Food Security Stability Research Articles

Stability of food security in EU member states – does the common agricultural policy ensure resilience of food systems during crises?

Stability of food security in EU member states – does the common agricultural policy ensure resilience of food systems during crises?

An Examination Of The Efficiency Of Cassava Marketing In East Lampung Regency, Lampung Province, Indonesia

Cassava is a strategic commodity that has an influence on the stability of food security and drives industries from small to large scale and from upstream to downstream. Despite the potential and opportunities for developing cassava commodities in Lampung Province, the problems and challenges, especially those related to cassava marketing, are still relatively large. This research was conducted in Labuhan Ratu VI Village, Labuhan Ratu District, East Lampung Regency, Lampung Province in October 2020 - July 2021. The sampling method used was the snowball method. The snowball method is very appropriate to use in research on the topic of trade because it provides a complete description of the characteristics and conditions of marketing channels, the existing conditions of marketing institutions, and the effectiveness of existing trade channels. The research was conducted employing a survey method, and by simple random sampling involving 147 respondents of cassava farmers. The results revealed that cassava marketing consists of 2 channels. Farmer share channel I and II respectively 74% and 86%, while the marketing efficiency value (EP) marketing channel I and II respectively 13.04 % and 10.35%. These results show that marketing channel II is more efficient than marketing channel I because it has a high farmer share and marketing efficiency with a small percentage. This is because in marketing channel II farmers directly sell their cassava to the factory and marketing costs are low. Therefore, farmers are advised to market their products through marketing channel II.

Spatiotemporal Pattern Evolution of Food and Nutrient Production in China.

Ensuring food and nutrient supply is a crucial aspect of achieving food safety. With rapid population growth, urbanization, and social and economic development, the challenges related to China's food and nutrient production have become increasingly prominent. This paper analyzed the characteristics of the spatiotemporal pattern evolution of food and nutrient production in China from 1995 to 2020, utilizing the conversion of various food nutrients and the establishment of a gravity center model. The results showed that: (1) Food production exhibited increasing trends in China, six regions, and 90% of the provinces. Notably, the structure of food production underwent significant changes in China, East China, Central-South China, Southwest China, Northwest China, and 60% of the provinces. (2) The output of all categories of food nutrients demonstrated increasing trends in China, six regions, and most provinces. At three different geographical scales, the changes of six food nutrients production structure showed significant differences. (3) Natural, political, social, economic, and technological factors played pivotal roles in influencing the gravity centers of food and nutrient production in China. The gravity centers of cereal production shifted northeast, while those of root and tuber, oil crops, and stimulants production moved westward. Additionally, the gravity centers of sugar crop, pulse, vegetable, fruit, and aquatic product production moved southwest and those of livestock and poultry production shifted northward. (4) Affected by the food production, the gravity centers of food energy, food protein, and food carbohydrate production shifted northward, while those of food fat, food vitamins, and food minerals production shifted northwest, southwest, and westward, respectively. The results of this study are of great significance for policy adjustments pertaining to the distribution pattern of food production, food security stability, and sustainable development in China.

Contributing factors to the looming food crisis in sub-Saharan Africa: Opportunities for policy insight

The food price crisis of 2007–2008 and the recent resurgence of food prices have focused increasing attention on the causes and consequences of food price volatility in international food markets and the developing world, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Agricultural Price Index was 34% higher as of 30 June 2022, compared to January 2021. This paper reviews increasing food crisis in Africa in the wake of climate change, COVID-19, and the Russia–Ukraine war and the implications on Africa’s food security stability. Climate change is affecting the fundamental basis of agriculture through changes in temperature, rainfall, and weather, and by intensifying the occurrences of floods, droughts, and heat stress. COVID-19 pandemic disrupted the production and supply chains, while the ongoing Russia–Ukraine war continues to disrupt the global food market and food prices. SSA is susceptible to the effects of this war, and this has already resulted in high demand for food commodities and increased food prices. The study calls for the need for the international community to establish a strategic food reserve to face food crises triggered by armed conflicts or climate-induced disasters and pandemics. This mechanism may facilitate reactive interventions that help to contain the human security implications of food crises, thus fostering peace. Solutions also lie in implementing programs and policies informing the monitoring of weather shocks and advancing supporting to those impacted. Additionally, the governments of SSAs should embrace domestic production of farm inputs such as fertilizer to avoid overdependence on imports which are susceptible to wars and conflict.

