Implications For Food Security Research Articles

Massive seasonal high-altitude migrations of nocturnal insects above the agricultural plains of East China

Long-distance migrations of insects contribute to ecosystem functioning but also have important economic impacts when the migrants are pests or provide ecosystem services. We combined radar monitoring, aerial sampling, and searchlight trapping, to quantify the annual pattern of nocturnal insect migration above the densely populated agricultural lands of East China. A total of ~9.3 trillion nocturnal insect migrants (15,000 t of biomass), predominantly Lepidoptera, Hemiptera, and Diptera, including many crop pests and disease vectors, fly at heights up to 1 km above this 600 km-wide region every year. Larger migrants (>10 mg) exhibited seasonal reversal of movement directions, comprising northward expansion during spring and summer, followed by southward movements during fall. This north-south transfer was not balanced, however, with southward movement in fall 0.66× that of northward movement in spring and summer. Spring and summer migrations were strongest when the wind had a northward component, while in fall, stronger movements occurred on winds that allowed movement with a southward component; heading directions of larger insects were generally close to the track direction. These findings indicate adaptations leading to movement in seasonally favorable directions. We compare our results from China with similar studies in Europe and North America and conclude that ecological patterns and behavioral adaptations are similar across the Northern Hemisphere. The predominance of pests among these nocturnal migrants has severe implications for food security and grower prosperity throughout this heavily populated region, and knowledge of their migrations is potentially valuable for forecasting pest impacts and planning timely management actions.

Risk transference between climate variability and financial derivatives: Implications for global food security

We investigate the impacts of the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) on global food security by using information embedded in financial derivatives. Using a state-of-the-art general circulation model (GCM) climate forecasting system that generates observations on the phase and magnitude of ENSO, we create novel indices that track its uncertainty throughout time. Together with the option implied volatilities of core food inputs (wheat, maize, rice, and soybean), we model the time-varying volatility spillover from ENSO to each commodity, capturing the direction and intensity of risk transference. Simulating Gaussian and non-Gaussian impulse responses that mimic an increase in climate variability show a persistent impact on the price uncertainty of the commodities lasting up to three months. We also show that shocks are contingent on the phase of ENSO, with warmer conditions in the Eastern Pacific (i.e., the El Niño phase) increasing risk transference for soybean and rice. In contrast, the La Niña phase has a material influence on the uncertainty of wheat and maize. In all, we reveal a volatility transmission channel of climate variability that affects financial markets, suggesting valuable inferences about the impact of climate shocks can be derived from the rich information embedded in commodity-linked derivatives.

Assessing the Current State and Future Trends of Land Use Conversion: Implications for Food Security in Indonesia

Indonesia grapples with land conversion, especially agricultural land. Paddy fields have shrunk from 8.4 million hectares in 1990 to 7.18 million in 2022, translating to a rate of more than 38 thousand hectares per year and yearly loss of around 140,000 hectares of potential rice production. This study aims to inform policymakers and stakeholders on achieving food security. Through a systematic literature review, the research explores factors like settlements, urbanization, and infrastructure development driving land conversion. These factors impact regions like Bali and Central Sumba, jeopardizing rice production. Understanding these challenges and opportunities is crucial for future solutions. Potential solutions include strengthening food security across the supply chain, regulating land conversion and ownership, and promoting government support, productivity enhancement, sustainable agriculture practices, and technological integration.

Comparing Indigenous Soil Quality Knowledge Systems and Scientific Soil Assessment in a Traditional Upland Rice-based Agroecosystem in Southern Philippines

Like traditional agroecosystems worldwide, the Sarangani upland agroecosystem in Southern Philippines is presently under threat from myriad pressures such as environmental destruction, bio-cultural erosion, and agricultural modernization. In these marginal areas, farmland degradation is particularly devastating because of its implications for food security and the long-term survival of ethnic communities. Using a mixed-methods approach, this study revealed a significant linkage between farmers’ soil quality knowledge systems (SQKS) and scientific soil fertility assessments despite their holistic and reductionist natures, respectively. Furthermore, both SQKS and scientific soil knowledge ascribed diminishing soil quality in the Sarangani uplands to unregulated resource extraction, natural calamities, hillside cultivation without soil conservation measures and the inherent vulnerabilities of the upland landscape. These results warrant a closer examination of SQKS and their utilization along with technical soil knowledge systems to craft a comprehensive soil management strategy specifically tailored to the conditions in the Sarangani uplands. Finally, while the study underscored close relationships between local soil assessment and scientific assessment paradigms, more comprehensive studies need to be undertaken before their integration into diverse and complex farming systems such as the Sarangani uplands.

