Rising Food Costs Research Articles

Urban Open Space Utilization for Subsistence Agriculture: A Study of Esikhaleni Township

This research investigates the motivations driving the utilization of urban open spaces for subsistence agriculture and assesses its impact on the livelihoods of residents in Esikhaleni Township. Employing a mixed-methods approach, the study conducts structured interviews with local farmers and in-depth interviews with municipal officials from the uMhlathuze Municipality. The findings highlight food insecurity, the necessity for accessible fresh produce, agricultural passion, and rising food costs as primary drivers compelling Esikhaleni residents towards open space farming. Moreover, the research underscores the significant contribution of open space agriculture to the livelihoods of Esikhaleni residents, including improved access to fresh food, reduced food expenditures, and supplementary income generation through produce sales. The study concludes by recommending the integration of urban agriculture into urban planning efforts to safeguard land for agricultural purposes, thereby enabling residents of Esikhaleni Township to engage in sustainable agricultural practices.

“The little I receive is not enough’’: A qualitative study of food insecurity in the South Bronx

ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to explore the lived experiences of food insecurity amongst Bronx residents. Applying a community-based participatory research approach, we conducted a qualitative study, entailing 38 interviews with food pantry recipients, 4 key informant interviews with social service administrators, and two focus groups with 12 food pantry staff and social service providers in New York City (NYC). Applying a precarity framework, we identified three themes: (1) unaffordability of living expenses in NYC; (2) financial hardships during the COVID-19 pandemic; and (3) institutional and technological barriers to food access. We identified the following subthemes under theme one: rising food costs and high cost of living. Under theme two, we identified four subthemes: (a) large household size driving poverty for Bronx families; (b) vulnerabilities to food insecurity among older adults; (c) budgeting for reduced incomes during the COVID-19 pandemic; and (d) managing unstable employment. Under the third theme, we identified three subthemes: (a) lack of access to healthy, culturally appropriate foods; (b) need for wider service availability; (c) and not having smartphones for telehealth. Study findings demonstrate how precarity impacts the lived experiences of food insecurity and financial hardship for residents of the South Bronx during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Urgency to secure funding for the promised national school food program amidst the rise of food costs and chronic disease

An overwhelming number of Canadians believe that a national school food program (SFP) would benefit children, but concerns around limited funding are frequently raised. SFPs across Canada are struggling to meet increasing demands due to rising food costs, meaning that food quality and quantity within existing SFPs are suffering. This paper discusses the urgency to implement a cost-shared and federally funded SFP amidst the current economic context and lack of clear direction from the federal government. The paper also explores ways in which federal funding for school meals can help to reduce the rate of chronic diseases and actualize many proven physical and mental health benefits for Canadians, all of which have positive and long-term downstream effects on the country’s economy.

South Africa’s food system: An industry perspective on past, present and future applications of science and technology

The South African food system is facing severe challenges as increasing hunger, rising food costs, lack of dietary diversity, child stunting, foodborne illnesses, food waste and an obesity epidemic coupled with malnutrition are observed. In this study, we aimed to establish the application of science and technology advances in the food and beverage industry in South Africa in response to food consumption pattern changes since 1994 and how they could be used to address food security challenges. We found that food consumption shifts have been towards sugar-sweetened beverages, processed and packaged food, animal-source foods and added caloric sweeteners, and away from vegetables. These dietary shifts are concerning as they relate to public health. Most commitments to improve the nutritional status of South Africans have been limited to corporate social investment strategies and should be extended into core business strategies. Furthermore, although the South African food and beverage industry has kept pace with developments in food manufacturing practices, there has been little experimentation with non-commercial novel technologies. The expert survey revealed that indigenous African crops and food waste recovery are the two most promising emerging food sources that could be available to South Africans in the shortest time frame. South Africa has many enabling drivers to become a global leader in food technology advances. However, many barriers need to be overcome for industry, academia and government to collaborate to advance novel food science and technologies to reach commercialisation.