Use of poultry manure as an alternative to inorganic fertilizer: A review of potential human and environmental health risks

Poultry manure has excellent potential to reduce overdependence on inorganic fertilizers for crop production among resource-constrained farming communities. However, its use on a large scale could possess short- and long-term risks. These risks fall into three main categories, namely human and other livestock, crop health, and environmental. This review research presented the potential value of chicken manure in soil health and food security stability. The review also presented the critical risks, such as pathogen transmission, heavy metal accumulation, and nutrient runoff, that are likely to hinder the large-scale use of poultry manure. Finally, this research has intensively presented scientifically proven strategies that could be adapted and adopted to help mitigate the current risks. Active government involvement through formulating and enacting appropriate policies and laws provides the first step in risk mitigation. Other practices, such as manure treatment and the adoption of better agronomic practices, are essential and have proved to be critical for the safe use of poultry manure. Poultry manure has excellent potential to reduce overdependence on inorganic fertilizers. To do this effectively, appropriate policies and laws should be enacted to encourage the use of safe products in the poultry sector, proper manure collection, and treatment and use. Farmers should choose and apply manure within the best agronomic principles.

Stability of Food Security in Iran; Challenges and Ways Forward: A Narrative Review.

Food security, which is considered to be a public health-related socioeconomic factor, ensures the health of society's people and plays a significant role in improving governance. This concept is closely related to the concept of stability of food. The stability of food means that there should be adequate, quality, and nutritious food for all human beings, in all places and at all times, and no factor should prevent this important issue. Stability in food production and supply is at the heart of food security and makes food systems resilient in times of crisis. The negative impact of climate change on agricultural production, intensified inflationary trends, high food prices, increasing food waste, increasing the need for food imports, and, more significantly, ongoing international sanctions make it difficult to access affordable food and pose challenges to Iran's food security. Moreover, the COVID-19 crisis has reduced the incomes of families and government by intensifying economic pressures on government incomes as well as rising unemployment, which has directly exacerbated food insecurity. The link between indicators of food stability and food security in Iran is the subject of this article. The key indicators selected are the percent of arable land equipped for irrigation, the cereal imports dependency ratio, the value of food imports over total merchandise exports, per capita food production variability, and, per capita food supply variability. Results show Iran is vulnerable to the arable land equipped for irrigation, food imports over total merchandise exports, and the cereal imports dependency ratio while being resilient per capita food production and food supply variability.

Backyard poultry farming with improved germplasm: Sustainable food production and nutritional security in fragile ecosystem

Approximately 3 billion people were unable to afford a healthy diet in 2019 because of poverty and inequality. Most of these people live in Asia and Africa. Furthermore, 30% of the world population was affected by moderate to severe food insecurity in 2020, and most of this population lives in low- and middle-income countries. The world is at a critical juncture, and there is an urgent need for transformative food systems that ensure the empowerment of poor and vulnerable population groups, often smallholders with limited access to resources or those living in remote locations, as well as the empowerment of women, children, and youth (FAO,2018). The backyard poultry production system (BPPS), as practiced by 80% of the world's rural population, can be that transformative change in low- and middle-income countries. Although the BPPS has low productivity, it still plays an important role in the food and nutritional security of rural people living in fragile ecosystems. Backyard poultry has been recognized as a tool for poverty alleviation and women empowerment besides ensuring food and nutritional security for rural poor. Poultry meat and eggs are the cheapest and best source of good quality protein, minerals, and vitamins. The introduction of improved backyard poultry germplasm has improved the productivity of this system in resource-poor settings and thereby improved the income and nutritional security of poor households. With these birds, the availability, access, utilization, and stability of food security have improved at household and national levels. Diseases, predation, non-availability of improved germplasm, lack of access to markets, and lack of skills are the major constraints to the adoption of improved backyard poultry. These constraints can be addressed by involving a network of community animal service providers. The improved backyard poultry germplasm will dominate the backyard poultry production system in the future and will be a tool for ensuring food and nutritional security on a sustainable basis, more particularly in low- and middle-income countries.

