluated the impact of healthy meal kits on the HFE of African American (AA) adults with low income. <h3>Objective</h3> To determine the impact of a 6-week healthy meal kit intervention on the HFE of AA adults with low income and with children. <h3>Study Design, Setting, Participants</h3> Participants were recruited for a 6-week healthy meal kit study. Participants received 1 meal kit each week with 3 meals, which included recipe cards, necessary ingredients, a nutrition handout, and a cooking tool. At baseline, all participants completed a demographic survey and the USDA 18-item Food Security Module. Participants also completed the HFE tool at baseline and post, assessing foods available in the home; food preparation tools; grocery shopping practices and frequencies; non-home food sources; eating and screen viewing; cooking self-efficacy, attitudes, and behaviors; and social supports. <h3>Measurable Outcome/Analysis</h3> Descriptive statistics were used to describe participant demographic and food security information. Linear Mixed-Model analysis with an unstructured covariance was used to analyze significant changes in the HFE survey from baseline to post. <h3>Results</h3> Participants (n = 36) were on average 43 years old, female (89%), had some college (47%), and had 2 children living in the home. Low or very low food security was reported by 68% of participants, and 48% of participants had an annual household income of less than $25,000. Eating and screen viewing significantly decreased from baseline to post (<i>P</i> = 0.04). No significant changes were found in any other HFE items. <h3>Conclusion</h3> Meal kits may promote a healthy HFE, but additional efforts are needed to improve the overall HFE. Future meal kit studies should should incorporate more education on improving the HFE to see more of an impact.

Comparative study on the bionomics of Callosobruchus maculatus Fabricius (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) in cowpea varieties (host) and common bean varieties (non-host): Findings revealed important food security information

Bionomics of Callosobruchus maculatus Fabricius (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) in cowpea (host) and common bean seeds (non-host) were comparatively investigated in storage at ambient temperature (29.1°C) and relative humidity (73%) in Rivers State, Nigeria. Insect bionomics and concentrations of five toxic metals and five minerals were determined in cowpea and common bean varieties using standard methods. Results showed that the rates of infestation, development and damage by C. maculatus varied between the genus Vigna (cowpea) and Phaseolus (common bean) and within varieties of the same genus. It was possible to understand bionomics patterns of C. maculatus among the cowpea and common bean varieties; particularly observing that insects of the species C. maculatus do not feed in adulthood and do not develop in seeds of common bean, even when they were teased with very attractive seeds-brightly colored and mottled. The role of arsenic toxic metal in deterring C. maculatus bionomics and the roles of sodium, calcium and potassium minerals in making cowpea seeds susceptible to the beetle require more specific analysis. Interesting insect dynamics were observed and the new findings have implications for control of C. maculatus adults using thermal applications and oviposition-sensitive strategies. Temperature, relative humidity and surface texture affected C. maculatus performance. The adult C. maculatus preferred wet surface to dry surface and the mechanisms of orientation on surfaces were ortho and klino-kinetic reactions. This has implications for effective management of the pest by managers seeking to minimize seed damage and loss in stores.