Chicken dumping in South Africa and the long-term effects on local commercial chicken farming industry: a review

The aim of this article is to highlight the effects of chicken dumping trade on South African local commercial chicken farming industry. The high cost of farming in South African has risen and this has created a fertile ground for overseas countries where chicken production costs are low to intensify their exports to South Africa for their excess chicken products at a lower price. South African chicken farmers are already facing domestic challenges which includes high-cost feed, high cost of importing chicken lines and resources to produce the meat chicken. A local single fertilised Ross 308 / Cobb 500 Fertile egg cost at least R2.50 ($0.12), whereas international, local breeders source these genetic lines at over a $1 an egg. Locally, there is persistent drought, chicken diseases, high electricity cost and electricity shortages (load shedding). These challenges inevitably raise costs of chicken production in South Africa whereas the US, Brazil and EU countries farming industries are highly subsidised and experience no high electricity costs or load shedding. In perspective, imported chicken from Brazil cost R9 per kg as compared to locally produced chicken at R25 per kg. To mitigate the chicken dumping trade, the South African government imposed legally sound chicken import tariffs of up to 62 %, however in August of 2022, the government suspended these tariffs due to rising food costs in the hope that the cheap dumped chicken would provide a relief to the financially stressed consumers. This move has raffled feathers within the local chicken farming sector which is struggling to sustain their farms due to stiff competition with the low-priced chicken, predominantly from Brazil and the US. More chicken farms in South Africa are shedding jobs. As of 2023, the poultry industry in South Africa employs an estimated total of 70,000 people, and others are questioning the sustainability of their enterprises going forward if the chicken dumping in the country is not controlled via stringent legislation that include appropriate dumping tariffs. This article suggests that both the chicken farming industry, the chicken importers and the government should hold regular dialogs to get common ground before the majority of local chicken farmers close shops due to chicken dumping. The regular engagements between the government and the chicken industry could avoid seemingly unilateral suspension of import tariffs. Subsidies that could absorb some of the operation cost, as is the case with US or Brazilian farmers should be introduced. Key words: Chicken dumping, chicken farming, sustainability, chicken production challenges

Perceived benefits and challenges of school feeding program in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia: a qualitative study.

Addis Ababa initiated a universal Home-Grown School Feeding Program (HGSFP) in February 2019 to address hunger and improve the educational outcomes of schoolchildren. This study aimed to document the perceived benefits and challenges of the HGSFP in Addis Ababa, where such information was lacking. In May 2023, a qualitative phenomenological study was conducted to collect data from 20 schools participating in the HGSFP. Data were collected through key informant interviews and focus group discussions (FGDs) involving 98 purposively selected participants. The study encompassed 48 student mothers in 5 FGDs, 20 student interviews, 20 school principals, and 10 experts from the Ministry of Education, Sub-cities, and the School Feeding Agency for in-depth interviews. Data collected in the local language were transcribed, translated into English, and thematically analysed using ATLAS-TI software. The study's findings unveiled the transformative impact of the HGSFP in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. It demonstrated remarkable improvements in attendance, concentration, academic performance, reduced dropout rates, financial relief, enhanced behaviour, and a safer learning environment. However, urgent measures are imperative to tackle pressing challenges such as underpaid kitchen workers, operational issues, reduced reading time, rising food costs, limited market access, inadequate infrastructure, and growing dependency. To ensure the enduring sustainability of HGSFP, addressing challenges like workload reduction, kitchen infrastructure enhancement, government guideline implementation, promoting self-reliance, overcoming budget limitations, and addressing school gardening obstacles is vital.

The energy-food dilemma for utilizing biofuels in low-income communities amidst the Russian–Ukrainian conflict

The Russian–Ukraine war has had and will continue to impact global energy and food security; this will increase the pressure on low-income communities due to rising food costs, as some food was used for energy (i.e. cooking oil). In addition to that, rising energy demand, fuel price increases, the need for energy security, climate change, and means of lowering greenhouse gas emissions are significant considerations in all ethical discussions, particularly when considering the human right to food; there is a tension between the usage of land and availability of water and the human need for fuel, such as biofuel. Although biofuels have the potential to alleviate energy difficulties, producing and consuming such fuels raises social, economic, technological, environmental, and ethical concerns due to ethical aspects such as Rights, Duty, Virtue, Utilitarianism, and Sustainability. Furthermore, all participants bear an ethical responsibility to ensure that biofuels are produced and used appropriately, taking into account citizens’ rights to nourishment, well-being, and employment, the environmental sustainability of such fuels, as well as their capacity to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and the equitable distribution of such fuels’ costs and benefits. Using human food to produce biofuels has raised several issues since it may jeopardize the human right to enough sustenance for healthy living. In contrast, current biofuel production and use do not meet environmental sustainability requirements.

