Implications For Food Security Research Articles

Exploring the nexus of climate variability, population dynamics, and maize production in Togo: Implications for global warming and food security

Maize, which serves as the primary staple crop in Togo, plays a crucial role in supporting rural communities and ensuring food security. Comprehending the complex relationship between Togo's maize production, population dynamics, and climate variability is crucial for mitigating the impacts of global warming and guaranteeing long-term food security. The present study examines the climate patterns and their impact on maize cultivation in Togo for the period spanning from 1990 to 2020. During this temporal interval, significant variations were seen in important climate indices. The levels of rainfall and the frequency of wet days exhibited notable fluctuations, whereas the temperature and concentrations of air pollutants, specifically carbon dioxide (CO2) and nitrous oxide (N2O), had a persistent rising trajectory. The recorded temperature exhibited an increase from 27 ​°C in 1990 to 29 ​°C in 2020. The levels of CO2 emissions had a substantial increase from 1000 ​kt in 1990 to an estimated 2500 ​kt in 2020. Similarly, the emissions of N2O witnessed a notable rise of more than 800 ​kt over the same time frame. Using time series analysis, we examined the temporal characteristics and employed ARIMA predictive models to project maize production over the upcoming decade, considering the gradual decrease in rural population density. The studies highlight the significant implications of global warming on a worldwide scale, exerting a profound impact on the Earth. The agriculture sector, specifically maize production, had notable variations in yield and overall output. Notwithstanding the inherent fluctuations in output, maize continues to maintain its position as the most widely consumed and preferred crop in Togo, even in the face of the country's rapidly expanding population. As a result, Togo has increased its imports of maize to satisfy the growing demand. The present study sheds light on the intricate relationship between production parameters, including yield and quantity, and a range of environmental variables such as the frequency of precipitation, temperature, and levels of N2O, in addition to rural and urban population density. The statement underscores the pressing necessity to confront the issue of global warming and its subsequent impacts on agricultural methodologies. Furthermore, the results underscore the significance of considering population dynamics and climate variables in the prediction of forthcoming agricultural outcomes.

Review on Pest Des Petits Ruminants Virus and its Socioeconomic Impact in Small Ruminants

Peste Des Petits Ruminants (PPR) are a highly contagious viral disease that mainly affects sheep and goats. It belongs to the genus Morbillivirus in the family Paramyxoviridae. Today, this disease is considered a cause of mortality and morbidity in many countries of the world. The disease occurs south of the Sahara Desert and north of the equator in Africa, most of the Middle East, and parts of Asia, including the Indian subcontinent. It is transmitted by aerosols during close contact between animals, mainly through sneezing and coughing. The disease is characterized by high fever, discharge from the eyes and nose, pneumonia, necrosis and gastrointestinal tract leading to foul smelling diarrhoea. Diagnosis can be made based on clinical, pathological and epizootological findings. This has significant economic implications for food security and livelihoods. Therefore, PPR is considered one of the most damaging animal diseases in Africa, the Middle East and Asia, and is also one of the priority diseases listed in the FAO-OIE Global Framework for the Progressive Control of Trans boundary Animal Diseases. Peste des Petits ruminants are common in Ethiopia due to economic losses due to reduced production, death, abortion and cost of disease control. There is no specific treatment for PPR. However, drugs that control bacterial and parasitic complications may reduce mortality. For surveillance purposes, circular vaccination and/or vaccination of high-risk populations may also be useful. Therefore, eradication of PPR is done through a combination of quarantine, movement control, cleaning and disinfection of infected areas and vaccination.

Diversity of edible insects in Tuensang district, Nagaland, India

This study provides important information on the population diversity of edible insects in Tuensang district, Nagaland, India. The region is known for its diverse group of entomofauna, which are used as a healthy food source by the local people. In the study to evaluate the edible insects of Tuensang district, Nagaland, 23 different varieties of insects were identified. The study highlights the importance of these insects as a food source for the local people, which could have implications for food security and sustainability in the region.