Global warming determines future increase in compound dry and hot days within wheat growing seasons worldwide

Compound dry and hot extremes are proved to be the most damaging climatic stressor to wheat thereby with grave implications for food security, thus it is critical to systematically reveal their changes under unabated global warming. In this study, we comprehensively investigate the global change in compound dry and hot days (CDHD) within dynamic wheat growing seasons during 2015–2100 under 4 socio-economic scenarios (SSP1-2.6, SSP2-4.5, SSP3-7.0 and SSP5-8.5) based on the latest downscaled Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 6 (CMIP6) models. Our results demonstrate a notable increase in CDHD’s frequency (CDHDf\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$${CDHD}_{f}$$\\end{document}) and severity (CDHDs\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$${CDHD}_{s}$$\\end{document}) worldwide under all SSPs, such increase is sharper over southern Asia in winter wheat growing season, and southern Canada, northern America, Ukraine, Turkey and northern Kazakhstan in spring wheat growing season. As the top 10 wheat producer, India and America will suffer much more detrimental CDHD in their wheat growing season. Adopting a low forcing pathway will mitigate CDHD risks in up to 93.3% of wheat areas. Positive dependence between droughts and heats in wheat growing season is found over more than 74.2% of wheat areas, which will effectively promote the frequency and severity of CDHD. Global warming will dominate the increase of CDHD directly by increasing hot days and indirectly by enhancing potential evapotranspiration thereby aggravating droughts. This study helps to optimize adaptation strategies for mitigating CDHD risks on wheat production, and provides new insights and analysis paradigm for investigating future variations in compound extremes occurring within dynamic crops growing seasons.

Effect of Insect Feed on Fish Growth: A Review

The demand for sustainable and efficient protein sources in aquaculture has led to an increasing interest in exploring alternative feeds for fish. In recent years, insects have emerged as a promising option due to their nutritional value, economic viability, and potential to alleviate the environmental impact of traditional fish meals. This review critically examines the existing literature on the effect of insect feed on fish growth. Through a comprehensive analysis of relevant studies, we evaluate the performance of fish fed with insect-based diets compared to those fed with conventional feeds. The review encompasses various insect species, feed formulations, and fish species, providing insights into the factors influencing growth outcomes. Our findings highlight the potential benefits and challenges of incorporating insect-based feeds in fish farming practices, with implications for sustainable aquaculture and food security. By synthesizing current knowledge, this review aims to guide future research and decision-making processes for optimizing fish nutrition and production while promoting ecological sustainability.

Design and Experiment of an Agricultural Field Management Robot and Its Navigation Control System

The application of robotics has great implications for future food security, sustainable agricultural development, improving resource efficiency, reducing chemical pesticide use, reducing manual labor, and maximizing field output. Aiming at the problems of high labor intensity and labor shortage in the fields of pesticide application, weeding, and field information collection, a multifunctional and electric field management robot platform is designed, which has four switching steering modes (Ackermann steering, four-wheel steering, crab steering, and zero-radius steering), and its wheel-track can be automatically adjusted. Commonly used spraying booms, weeders, crop information collectors, and other devices can be easily installed on the robot platform. A multi-sensor integrated navigation system including a satellite positioning system, an RGB camera, and a multi-line lidar is designed to realize the unmanned driving of the robot platform in a complex field environment. Field tests have shown that the robot can follow the set route, and tests under simulated conditions have indicated that it can also dynamically correct paths based on crop rows by using a visual system. Results from multiple trials showed that the trajectory tracking accuracy meets the requirements of various field management operations.

Linkages of soil and microbial stoichiometry to crop nitrogen use efficiency: Evidence from a long-term nitrogen addition experiment