Centering social reproduction during crisis: women’s experiences of food insecurity in Myanmar, Papua New Guinea, and the Philippines during the COVID-19 pandemic

Studies examining the gendered impacts of COVID-19 have shown that women have been disproportionately impacted by the socio-economic effects of the pandemic across multiple areas, including economic and food security. We sought to understand how the impacts of the pandemic on women’s food security in the Indo-Pacific region were influenced by women’s roles in performing the bulk of unpaid work and care involved in social reproduction. We interviewed 183 female farmers and vendors (market stallholders) in Myanmar, Papua New Guinea, and the Philippines. We found that across all three countries examined, women described an impact on their food security as well as their labour, processes of reproduction, and private household dynamics. Women’s household food security was impacted because of decreased income, increased business costs, rising food costs, and additional household costs. Further, our findings show that because it was typically women’s responsibility to manage household food security, women were anticipating food shortages and engaging in risks to mitigate against food insecurity. These findings demonstrate the urgent need to introduce national and international crisis response measures that differentiate the gendered social and economic impacts of crises that centers, rather than marginalizes, social reproduction in analyses.

A Relative Importance Index Analysis of Drivers of Land Degradation in Agro-pastoral Systems in Mbulu District, Tanzania

Growing concern over land degradation impacts everyone via food security, rising food costs, climate change, environmental threats, and loss of biodiversity. Land degradation harms food production, livelihoods, and the ecosystem. This study aimed at examining the drivers of land degradation in semiarid Agro-pastoral systems in semiarid areas of Tanzania by classifying land conservation practices adopted by the community in efforts to ensure land restoration within the selected district using a relative importance index approach. The study selected the Mbulu district as a study area and sampled 178 agro-pastoralists. A semi-structured questionnaire was used for data collection. The data collected were analysed using a Relative Importance Index to classify the most important criteria based on the participants’ responses. Results show that the severity of the factors causing land degradation ranges from 66.97% to 70.90%: Cutting trees for building purposes (70.9%), overgrazing (70.79%), a lack of a land use plan (69.21%), charcoal burning (66.97%), agricultural practices including poor farming methods (66.97%), and land ownership and tenure system (57.98%). The study identified that 90% of agro-pastoralists do not use any land conservation practices, while less than 10% use the practices. The study concludes that the five dimensions identified have a considerable effect on land degradation. However, nearly 90% of sampled households did not use land conservation methods. Thus, the study recommended that stakeholders should increase efforts to reduce the severity of land degradation by engaging the local communities with frequent training and extension services and involving the community in protecting and managing their environment. Policymakers and conservationists should develop programs that will engage the community and put sustainable land management practices into action. Moreover, community development experts should be involved in the whole process of sustainable land management since they know how to engage the community through principles of community development.