Impacts of the Russian invasion of Ukraine on the global wheat market

The Russian invasion of Ukraine that began in February 2022 has caused significant disruption to global agricultural markets. As Ukraine is the world's ninth largest producer and fifth largest exporter of wheat, the widespread, destructive effects of the war have serious implications for food prices and global food security. We analyze the impacts of this war on production, consumption, trade, and prices of wheat using a global spatial equilibrium model (SEM). Our results suggest that this conflict causes wheat prices to increase in every country (by around 2%) except Ukraine where prices fell by about 27%. Though other wheat exporting countries augment their exports to capture the market share lost by Ukraine in major importing countries, many of these importing countries suffer from reduced wheat consumption. Not surprisingly, Russia benefits by exporting wheat at the expense of Ukraine to importing countries that traditionally relied on Ukrainian wheat. Because of the war, we estimate that Ukraine's wheat producers experience a $1.4 billion loss in producer surplus.

Drought stress-mediated alterations in secondary metabolites and biosynthetic gene expression in cumin plants: Insights from gene-specific and metabolite-level analyses

In this research, we investigated the impact of drought stress on secondary metabolite production in cumin plants and the associated transcriptional changes in biosynthetic genes. Drought stress induced a significant increase in the levels of beta-carotene, lycopene, terpenes, anthocyanin, phenolic compounds, flavonoids, and alkaloids, indicating an adaptive metabolic shift in response to adverse conditions. Concurrently, there was an upregulation in the expression of key biosynthetic genes, including Phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL), 3-deoxy-7-phosphoheptulonate synthase (DAHP synthase), Deoxy xylose phosphate reductase (DXS), 3‑hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA reductase (HMGR), and Geranyl diphosphate synthase (GPPS), which corroborated the metabolite findings. Notably, while most secondary metabolites exhibited an increasing trend under drought stress, flavonoids displayed a disproportionate elevation, even as there was an overall decrease in phenolic compounds and other metabolites. This observation suggests the potential activation of alternative flavonoid synthesis pathways or the conversion of phenolic compounds to flavonoids during stress. Strong correlations were identified between the expression of biosynthetic genes and their respective metabolite concentrations, underscoring the central role of transcriptional regulation in secondary metabolite synthesis during drought stress. Collectively, our results provide a comprehensive understanding of the transcriptional and metabolic adaptations of cumin plants when exposed to drought stress. Such insights can be pivotal in designing drought-resilient crops, with significant implications for food security amidst escalating climatic challenges.

ADVANCES AND CHALLENGES IN WHEAT GENETICS AND BREEDING FOR GLOBAL FOOD SECURITY

This exploration delves into the pivotal realm of "Advances and Challenges in Wheat Genetics and Breeding for Global Food Security." Tracing the historical perspectives of wheat genetics from ancient agricultural practices to modern breeding programs, the narrative unveils a rich tapestry of human intervention in shaping this staple crop. Recent innovations, including Marker-Assisted Selection (MAS), Genomic Selection (GS), and CRISPR-Cas9, propel wheat genetics into a new era of precision breeding, holding profound implications for global food security. Examining the contributions of wheat genetics and breeding to food security reveals a mosaic of enhanced yield, disease resistance, and climate adaptability. As the world grapples with the intricate challenges posed by a changing climate, the role of wheat in adaptation and resilience takes center stage. However, the journey forward is not devoid of complexities. Ethical considerations in genetic manipulation demand thoughtful navigation, and regional nuances underscore the need for customized approaches to breeding. This abstract encapsulates a multidimensional exploration of wheat genetics and breeding, envisioning a future where scientific advancements converge with ethical considerations to address the evolving demands of global agriculture. In this narrative, the title serves as a compass, guiding the reader through the advances that propel us toward food security and the challenges that necessitate collective wisdom and collaboration on a global scale.