FOOD SECURITY AND ITS PLACE IN THE STRUCTURE OF ECONOMIC SECURITY OF THE STATE

Purpose. The aim of the article is clarification of the essence of food security and determining its place in the structure of economic security of the state. Methodology of research. General scientific and special research methods were used in the process of research, namely: monographic – for theoretical generalization of the essence of food safety, analysis of research results of other scientists-researchers; economic and statistical – in the analysis of the level of consumption of the main types of food of the population of Ukraine, abstract and logical – to formulate conclusions. Findings. The essence of food security is highlighted. Its place in the structure of economic security of the state is established, considering that the last opens internal possibilities and defines strategic alternatives of social and economic growth for maintenance of public welfare. It is determined that the issue of providing the population with physiologically necessary food was and remains the most pressing problem of the state. It has been found that food security directly affects the health of a nation and, as a result, determines demographic security. The urgency of providing the population with high-quality food at the level of scientifically sound consumption norms in terms of effective demand and guaranteeing food security of the country has been confirmed. Originality. The own vision of the essence of the concept of “food security” is offered, which, unlike the existing ones, is considered as a state of the economy that will guarantee physical, economic and social accessibility, food safety and quality, stability of food security at the rational level under normal conditions, and in case of emergencies – at the minimum level, and will ensure food sovereignty. Practical value. The obtained results of the study are to develop recommendations on important areas of state support to ensure food security and a stable economic situation and can be used by the Departments of Economic Development of the regions. Key words: food security, economic security, food, consumption rate, policy.

English

In Africa, the prevalence of aflatoxin contamination in agricultural production places the stability of food security at risk. This study investigated the socio-economic characteristics of farmers; assessed the prevalence of aflatoxin in maize production; identified the aflatoxin control practices used; and estimated the net returns to users and non-users of the control practices. A multistage sampling procedure was employed to select 240 farmers, comprising users and non-users of aflatoxin control practices. Data were collected on farmers’ socioeconomic characteristics, maize farmland cultivated, the proportion affected by aflatoxin as well as quantity and prices of inputs and output from the maize farms with the aid of pretested structured questionnaire and interview guide in a focus group discussion. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and budgeting technique. Results showed that most of the farmers are married (86.7%), with over 20 years of farming experience and active ages of between 41 and 60 years. 42% of their average maize farm of 2.7 ha were affected by aflatoxin contamination. About 28% of the farmers used different types of aflatoxin control practices. A larger proportion (72%) of the farmers did not use any of the control measures. There was a significant difference (p<0.05) in the net returns earned between users and non-users of aflatoxin control practices. It was concluded that use of aflatoxin control practices in maize production should be promoted among farmers in Oyo state as it enhances maize yield and the net returns earned from maize production. Key words: Aflatoxin control, maize, smallholders, food security, gross margin.

Study on the Current Status of China’s Food Security Based on Multiple Dimensions Measurement

As a large agricultural country, food security is of vital importance to the national economy and people's livelihood. In recent years, food production has been constantly restricted in order to meet the needs of urbanization and economic development. And problems such as resource compression, cost increase and insufficient investment in science and technology have gradually surfaced. In order to guarantee the food production safety, this paper comprehensively analyzes the status of China's food security from four aspects: food availability, food access, food utilization and the stability of food security. Through comparative analysis, it is known that the overall situation of China's food security has been significantly improved. It is better than the average level of developing countries. China also has advantages when compared with other developing countries with large populations, but there is still a certain gap with the average level of developed countries. China's food security situation is not balanced in different dimensions. The food availability situation measured by indicators such as per capita food output and average dietary energy supply has significantly improved. The food access measured by per capita GDP, domestic food price index, prevalence of undernourishment and so on, enhances continuously. The global hunger index was significantly reduced in food utilization, and the condition of food utilization measured by clean drinking water sources and good sanitation facilities was significantly improved. The lower stability index of political stability, the higher domestic food price volatility and per capita food production variability are not conducive to the stability of food security.

Food Security Implementation in ASEAN: Towards Sustainable Food Trade and Food Market within the ASEAN Economic Community

Historically, food issues had caused perils to humans in almost every part of the world. Depletion of food supply had led to the decline of many civilizations back then including the Mayans. As such, food crisis could be detrimental towards human security as global food crises including the one that occurred between the years of 2007 until 2008 had threatened the peace and stability of food security. Externalities have exacerbated recent conditions of food security which have led to increment of food prices within ASEAN Member States (AMS) particularly in food and agricultural products. The steep rise in food prices was due to increasing agricultural production cost (which was linked to the price hikes in fuel oil and fertilizers), decline in yields and production which was a consequence of climate patterns, and higher cost of keeping perishable goods. As a consequence, the AMS have acted responsively to lose the tight of the impacts of steep rise in food prices by imposing restrictions on export, price controls, subsidies in price, and import facilitation. In 2015, due to the efforts undertaken by the AMS in establishing a unified community with food security as of its priorities, the realization of sustainable development via food trade becomes relevant. In this connection, this article will discuss the measures toward sustainable development via food trade within ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) by 2050.