Increasing crop nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) has important implications for food security and agricultural sustainability. Changes in nutrient availability due to stoichiometric imbalances in soil under long-term application of nitrogen (N) can limit crop NUE and yield. However, little is known about the linkages across stoichiometric balance, N fertilizer application, and N uptake. We investigated the changes in soil stoichiometry, microbial community, and crop NUE relative to N fertilizer application in a 16-year field experiment in which five levels (0, 70, 140, 210 and 280 kg N ha−1) of mineral N fertilizer treatment were applied to wheat and maize cropland. The results showed that the P storage decreased from 4.3 Mg P ha–1 under the fertilizer dose of 0 kg N ha−1 to 3.5 Mg P ha–1 under the fertilizer dose of 280 kg N ha−1. Thus, long-term N application increased soil C/P and N/P ratios, in a marked decrease in the content of soil available P. The microbial community based on phospholipid fatty acids (PLFAs) increased with increasing N addition rates, from 0 to 140 kg N ha−1, but significantly decreased at application rates above 210 kg N ha−1. Thus, applying N at a rate of 140 kg ha−1 resulted in the N threshold rate for microorganism survival being reached or exceeded. The crop NUE peak occurred at the urea application rate of 140 kg N ha−1 (60.4 %), after which NUE declined. The soil elementary and enzymatic stoichiometric ratios under long-term N addition directly affected crop NUE in the topsoil. Soil elementary stoichiometric ratios affected crop NUE by indirectly altering microbial biomass of the subsoil. Overall, soil stoichiometric imbalances under long-term N addition were the key factors driving NUE across N gradients.

Impact of Climate Change on Agriculture: A Review

Climate change presents unprecedented challenges to global agriculture, affecting crop yields, livestock productivity, water availability, soil health, and ecosystem stability. This review examines the multifaceted impacts of climate change on agriculture, encompassing changes in temperature, precipitation patterns, extreme weather events, pest and disease dynamics, and soil degradation. Through synthesizing existing literature, the review elucidates the complex interactions between climate change and agricultural systems, highlighting the implications for food security, rural livelihoods, and environmental sustainability. Furthermore, the review discusses adaptive strategies, policy interventions, and technological innovations aimed at enhancing agricultural resilience and mitigating the adverse effects of climate change on agriculture.

Projecting a food insecure world: Equity implications of land-based mitigation in IPCC mitigation pathways

All modelled global mitigation pathways assessed by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Sixth Assessment Report (IPCC AR6) project rapid deployment of land-based mitigation measures for staying within the remaining carbon budget for 1.5°C or 2 °C. However, there is sparse literature on the burden-sharing and equity implications of the IPCC-assessed global mitigation pathways. This is a severe lacuna given the influential role of the IPCC assessments in shaping political deliberations about possible futures and in informing the sectoral guidance and strategy documents of multilateral climate funds and organisations. This paper addresses this gap by evaluating the distributional implications of IPCC AR6 global mitigation pathways for land-based mitigation, specifically focusing on the Global North and South and socio-economic and political implications for food security. Our findings reveal that the modelled pathways disproportionately distribute the burden of land-based mitigation onto the Global South with an adverse impact on food security, raising questions about the normative choices embedded in cost-optimizing Integrated Assessment Models (IAMs). Furthermore, we examine existing scenarios and policy recommendations for addressing food security concerns in stringent climate change mitigation pathways and find them both to be inequitable with attendant feasibility concerns. Our analysis underscores the need for equity-based scenarios in IPCC assessments and calls for transparency in communicating regional distributional assumptions and results of the global mitigation pathways.

Effect of Transplanting Date and Harvesting Period on Bulb Production of Winter Onion (Allium cepa L.)

Climate change has brought about unpredictable temperature fluctuations and altered rainfall patterns, which directly impact onion cultivation. Adjustment in planting and harvesting schedules in the context of changing climate and environmental factors is not only academically significant but also holds practical implications for agriculture, resource management, climate adaptation, economic development, and food security in Bangladesh. The present study was carried out to observe the influence of the transplanting and harvesting time on maximizing onion production. The experiment followed a RCB design with three replications, involving the cultivation of BARI Piaz-1 as the test crop with varying transplanting dates on November 1st, November 15th, and December 1st, and harvesting periods at 120, 130, and 140 days after planting (DAP). The study's results indicated that the choice of transplanting date and harvesting period had significantly influenced onion yield and yield attributes. Improved performances, including increase in plant height, number of leaves per plant, neck diameter, bulb diameter, bulb length, bulb weight, and overall yield were observed when onions were transplanted on November 15th and harvested after 130 days from planting. The highest yields, specifically 10.32 t/ha in 2018 and 11.33 /ha in 2019, were achieved under this conditions. Conversely, the lowest yields 6.28 t/ha in 2018 and 6.70 /ha in 2019 were obtained when onions were transplanted on December 1st and harvested after 120 days from planting. Additionaly, early planting (November 1st) exhibited a higher incidence of bolting, while late planting (December 1st) showed a higher disease incidence. Therefore, optimizing transplanting dates to align with November 15th and a 130-day harvesting period proved to be the most effective strategy for maximizing onion yield and other attributes, while late planting and early harvesting adversely affected these key attributes.