Roles of Personal, Household, Physical, and Institutional Factors on Farmers’ Efficiency of Hybrid Maize Production: Implications for Food Security

This study explored the multifaceted factors influencing the efficiency of hybrid maize production and investigated the possible implications for food security. The study adopted a comprehensive approach, examining personal, household, physical, and institutional factors that affect farmers’ productivity. Findings revealed the technical, allocative, and economic efficiencies through a combination of field surveys, data analysis, and econometric modeling. The mean technical, allocative, and economic efficiency scores for the sampled farms were 0.89, 0.66, and 0.59, respectively. Moreover, the result of Tobit regression analysis showed high significance of all three efficiencies. The significant factors associated with technical efficiency were farm size, age of farm household, maize farming experience, maize farming area, distance from the farm to the main market, number of visits by extension workers, credit access, and Okara district. In addition, the number of visits by extension workers, districts (Sahiwal and Okara), age of farmers, maize farming experience, and regional disparity (Sahiwal district) had substantial influences on allocative and economic inefficiencies in the hybrid maize-growing farms. Policymakers and agricultural stakeholders can develop focused strategies to improve farmers’ productivity and overall food security by identifying the key factors associated with hybrid maize production. Tailored interventions that address knowledge gaps, improve resource allocation, and provide improved institutional support can help make food systems more sustainable and resilient.

Associating dietary quality and forest cover in India

With the global population expected to reach almost 10 billion by 2050, there is growing concern for how increasing demands for high-quality, sustainable diets will be met. Whilst food production and environmental conservation are often viewed as competing land uses, a growing body of literature supports the importance of forests in providing food and nutritional security. This study used data from India's National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5) on food consumption and nutritional status in infants and young children aged 6–59 months and tree cover data to examine the statistical associations between tree coverage and indicators of nutritional health in India – a country home to >200 million of the world's undernourished, a rising double burden of malnutrition, and with vast forest and tree cover. In analyses conducted, tree cover was positively associated with higher dietary diversity in infants and young children aged 6–23 months, and with reduced likelihood of stunting and wasting in children aged under 5 yrs. in areas with the highest tree coverages, after controlling for other possible variables. These relationships do not always hold at regional level; further work is needed to explore the mechanisms underlying the relationships examined within given contexts. Overall, these findings indicate the potential for forests and trees to contribute to quality diets in India. In emphasising the potential complementarity between environmental conservation and food provisioning, this work has important implications for food security and environmental policy.

Five Centuries of Groundwater Elevations Provide Evidence of Shifting Climate Drivers and Human Influences on Water Resources in North Central Florida

AbstractGroundwater depletion is a concern around the world with implications for food security, ecological resilience, and human conflict. Long‐term perspectives provided by tree ring‐based reconstructions can improve understanding of factors driving variability in groundwater elevations, but such reconstructions are rare to date. Here, we report a set of new 546‐year tree‐ring chronologies developed from living and remnant longleaf pine (Pinus palustris) trees that, when combined with existing bald cypress (Taxodium distichum) tree‐ring chronologies, create a set of nested reconstructions of mean annual groundwater elevation for North Central Florida that together explain 66% of the variance in instrumental measurements and span 1498–2015. Split calibration confirms the skill of the reconstructions, but coefficient of efficiency metrics and significant autocorrelation in the regression residuals indicate a weakening relationship between tree growth and groundwater elevation over recent decades. Comparison to data from nearby groundwater wells suggests extraction of groundwater is likely contributing to this weakening signal. Periodicity within the reconstruction and comparison with global sea surface temperatures (SST) highlight the role of El Niño‐Southern Oscillation (ENSO) in driving groundwater elevations, but the strength of this role varies substantially over time. Atlantic and Pacific SST modulate ENSO influences, and comparisons to multiple proxy‐based reconstructions indicate an inconsistent and weaker influence of ENSO prior to the 1800s. Our results highlight the dynamic influence of ocean‐atmospheric phenomena on groundwater resources in North Central Florida and build on instrumental records to better depict the long‐term range of groundwater elevations.