Diabetes in the cost‐of‐living crisis

Diabetes in the cost‐of‐living crisis

Impact of Inadequate Food Supply on Tourism and Hospitality Industry in Angola

Purpose: The study sought to analyze the impact of inadequate food supply on tourism and hospitality industry in Angola
 Methodology: The study adopted a desktop methodology. Desk research refers to secondary data or that which can be collected without fieldwork. Desk research is basically involved in collecting data from existing resources hence it is often considered a low cost technique as compared to field research, as the main cost is involved in executive’s time, telephone charges and directories. Thus, the study relied on already published studies, reports and statistics. This secondary data was easily accessed through the online journals and library.
 Findings: The results show that food safety is important for the wellbeing and safety of hotel guests. Application of standard food safety systems, compliance to food safety system and implementation of food safety system impact the provision of safe food in hotels. From the study findings, it was concluded that application of standard Food safety systems, compliance to food safety system and implementation of food safety system impact the provision of safe food in hotels. Empirical findings revealed that mid- and low-tier hotels found the increases in commodity prices challenging and thus employed innovative methods to combat rising food costs. High-tier hotels were more concerned about satisfying customers' needs by maintaining high-quality food products and services.
 Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice and Policy: The theory of change and Maslow hierarchy of hotel expectations theory may be used to anchor future studies in the tourism sector. The study results will also benefit other stakeholders such as the policy makers as well as researchers and scholars from different parts of the world. The top management hospitality in the country will also use the study findings to improve tourism performance in all their activities and programs. The study recommends that the adoption of effective social protection development policies in tourism will help to improve efficiency in their major operations and activities.

Food Insecurity in the Pediatric Food Allergy Population

Food insecurity affects approximately 15% of children in the United States and has increased due to the COVID-19 pandemic and rising food costs. Previous studies have shown higher rates of food insecurity in food allergic children, though data is limited. We aim to investigate food insecurity trends in an urban, children’s hospital-based, Allergy/Immunology outpatient clinic.

Pandemic-Era WIC Participation in Wilmington, Delaware: Participants' Experiences and Challenges.

Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) participants faced unprecedented challenges during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic including financial concerns, a national infant formula shortage, and rising food costs. To mitigate these challenges, the United States Department of Agriculture implemented WIC program waivers and flexibilities aiming to simplify program operations (e.g., remote appointments and food package substitutions). However, little is known about WIC participants' perceptions of these changes and their impact on in-store benefit redemption. As such, this study aimed to characterize how pandemic-related events impacted Delaware WIC participants' shopping experiences and program perceptions. The authors conducted semi-structured interviews with 51 WIC participants in Wilmington, Delaware. Survey measures included demographic questions, the Hunger Vital Sign, and open-ended questions regarding WIC program participation experiences during the pandemic. Data were analyzed using a hybrid inductive and deductive coding approach. The results demonstrate that WIC participants benefitted from the pandemic program's flexibilities. However, they continued to experience burdensome shopping trips as well as concerns about their ability to feed their families due to infant formula shortages and inflation. These findings indicate the importance of extending existing WIC flexibilities and providing continued support for both participants and WIC-authorized retailors.

Food consumption patterns and trends in response to inflationary pressures

Food prices have increased significantly in Hungary over the past year due to rising inflation. Price changes are crucial in shaping consumer behaviour and purchasing decisions. Supply chain disruptions, rising energy prices and extreme weather conditions have also had an adverse impact on prices. Another factor in the unfavourable situation was the distorting effect of the “price cap” (a government-imposed ceiling on the price of certain products) applied in Hungary. Based on an extensive and representative survey conducted during the autumn of 2022, this study presents the examination of trends in the food purchasing habits of the above 18 years of age population of a county of Hungary. The findings have confirmed a decrease in both supermarket visits and the level of consumption of fresh products including vegetables, fruits, dairy products, and baked goods due to high inflation and rising food costs. Additionally, there has been a noticeable shift towards shopping at discount supermarkets, accompanied by a decline in both bulk and small purchases. As spending on food has increased by over 40%, consumers are increasingly mindful of their spending.

The School Food Solution: Creating a healthy school food environment with Canada's Food Guide

In 2021, Canada’s federal government made a historic commitment to develop a national school food policy. Among overlapping challenges of increasing food insecurity, rising food costs, and the impact on food systems from climate change, there is now an opportunity to create a school food environment that ensures universal access to nutri­tious foods and supports sustainability in food sys­tems. A universal school food program can ensure that all children, regardless of income, access the recommended nutritious foods and can promote climate-friendly diets. Such school food programs can also support local farmers and regional econo­mies. In this paper, we outline the policy context for the new Canada’s Food Guide and the researched benefits of school food. We argue that Canada’s Food Guide can support a healthy school environment that is equitable and that promotes sustainability in the food system by embracing founding principles of diet equity and sustainabil­ity. Our concluding discussion outlines issues to be addressed in implementation.