The dynamics between soil erosion, nutrient variability, land use, topography, and implications for food security in Southern Ethiopia

The dynamics between soil erosion, nutrient variability, land use, topography, and implications for food security in Southern Ethiopia

Governing soils sustainably in India: Establishing policies and implementing strategies through local governance

Years of chemical-intensive agricultural practices following the Green Revolution in the late 1960s have led to extensive soil degradation in India. This has implications for food security, farmers’ incomes, and the country's economy. However, domestic top-down policy mandates in recent times have favoured practices like natural farming with a view to slow down and eventually halt soil degradation. This is in line with the international Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), one of which is focused on restoring degraded lands (SDG 15.3 aims to strive achieve land degradation neutrality). Taking cue from recent policy mandates on soil and land, this chapter posits the historical significance of the Panchayat — a village-level administrative institution in India — and argues for its involvement in policy implementation for soil rehabilitation at the village level, The article also makes a case for the introduction of an overarching National Soil Policy to encourage natural farming practices and biofertilizer use.

The power of on-farm data for improved agronomy

Advances in technology and analytics to support data-driven agriculture has important implications for global food security and environmental sustainability. However, relatively few studies have investigated the potential to leverage the power of on-farm data for improved agronomy at scale using geospatial machine learning methods. Working in high-yielding rice systems of Uruguay, we developed a geospatial framework to identify yield-limiting factors across 55,000 ha annually of cropland over four seasons (2018–2021 harvest years), while also testing for tradeoffs in the environmental footprint related to nitrogen (N) fertilizer use. Our application of geographically-weighted random forest models showed that crop management decisions influenced rice yield more than variation in soil properties, highlighting the potential for improved agronomy to boost crop production by 1.4–1.8 Mg ha−1 across regions. Seeding date, variety, P rate, and K rate were the most important variables controlling yield, but with significant variation across fields. When these factors were optimized by farmers, the risk of environmental N losses or soil N mining did not increase, highlighting the potential for sustainable intensification by improving N use efficiency. These findings present a pathway for harnessing the benefits of increasingly available on-farm data to identify yield-limiting factors while minimizing negative environmental externalities at the field-level. To enable the development of such geospatial frameworks in other regions, new partnerships are required to engage stakeholders and promote data sharing and collaboration among farmers, researchers, and industry, helping guide regional extension programs and orient future investments in agricultural research.

Half of twenty-first century global irrigation expansion has been in water-stressed regions

The expansion of irrigated agriculture has increased global crop production but resulted in widespread stress on freshwater resources. Ensuring that increases in irrigated production occur only in places where water is relatively abundant is a key objective of sustainable agriculture and knowledge of how irrigated land has evolved is important for measuring progress towards water sustainability. Yet, a spatially detailed understanding of the evolution of the global area equipped for irrigation (AEI) is missing. In this study, we used the latest subnational irrigation statistics (covering 17,298 administrative units) from various official sources to develop a gridded (5 arcmin resolution) global product of AEI for the years 2000, 2005, 2010 and 2015. We found that AEI increased by 11% from 2000 (297 Mha) to 2015 (330 Mha), with areas of both substantial expansion, such as northwest India and northeast China, and decline, such as Russia. Combining these outputs with information on green (that is, rainfall) and blue (that is, surface and ground) water stress, we also examined to what extent irrigation has expanded unsustainably in places already experiencing water stress. We found that more than half (52%) of the irrigation expansion has taken place in areas that were already water-stressed in the year 2000, with India alone accounting for 36% of global unsustainable expansion. These findings provide new insights into the evolving patterns of global irrigation with important implications for global water sustainability and food security.

A Synopsis of Crimes in the South African Beekeeping Industry: Contextualising the Industry Harms, Malpractices, and Risks

Honeybee species have received widespread attention of late, concerning various threats and criminal activity within the industry. As beekeeping involves human–environment interactions, it is situated at the interface between the human social system and the ecosystem. This is primarily owing to the role of pollination in regulating the ecosystem and its implications for global food security. Seed dispersal is also important for biodiversity conservation and environmental sustainability. However, capitalistic economic drivers continue to mismanage natural resources, threatening beekeepers, and honeybee species. This article sheds light on two major issues in the beekeeping industry in South Africa: hive theft and vandalism, and malpractices related to eco-labelled honey. It discusses these as instances of green crimes and provides insights into their implications.