Sociodemographic determinants of water conservation behavior: A comprehensive analysis

The manifold repercussions of climate change encompass diverse facets, encompassing the management of resources, agricultural infrastructure, production systems, and their profound implications for food security, self-sufficiency, and the overall well-being of societies. Regrettably, a significant portion of the populace remains indifferent to or uninformed about the adoption of water conservation practices. Previous scholarship has scrutinized factors influencing individual water-saving behaviors, yet these inquiries have predominantly overlooked the broader contextual elements shaping communal conduct. This study undertakes a comprehensive investigation to discern the multifaceted factors and sociodemographic variables that exert influence upon the water-saving conduct of individuals within a community. Primary data were collected through structured questionnaires administered to a sample of 633 participants. Employing rigorous factor analysis, we distilled a reduced set of factors from the multitude of variables under examination. Factor 1 exhibits a robust association with the utilization of water conservation equipment, while Factor 2 delineates patterns in water usage behavior. Furthermore, this research advances the discourse by deploying a probit model to delineate the relationship between sociodemographic characteristics, such as gender and occupation, and community engagement in water conservation in response to government incentives. Notably, the significance of these models is comparable across different sociodemographic groups, highlighting that both women and individuals with diverse occupational profiles stand to benefit from incentivized water-saving initiatives.

Analysis of proximate composition, mineral contents, and anti-nutritional factors of enset (Ensete ventricosum) landraces commonly used for amicho preparation in Hadiya Zone, Southern Ethiopia: Implications for food security and mineral bioavailability

Enset (Ensete ventricosum) is a primarily starchy staple food crop for over 20 million people. Some landraces are widely favored for amicho (boiled corm) preparation and consumption. However, little information is available on its nutritional profile. Therefore, this study was aimed at identifying the proximate, mineral, and anti-nutritional contents of the seven commonly consumed corms of the cultivated enset landraces. The proximate was determined using the Association of Official Analytical Chemists (AOAC) standard methods. Minerals, phytate, and tannin contents were determined using the different models of spectrophotometer method, and oxalate was analyzed using the standard procedure. Also, the physiochemical parameters and the molar ratios were estimated to the relevant standards. The results revealed that the proximate composition (%) ranged in moisture content from 68.2 to 79.4, crude protein (2.43–11.90), crude fat (0.61–0.89), crude fiber (2.42–4.11), and total ash (2.01–4.60), while the total carbohydrates came to 80.89–89.92, and gross energy was 369.96–385.12 kcal/100 g. The mineral concentrations (mg/100 g) were also varied and ranged: calcium (22.46–49.74), potassium (28.51–86.56), magnesium (16.46–29.34), phosphorus (3.10–13.58), sodium (7.13–8.67), iron (0.9–3.85), and zinc (0.38–1.44) on a dry weight basis. The anti-nutritional contents (mg/100 g) for phytate, tannin, and oxalate ranged from 221.75 to 276.12, 27.97–113.74, and 5.69–9.10, respectively. Hayiwona and Gishira had the highest values in most proximate and minerals than other tested landraces, respectively. Compared to other landraces, Astara had higher total carbohydrate and phytate contents. Except for phytate × calcium to zinc, and oxalate to calcium, the molar ratios were above the critical values, which indicated that the studied enset corms had a considerable phytate value, which reduces mineral bioavailability. Overall, the present study revealed that the corm of the evaluated enset landraces contains appreciable amounts of nutritional value and can subsidize Ethiopia's sustained food security.

Bundling the adoption of conservation tillage improved crop variety and crop diversification in Ethiopia: Implications for food security

Bundling the adoption of conservation tillage improved crop variety and crop diversification in Ethiopia: Implications for food security

ERFVII transcription factors and their role in the adaptation to hypoxia in Arabidopsis and crops.

In this review, we focus on ethylene transcription factors (ERFs), which are a crucial family of transcription factors that regulate plant development and stress responses. ERFVII transcription factors have been identified and studied in several crop species, including rice, wheat, maize, barley, and soybean. These transcription factors are known to be involved in regulating the plant's response to low oxygen stress-hypoxia and could thus improve crop yields under suboptimal growing conditions. In rice (Oryza sativa) several ERFVII genes have been identified and characterized, including SUBMERGENCE 1A (SUB1A), which enables rice to tolerate submergence. The SUB1A gene was used in the development of SUB1 rice varieties, which are now widely grown in flood-prone areas and have been shown to improve yields and farmer livelihoods. The oxygen sensor in plants was discovered using the model plant Arabidopsis. The mechanism is based on the destabilization of ERFVII protein via the N-degron pathway under aerobic conditions. During hypoxia, the stabilized ERFVIIs translocate to the nucleus where they activate the transcription of hypoxia-responsive genes (HRGs). In summary, the identification and characterization of ERFVII transcription factors and their mechanism of action could lead to the development of new crop varieties with improved tolerance to low oxygen stress, which could have important implications for global food security.