Resources for China–ASEAN Relations: October 2020 to December 2020

Resources for China–ASEAN RelationsOctober 2020 to December 2020 Chen Juan (bio) As a research institute based in Singapore, the EAI monitors developments in relations and interactions between China and the individual countries of Southeast Asia as well as the ASEAN grouping as a whole. This material is presented in the form of (i) a chronology of events and (ii) important documents. —the Editors CHINA–ASEAN RELATIONS OCTOBER 2020 TO DECEMBER 2020: CHRONOLOGY OF EVENTS OCTOBER 2020 3rd Chinese President Xi Jinping and Singapore President Halimah Yacob, and Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong exchange congratulatory messages to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the establishment of China–Singapore diplomatic relations. Both sides express readiness to advance and deepen cooperation in various fields. 9th Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Indonesia's Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan meet in Tengchong city, Yunnan province. Both sides discuss their cooperation amid the COVID-19 pandemic, and exchange views on international and regional issues of common concern. 10th Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi holds talks with Philippine Foreign Secretary Teodoro Lopez Locsin also in Tengchong city, Yunnan. They agree to establish a "fast-track lane" for essential personnel exchanges. Both sides note their accumulation of experience in handling the South China Sea issue, and the Philippines side also expresses willingness to support companies of both countries in joint oil and gas development based on the Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation on Oil and Gas Development signed earlier. 11th–12th Chinese State Councillor and Minister of Foreign Affairs Wang Yi makes an official visit to Cambodia and meets with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, Deputy Prime Minister Hor Namhong and Foreign Affairs Minister Prak Sokhonn. Both sides sign the Cambodia–China free trade agreement and two cooperation documents. 12th–13th Chinese State Councillor and Minister of Foreign Affairs Wang Yi makes an official visit to Malaysia. He calls on Malaysian Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin and holds talks with Foreign Minister Hishammuddin Hussein. The two sides agree to develop a Memorandum of Understanding on COVID-19 related mutual support and to establish a High-Level Committee on Malaysia–China Post Pandemic Cooperation. They also look forward to the inking of the Agreement on Cooperation in Vaccine Development and Accessibility by both governments. 14th Chinese State Councillor and Minister of Foreign Affairs Wang Yi makes an official visit to Laos and meets with Laotian President Bounnhang Vorachit, Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith and Foreign Minister Saleumxay Kommasith. China and Laos jointly announce the launch of the "fast lane" for personnel exchanges and agree to set up a "green lane" for logistics. They also sign a series of cooperation documents. 14th–15th Chinese State Councillor and Minister of Foreign Affairs Wang Yi meets Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha and Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai during his official visit to Thailand. Both sides exchange congratulations on their 45th anniversary of diplomatic relations. They note the need to expedite the conclusion of the "fast track" arrangement for essential short-term business travel, and also consider establishing a "green lane" to facilitate cross-border flow of goods. 20th The ASEAN–China Young Leaders Scholarship (ACYLS) holds its opening ceremony online to welcome its second batch of scholars. For the 2020 academic year, 37 scholars have begun their higher education in various Chinese institutions. Launched in 2019, the ACYLS is an education cooperation initiative funded through the ASEAN–China Cooperation Fund. 21st The 12th Meeting of the ASEAN Plus Three (APT) Ministers on Agriculture and Forestry is held online. The meeting reaffirms the commitment to ensure sustainable food sources and stable food prices through the APT Emergency Rice Reserve and ASEAN Food Security Information System. The ministers also note the serious threat of Fall Armyworm to agriculture and food security of the region, thus encouraging member states to support the implementation of the ASEAN Action Plan on Fall Armyworm (2020–2025). 28th The 11th ASEAN Plus Three Labour Ministers Meeting is convened virtually. In support of the ASEAN Community Vision 2025, the meeting adopted the five-year priorities of APT cooperation on labour for the 2021–25 period. Views are exchanged...

Association between Food Insecurity and Health-Related Quality of Life: a Nationally Representative Survey.

Food insecurity, limited or uncertain access to enough food for an active, healthy life, affected over 37 million Americans in 2018. Food insecurity is likely to be associated with worse health-related quality of life (HRQoL), but this association has not been measured with validated instruments in nationally representative samples. Given growing interest understanding food insecurity's role in health outcomes, it would be useful to learn what HRQoL measures best capture the experience of those with food insecurity. To determine the association between food insecurity and several validated HRQoL instruments in US adults. Cross-sectional. US adults (age ≥ 18), weighted to be nationally representative. Food insecurity was assessed with three items derived from the USDA Household Food Security Survey Module. HRQoL was assessed using PROMIS-Preference (PROPr), which contains 7 PROMIS domains, self-rated health (SRH), Euroqol-5D-5L (EQ-5D), Health Utilities Index (HUI), and Short Form-6D (SF-6D). In December 2017, 4142 individuals completed at least part of the survey (31% response rate), of whom 4060 (98.0%) reported food security information. Of survey respondents, 51.7% were women, 12.5% self-identified as black, 15.8% were Hispanic, and 11.0% did not have a high school diploma. 14.1% of respondents reported food insecurity. In adjusted analyses, food insecurity was associated with worse HRQoL across all instruments and PROMIS domains (p < .0001 for all). The magnitude of the difference between food-insecure and food-secure participants was largest with the SF-6D, EQ-5D, and PROPr; among individual PROMIS domain scores, the largest difference was for ability to participate in social roles. Food insecurity is strongly associated with worse HRQoL, with differences between food-secure and food-insecure individuals best measured using the SF-6D, EQ-5D, and PROPr. Future work should develop a specific instrument to measure changes in HRQoL in food insecurity interventions.