Seed Priming: A Strategy to Mitigate Flooding Stress in Pulses

Aim: This study delves into the multifaceted role of seed priming in mitigating flooding stress, with a specific focus on its applications in pulse crops.
 Area of Study: Through controlled hydration-dehydration cycles and the utilization of specific priming agents, seed priming emerges as a powerful tool to enhance germination seedling vigor and stress tolerance. The impact of flooding stress on pulse plants, encompassing morphological changes, physiological alterations, and yield reduction, underscores the urgency of developing effective mitigation strategies. Seed priming mechanisms, including enhanced nutrient uptake, activation of antioxidant defenses and hormonal modulation, are explored in detail. The study not only provides insights into the integration of seed priming into crop management practices but also offers practical recommendations for farmers and agricultural practitioners. The implications for agriculture and food security are significant, as seed-primed crops demonstrate increased resilience to environmental stresses, ensuring more stable yields. The economic implications for farmers, coupled with the potential for sustainable agricultural practices, highlight the transformative potential of seed priming in addressing global challenges.
 Conclusion: The dissemination of knowledge and implementation efforts are crucial for bridging the gap between research findings and on-field applications. Policymakers and stakeholders are urged to support and incentivize the adoption of seed priming technologies, contributing to the long-term resilience of crops, and ensuring global food security. In conclusion, seed priming stands as a promising solution, offering a pathway towards sustainable and resilient agricultural systems in the face of environmental challenges.

H7N6 highly pathogenic avian influenza in Mozambique, 2023

ABSTRACT On 13 October 2023, the National Directorate for Livestock Development in Mozambique was notified of a suspected outbreak of avian influenza in commercial layers. Samples were screened by real-time and conventional RT–PCR and were positive for both H7 and N6. Full genome sequences were obtained for three representative samples. Sequence analysis of the H7 cleavage site confirmed that the viruses were highly pathogenic (i.e. 333- PEPPKGPRFRR/GLF-346). In addition, the H7 and N6 sequences were highly similar (from 99.4-99.5% and 99.6-99.7% for the HA gene and the NA gene, respectively) to the sequences of a H7N6 virus identified in the Republic of South Africa in May 2023 indicating a similar origin of the viruses. The identification of H7N6 HPAIV in Mozambique has important implications for disease management and food security in the region.

Food Security and Health Outcomes following Gray Divorce.

The study evaluates the immediate and long-term consequences of gray divorce (i.e., marital dissolution after age 50) for the food security, depression, and disability of older Americans. Staggered Difference-in-Difference models were fitted to a nationally representative longitudinal sample of adults aged ≥ 50 years from the Health and Retirement Study, 1998-2018. Food insecurity and disability increase in the year of gray divorce and remain significantly elevated for up to six years or more following the event, consistent with the chronic strain model of gray divorce. Gray divorce has particularly adverse consequences for the food security of older women, while no gender differences were observed for disability. Increasing trends in gray divorce have important negative implications for food security and health of older Americans, particularly women, who appear to be less prepared to financially withstand a marital collapse in older age. Targeted policies to provide nutrition assistance and support in reemployment might be necessary to reduce the burden of food insecurity in the wake of gray divorce among women.

Linkage mapping and genomic prediction of grain quality traits in tropical maize (Zea mays L.).

The suboptimal productivity of maize systems in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) is a pressing issue, with far-reaching implications for food security, nutrition, and livelihood sustainability within the affected smallholder farming communities. Dissecting the genetic basis of grain protein, starch and oil content can increase our understanding of the governing genetic systems, improve the efficacy of future breeding schemes and optimize the end-use quality of tropical maize. Here, four bi-parental maize populations were evaluated in field trials in Kenya and genotyped with mid-density single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers. Genotypic (G), environmental (E) and G×E variations were found to be significant for all grain quality traits. Broad sense heritabilities exhibited substantial variation (0.18-0.68). Linkage mapping identified multiple quantitative trait loci (QTLs) for the studied grain quality traits: 13, 7, 33, 8 and 2 QTLs for oil content, protein content, starch content, grain texture and kernel weight, respectively. The co-localization of QTLs identified in our research suggests the presence of shared genetic factors or pleiotropic effects, implying that specific genomic regions influence the expression of multiple grain quality traits simultaneously. Genomic prediction accuracies were moderate to high for the studied traits. Our findings highlight the polygenic nature of grain quality traits and demonstrate the potential of genomic selection to enhance genetic gains in maize breeding. Furthermore, the identified genomic regions and single nucleotide polymorphism markers can serve as the groundwork for investigating candidate genes that regulate grain quality traits in tropical maize. This, in turn, can facilitate the implementation of marker-assisted selection (MAS) in breeding programs focused on improving grain nutrient levels.