Bio-Coatings for Preservation of Fresh Fruits and Vegetables

In response to increasing concerns over food waste and safety, and the environmental impacts of traditional conservation methods, this review aims to explore the potential of bio-coatings in preserving the freshness of fruits and vegetables. Our primary objective is to provide a comprehensive analysis of recent advancements in bio-coating technologies, detailing their benefits in terms of enhancing food safety, prolonging shelf life, and reducing waste. This paper delves into various forms of bio-coatings, their applications, and their effectiveness in maintaining post-harvest quality. We further elucidate the underlying mechanisms that govern their preservation efficacy. This review is intended for researchers, industry professionals, and policy makers who are interested in sustainable preservation alternatives and their implications for food security and environmental sustainability. By the end of this review, the audience will gain a thorough understanding of the current state of bio-coating technology and its prospects in the food preservation industry.

Towards early response to desert locust swarming in eastern Africa by estimating timing of hatching

Desert locust (Schistocerca gregaria) plagues threaten agricultural production, food security and the environment across Africa, the Middle East, and Southwest Asia. Control methods targeting adult desert locusts present significant challenges and financial costs. Recognizing this, we developed a ground-breaking fuzzy set Mamdani type inference model that provides an innovative solution for early warning alerts. The model aids in predicting the juvenile stages of locust development, thereby preventing wide-scale locust swarming and mitigating its extensive damages and socioeconomic costs. The novelty of our approach lies in our unique application of environmental variables relevant for locust breeding to estimate the timing and location of desert locust hatching. Additionally, we improved the algorithmic handling of these variables, with localized desert locust bands data used as a proxy for hatching timing with a temporal offset of 35 days. The model's boundary conditions were determined using a training area in Sudan, where comprehensive ground data was available. This rule set was subsequently applied to Turkana County in Kenya, a data-scarce region, demonstrating the model's applicability and success in different contexts. The model's accuracy, assessed by data from the Sudan training site, demonstrated a remarkable score of 82% for true predictions. Furthermore, the model correctly identified the months of highest hatching probabilities in Turkana during 2020, demonstrating its real-world effectiveness and practical value. A correlation analysis affirmed that hatching was associated with increases in chlorophyll levels and precipitation accumulations. Our study marks a significant advancement in predicting the timing of hatching using fuzzy logic in data-scarce environments. By operationalizing more targeted early responses to desert locust infestations, our model facilitates more effective locust control. This study stands as an important contribution to locust management strategies, with substantial implications for agricultural production and food security in affected regions.

The impact of climate change on insect pest biology and ecology: Implications for pest management strategies, crop production, and food security

The explosive expansion of the global population and technological progress has greatly influenced agriculture and food production. However, this progress is threatened by climate change, which unleashes a slew of issues like carbon dioxide (CO2) increases, frequent droughts, and temperature shifts that present a substantial obstacle to crop yields and food security. The ramifications of these climatic factors on insect pest biology and ecology are profound, given that these pests depend heavily on these factors. Since crop productivity is tightly connected to both insect pests and these climate variables, changes in these factors can significantly impact crop yields. Therefore, it is imperative to comprehend the impact of climate change on insect pests to manage them effectively and ensure sufficient food production. This review examines the climate change effect on insect pest biology and ecology and explores the potential use of modern pest monitoring technologies and prediction tools to devise effective pest management strategies to improve crop production and food security.

Effects of Some Macro-Economic Variables on Agricultural Output: Implication for Food security in Nigeria (1980-2020)

The study explored the effects of some macroeconomic variables on agricultural sub-sector output: implication for food security in Nigeria (1981-2020). The study specifically looked at the effects of money supply, interest rate, inflation rate, exchange rate and government recurrent expenditure on agricultural output in Nigeria. Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Statistical Bulletin, index mundi and journals were used as sources for the annual time series data on the research variables for the period 1981–2019. The Autoregressive Distributed Lagged Model was used in the study. The unit root test revealed in the pre-diagnostic tests that the variables were stationary at 1(0) and 1(1). The ARDL Bound test for co-integration revealed that the variables had long-run co-integrating relationship. Additionally, empirical findings indicated that, in the short run, exchange rate, government recurrent expenditure and money supply as macroeconomic variables affected agricultural output The study recommends that since the research showed that money supply had positive effect on agricultural output, government should inprove on money supply so as to enable farmers meet up their required purchases.