ABOUT WORKING OUT OF THE SOCIAL SECURITY INDICATORS IN GEORGIA

Article is devoted to the problems of the working out of the social security indicators in Georgia. It considers the essence of the social security and its importance for crisis and post crisis economies. It evaluates existing deficiencies in working out of the social security indicators in Georgia. It singles out the issues of the necessity and importance of consideration of the security as a compound part of the welfare in the crisis economy. Marking out, the circle of the security indicators related to the development of the basic needs, welfare foundations and capacities. The necessity of the dissociate of the indicators on the national, family and individual (personal) levels is substantiated. Inevitability of the setting out of the new circle of the social equality indicators in Georgia is grounded. The existing situation in the informational provision of the main directions of the social security recommended by the conventions and guidelines of the international labor organization is characterized. Special attention is paid to the existing backdowns in development of the food security information system in Georgia. The interrelation of the food security to the problems of the health, food insufficiency of the complex and sustainable development, as well as environmental issues is pointed out. The problems of the evaluation of the food security situation and elaboration of the relevant policy in Georgia are accentuated. The necessity of the further measures towards the improvement of the informational provision of the food security system is substantiated.

Food community: Understanding community needs for a food security website to support rural and remote Western Australians.

The South West Food Community (SWFC) project (2018) was implemented to identify initiatives working to enhance healthy food availability, access and use in the South West region of Western Australia (SWWA); and enhance how they functioned as a system. The SWFC project participants included government and community members. This study aimed to understand how a tailored food security website could be developed as a support mechanism to increase understanding of food security, connect participants and enhance the effectiveness of SWFC initiatives. Initiative leaders from the SWFC project (n=46) were invited to participate in semi-structured telephone interviews which sought to understand needs for a food security website. Fifteen stakeholders completed the interviews (32% response rate). Data relating to desirable and undesirable website components were analysed thematically using QSR NVivo 12. Participants requested the website to include concise content, food security resources, inviting/useful images and information about initiatives. Undesirable features included academic literature, difficult-to-use functions, discussion boards and hard-to-view images. A tailored, co-designed website that is monitored, user-friendly and functional were key stakeholder requirements. A tailored, co-designed food security website that promotes partnership development, builds networks, increases understanding and communication about food security and implementation strategies is needed.

Crisis Response and Supervision System for Food Security: A Comparative Analysis between Mainland China and Taiwan

In Mainland China, major food security incidents have occurred with high frequency, of which the number and degree of harm are both increasing. At the same time, Taiwan’s food security crisis has also been spreading. For these reasons, this article makes a comparative analysis of food security issues between Mainland China and Taiwan from a legal point of view and identifies the blind spots of the legal system and supervision using official documents and research papers regarding the most typical incidents in the period of 2008–2019. The results indicate that, compared with Mainland China, Taiwan has a better food security supervision system, and its experience with the supervision system, specific rules, social supervision, and responsibility is worth investigating. However, while there are loopholes in criminal law in Mainland China, which has not formed a complete system, criminal law in Taiwan is also weak in terms of regulation of food security incidents. Based on the results, this article puts forward suggestions with the expectation that, in the face of an increasingly severe food security crisis, Mainland China and Taiwan will strengthen their cooperation in constructing legal systems for food security supervision and inspection, exchange experience, cooperate in inspection, and share food security information to avoid rumors of food insecurity circulating in popular science. It is expected that the results and suggestions of this study will be helpful in the crisis response, as well as in the supervision systems in Mainland China and Taiwan for guarding food security. Although the comparative analysis is specific to the two regions, its characteristics are typical of food security globally, especially in Asia.