Land Use/Land Cover Dynamics and Implications for Landscape Restoration in Cameroon’s Western Highlands

Land use – the way human beings employ the land and its resources is at the centre of scientific and policy interests in rapidly evolving landscapes of sub-Saharan Africa. An example par excellence of such landscapes is the Western Highland Region of Cameroon. This paper analyses the implications of land use changes in seven communities of the Western Highland Region of Cameroon. In doing so, it specifically: (i) examines the pattern of land use/land cover change between 1984 and 2021, and (ii) analyses their environmental implications. A mixed-methods approach involving the use of qualitative and quantitative data collection and analysis methods was employed. This specifically involved the survey of 300 households using semi-structured questionnaires, the conduct of nine (9) group discussions and twenty-two (22) key informant interviews. Secondary data were obtained through Municipal Council Reports. The data were analysed descriptively (using tables and charts) and spatially using maps. The study used archived satellite images to map land use dynamics over the study area from 1970’s to present. In this light, NASA’s Landsat satellite images from USGS earth explorer was acquired for the periods of 1979, 1984, 2000, 2013 and 2021 for diachronic analysis of land cover/use in the study area. The results revealed that land use/land cover changes were rapid, involving a significant reduction in grassland (72%), forests (48%) and bare areas (19%) between 1984 and 2021. This was followed by a correspondent increase (211%) in the built-up area, and in agricultural space (22%). Additionally, land use/land cover changes have led to a change in local climatic conditions, a decline in crop and livestock output, and rising food costs. The study recommends that international NGOs operating in this area should engage with communities on aspects of sustainable land management. Relevant government ministerial departments and municipal agents should emphasise the need to respect land use plans, to limit the uncoordinated colonisation of slopes for farming and settlement. Besides establishing the pattern of land use transformation in this landscape, this paper provides new insights on the environmental effects of land use/land cover dynamics in Cameroon’s Western Highlands. The results demonstrate novelty through its further identification of food security issues linked to land use/land cover dynamics.

Evaluation de l’impact de l’accès au microcrédit sur le bien être social des ménages bénéficiaires en Tunisie

This study is a contribution in the field of evaluation of the effects of microfinance on the social status of its beneficiaries. In this article, we used the counterfactual approach that compare the evolution of the situation of beneficiaries of microcredit to a control group (which has the same initial characteristics of the group of beneficiaries). We focused our study on a sample of 300 people distributed equally between three categories of respondents (the beneficiaries of the NGO ENDA, the beneficiaries of the AKDI association and the control group). The results of our empirical study confirm previous findings on the positive effects of microfinance on social welfare. These effects are identified through rising food costs, access to health services, education for children and improved household living arrangements.

Waste less, enjoy more: forming a messaging campaign and reducing food waste in restaurants

ABSTRACTFood waste not only has significant and negative impacts on the environment but also harms food businesses due to rising food costs. This study investigated consumers’ perceptions, attitudes, and behavioral intentions toward a food waste prevention campaign in buffet-style restaurants. The results indicate that an environmentally focused message had a strong effect on consumers’ attitudes toward preventing food waste in the restaurant. Moreover, there was a significant interaction effect of message appeals and source credibility on consumers’ perception of corporate social responsibility. Both perceived corporate social responsibility and attitudes increase behavioral intentions of preventing food waste, while the consumers with higher level of social responsible consumption will respond strongly to prevent food waste in the restaurant. The theoretical and practical implications are discussed in this paper.

Food staple production and alternative development paths: India and China

ABSTRACTIn this paper, it is argued that structural change has been quite different in India as compared with China, with the former seeming to skip labor-intensive manufacturing while the latter fully exploiting this sector's potential for employment and growth. It is hypothesized that productivity growth in agriculture, particularly food staples, is a critical factor in explaining the differences in structural change. In China, rapid agricultural growth kept food cheap and thus labor inexpensive, fostering rapid growth in labor-intensive manufacturing. In India, sluggish agricultural growth and rising food costs meant that labor in India has become increasingly expensive and this has inhibited the development of labor-intensive manufacturing.

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