Soil Microbes Expertly Balancing Nutrient Demands and Environmental Preservation and Ensuring the Delicate Stability of Our Ecosystems- A Review

It scrutinizes the critical role of soil microbes in balancing nutrient demands and environmental preservation, thereby ensuring the stability of our ecosystems. The document elucidates how these microscopic organisms play a pivotal role in various ecosystem processes such as nutrient cycling, organic matter decomposition, and the promotion of plant health. It details how their metabolic processes influence soil fertility and plant growth, maintaining a fine equilibrium between the soil's nutrient demand and environmental conservation. The review stresses the influence of microbes on soil health and their potential role in mitigating climate change through carbon sequestration, demonstrating their significance beyond primary production. The correlation between microbial communities, climate change, and soil degradation is emphasized, showing how these factors interact in a complex, interconnected network. Modern microbial management strategies, highlighting sustainable methods to exploit their potential in agriculture and environmental conservation. It advocates for more research into soil microbiome functionality, with a special focus on the impact of human activities and climate change. By emphasizing that soil microbes, although invisible, carry profound implications for global sustainability and food security. By optimizing microbial functions, we can improve soil health and fertility, contributing significantly to ecosystem resilience and stability.

Modeling inequality in access to agricultural productive resources and socioeconomic determinants of household food security in Ghana: a cross-sectional study

Women in rural communities remain the most vulnerable population in accessing agricultural productive resources with dire implications for food security, malnutrition, and poverty. Effective agricultural and food-related policies should be based on a better understanding of the complex inter-relationship of how socioeconomic, demographic, gender, women empowerment, and geographical location indicators simultaneously affect access to agricultural productive resources and food security. The study quantified the level of inequality in access to agricultural productive resources and explored the mechanism through which socioeconomic status mediates the effect of geographic location on food security. This is a community-based cross-sectional study using a multi-stage stratified cluster random sampling design to generate a representative sample of the target population who live in coastal and non-coastal communities. The Gini inequality index, generalized structural equation models, multivariable modified Poisson and Negative binomial regression models were used. The inequality in access to agricultural productive resources was marginally higher among women than in men, higher in the coastal areas than in the non-coastal areas, and higher among women with low empowerment in agricultural production decision-making. The empowerment of women in agricultural decision-making was found to increase with age, as older women were more empowered to make decisions in agriculture. Approximately 17% [95% CI 15.6–18.6] of the population were food-secured (coastal = 13.9%, non-coastal communities = 20.7%). Socioeconomic status mediates the effect of living in coastal versus non-coastal rural communities on food security. To improve food security, the government should prioritize interventions geared toward improving women's access to productive agricultural resources. These interventions must consider gender-specific constraints, poverty alleviation schemes, legal framework, sociocultural factors, and decision-making power.

Cropland abandonment in China: Patterns, drivers, and implications for food security

Grasping cropland abandonment patterns in China can help protect croplands, thereby ensuring the perpetuation of nationwide food security. However, the pattern of long-term cropland abandonment at the national scale remains limited. Here, we investigate the spatiotemporal patterns and drivers of cropland abandonment across China during 1990–2019 by integrating continuous long-term series of land cover, natural factors, and socioeconomic data. We find that the mean abandoned cropland area is 2.34 × 104 km2 per year. The spatial pattern of cropland and natural factors are prime drivers of cropland abandonment, but there is a substantial variation across agricultural regions. Further analysis suggests that annual food loss due to cropland abandonment is about 7.94 billion kilograms, which could feed 19.85 million people. These findings allow for a better understanding of the spatial heterogeneity and driving forces of cropland abandonment patterns, and inspire to govern global cropland abandonment and formulate relevant policies.