China–Asean Relations October 2019 To December 2019: Chronology of Events

China–Asean Relations October 2019 To December 2019:Chronology of Events Chen Juan (bio) As a research institute based in Singapore, the EAI monitors developments in relations and interactions between China and the individual countries of Southeast Asia as well as the ASEAN grouping as a whole. This material is presented in the form of (i) a chronology of events and (ii) important documents. —the Editors OCTOBER 2019 14th China and ASEAN universities ally to deepen ASEAN–China medical and health care cooperation at the founding of the China–ASEAN University Consortium on Medicine and Health held in Beijing. The consortium, led by the Peking University Health Science Center is joined by 42 universities and medical schools in China and ASEAN countries. Its aim is to promote regional and global medical education and public health through in-depth exchanges and collaboration. 15th The 18th ASEAN–China Senior Officials' Meeting on the Implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC) convenes at Dalat, Vietnam. The meeting discusses the second reading of the Code of Conduct text, reviews and confirms new maritime cooperation projects, and updates the DOC implementation plan for 2016–2021. There are concerns regarding incidents that had taken place in Vietnam's claimed exclusive economic zone. From October 13 to 14, all parties also held the 30th Joint Working Group on the DOC. Standing Committee member of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee Politburo and Vice Premier of the State Council Han Zheng and Singapore Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee [End Page 213] Keat jointly announce that the Protocol to Upgrade the China–Singapore Free Trade Agreement will come into effect on 16 October 2019. The protocol covers cooperation in six sectors contained in the original agreement, namely rules of origin, customs procedures and trade facilitation, trade remedies, service trade, investment, and economic cooperation, and adds three new sectors, namely e-commerce, competition policies and environment. Both sides agree that the adjustment of the rules of origin will be implemented on 1 January 2020. According to the Chinese side, the most significant changes made are related to investment, whereby both sides have agreed to apply "national treatment" and the "most-favoured-nation treatment" status to each other's investors. 16th The 19th Meeting of the ASEAN Plus Three (APT) Ministers on Agriculture and Forestry convenes in Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei Darussalam. The meeting notes the progress and the significant number of activities conducted in the following areas under the ASEAN Plus Three Cooperation Strategy 2016–2025: food security; sustainable forest management; climate change mitigation and adaptation; animal and plant health and disease control; enhancement of capacity-building and human resource development; strengthening of information system and knowledge networking and exchange; enhancement of productivity, quality and marketability of agricultural products; and research and development. The APT ministers also commend the progress in the implementation of the APT Emergency Rice Reserve Agreement and the APT Food Security Information System. 18th The ASEAN–China Cooperation Fund (ACCF) Management Team is launched at the ASEAN Secretariat in Jakarta, Indonesia. ASEAN Secretary General Dato Lim Jock Hoi expresses his appreciation for China's contribution of US$11.3 million to the ACCF in 2019. The fund supports many cooperation projects including the Young Leaders' Scholarship Programme, which sponsors 23 scholars from ASEAN for their graduate studies in Chinese universities. As of September 2019, there have been 131 projects under the ACCF with an accumulated value of over US$26 million since the ACCF's establishment in 1997. 18th–20th The 2019 China–ASEAN Expo Tourism Exhibition, which aims to expand tourism cooperation and enhance service quality, kicks off in Guilin, Guangxi. The exhibition, which attracts the participation of 57 countries and regions, including ASEAN countries, features six themes, namely the Belt and Road, inbound tourism, outbound tourism, tourist consumption, tourist commodities, and Guangxi's tourist image. [End Page 214] 20th Singapore Minister for Defence Ng Eng Hen and Chinese State Councillor and Minister of National Defense Wei Fenghe sign the Enhanced Agreement on Defence Exchanges and Security Cooperation in Beijing. The enhanced agreement, besides formalising ongoing defence cooperation between the two countries and providing a...

Determinants of Food Insecurity in Rural Households: The Case of the Paute River Basin of Azuay Province, Ecuador

Eliminating food insecurity is one of humanity’s greatest global challenges. Thus, the purpose of this research was to analyze the factors that determine food insecurity in households in the rural area of the Paute River Basin, Azuay Province, Ecuador. Stratified sampling was used as the sampling method, with proportional affixation. Moreover, we employed the Latin American and Caribbean Household Food Security Measurement Scale (ELCSA). We estimated the main determinants of household food insecurity using two binomial logit models and one ordered logit model. For the analysis of the data, the respective statistical and econometric tests were employed. The results show that housing size and access to food security information are the most important determinants of food insecurity in the three predictive models applied in this research. This research contributes to the existing literature on food insecurity and provides important information for policymakers, especially regarding food insecurity in rural areas, which has profound economic and social implications.

Food Values Applied to &amp;lt;i&amp;gt;Moringa oleifera&amp;lt;/i&amp;gt;: A Case Study in Niger

The objective of this paper is to determine food values as applied to leafy vegetables such as Moringa oleifera and to specifically determine how climate change and food security information influence food values using recent advances in best worst scaling. Based on previous research related food values and focus group with consumers and resourceful persons, thirteen food values were identified and included in this study. Data were collected from 174 respondents randomly selected and interviewed in both rural and urban locations. Results suggest that food values such as veganism, nutrition, aesthetic object and social good when applied toMoringa oleifera are among the more important to consumers; while medicine, culture and object of hunger and desire were among the least important to consumers. Our findings further revealed that food values such nutrition is the most important when climate change information is provided to consumers, while technology and culture are the least important food values. Finally, food values such veganism, aesthetic object and nutrition are the most important, whereas food values such as culture is the least important when food security information is provided to consumers.

Good data are not enough: Understanding limited information use for climate risk and food security management in Guatemala

Climate extremes are one of the main drivers of acute food insecurity. In Guatemala, acute food insecurity reaches alarming levels when the usual dry period during the bimodal rainy seasons is extended or starts earlier than expected. Drought has a slow-onset which theoretically leaves sufficient lead-time for addressing impacts on food security. In practice, emergency response to drought is often reactive and arrives late, starting when the crisis is already evolving. Climate services and food security information systems are key ingredients for integrated climate risk and food security management worldwide. In Guatemala, stakeholders broadly agree on the usefulness of this type of information for decision-making and direct significant efforts towards improving information availability and quality. But the impact of agro-climatic and food security information on decisions is ad hoc or not systematic. Through a mix of qualitative, ethnographic, and participatory methods, we investigated why this situation occurs. We found that different aspects lead to this phenomenon: the impact of drought on food security is mediated by different socio-economic, political, and institutional factors that tend to differ strongly between regions or even communities across the country. This puts special requirements on information provision for decision-making. Information use patterns can be explained by technical, data-related aspects as reliability, timeliness, or accessibility. But only by considering the institutional and organizational context we get a complete understanding on what frames the information-use patterns in climate and food security management in Guatemala. Our research shows that investments in technical aspects of data provision and infrastructure for increased climate and food security management need to address institutional and organizational challenges in order to be effective.

Az élelmiszer-fogyasztói szokások változása a COVID-19 vírus megjelenéséhez kapcsolódóan Magyarországon

THE AIM OF THE PAPER The outbreak and drastic spread of the COVID-19 pandemic has caused an economic shock that lead to a measurable change in consumer behavior. The objective of this study is to research the effect of the pandemic on consumer behavior, investigate the change in the decision factors occurring at food and grocery purchases. METHODOLOGY In March-April 2020 we have conducted an online questionnaire research primarily with the use of social media and mailing lists. The acquired sample is made up of 928 filled out surveys and it is not representative. In the first segment of the questionnaire we have investigated the factors influencing choice of food. The second part focused on the change caused by the epidemic, whereas the third segment we placed the background variables. Beside descriptive statistics we applied relationship research primarily based on gender, age, profession, size of the family and income and we investigated typical behavior patterns. Following this research we have formed suggestions concerning possible marketing and commercial tools. MOST IMPORTANT RESULTS In the research the change in the attitude toward food purchasing in the following weeks of the announcement of the emergency was investigated. The shift in the place of the purchases is clearly measurable. Instead of bigger shopping malls, people tend to go to smaller shops and markets in greater proportion. The frequency of shopping has decreased, whereas the demand to substitute cash and use alternative paying methods has increased. Paying with debit and credit cards is the most widespread, however prepaying, mobile paying and using virtual cards also appears. The role acquiring food from internet sources has increased, which equips the merchants with new tools, for instance for providing information regarding healthy lifestyle. RECOMMENDATIONS As previous experiences are relevant factors concerning the decision between groceries, building brand is exceedingly important. Furthermore, marketing communication has to target reducing risk for consumers and building greater trust between the parties. The increased appreciation of smaller, local producers can be a long term effect, therefore the producers have to use the opportunity to build foundation for long term goals with the use of targeted communication, high quality products and services. Food security and available information is an important tool to reduce consumer risk. With authentic provision of information and warranties the authorities play a great role in the process.