Strengthen Food Security Research Articles

Introduction to Special Issue on Food Security in a Changing World

Food security, or access to sufficient, healthy, and nutritious foods, presents aserious challenge for scholars committed to the advancement of human healthand well-being. Food insecurity poses a multifaceted biocultural problem thatincludes chronic malnutrition, metabolic and degenerative diseases, and thehastening decline of sustainable food production and subsistence practices.Despite numerous advances made by food scholars, anthropologists, folklorists,ethnobiologists, and others who seek to improve human nutrition and itsconstituent cultural and natural resource bases, food security remains relativelyneglected in studies of the ecology of food procurement, preparation, preserv-ation, consumption, and distribution.Many local and indigenous communities worldwide are presently facingnew and dramatic challenges linked directly to climate change and concomitantfood shortages and inequalities, including health problems associated withhypernutrition and malnutrition (e.g., Lawrence et al. 2010; Lobell and Burke2010; McDonald 2010). Intellectually, ethnobiologists are uniquely situated toexamine human access to foods in ways that may strengthen food security for thebenefit of present and future generations. Traditional ecological knowledge(TEK) is increasingly important among international stakeholders committed tothe systematic improvement of food security and shaping culturally sensitiveapproaches to public health and nutritional policy development. The study oftraditional knowledge of foodways necessarily entails understanding howcommunities protect, procure, prepare, and consume local foods sustainablywithin ecological systems (e.g., DeSoucey and Te´choueyres 2009; Turner 2008;Mirsky 1981). Taken in concert, these findings can in turn promote innovativecollaborative strategies to strengthen food security effectively and lastingly inother regions of the world (Hinrichs and Lyson 2007).The contribution of ethnobiology to food security is furthermore crucial toadvancing current discussions and debates surrounding food sovereignty(Declaration of Nye´le´ni 2007). This dialogue stresses the rights of localcommunities to define their own food systems, including the agency of the localcommunities which produce, distribute, and consume their own foods at thecenter of decisions regarding food systems and policies (Wittman et al. 2010).Ethnobiologists have a special opportunity to establish innovative, collaborativeplatforms together with local communities a nd indigenous groups, environmentalists,food activists, and NGOs for implementing sound strategies of ensuring food

Promoting Agricultural Research and Development to Strengthen Food Security in South Asia

This study aims to highlight the status of agricultural R&D in South Asia and contends that creating an effective agricultural research and innovation systems is a vital element to ensure food security in this region. South Asia is home to around one-fourth of mankind and houses the largest proportion of undernourished people in the world. Despite a period of marked economic growth averaging 6% a year over the past two decades, it remains the world's second poorest region contributing a mere 2.2% in global annual GDP. Agriculture is the mainstay of South Asian economy employing around 60% of the total workforce and generating around 20% of total GDP. South Asia has the recognition of being the second most food-insecure region next only to sub-Saharan Africa. Though there is growing evidence that technological innovation has a key role to play in increasing agricultural production and strengthening food security, agricultural research and development (R&D) sector has failed to garner sufficient attention till now. This study also depicts the current situation of food security in South Asia and illustrates how agricultural education and innovation hold the master key to solve the food security issues for the world's most densely populated region.

Food Science Education Publications and Websites

Food Science Education Publications and Websites

Influence of Irrigation Water, Nitrogen and Phosphorus Nutrient Rates on Relative Weight Loss and Sprouting Characteristics of Seed Potato Tubers After Storage

Potato has overtime generated special importance in most parts of Kenya and the world as a means of strengthening food security and increasing revenue for farmers. However, potato productivity and industry expansion have been constrained by the poor quality seed tubers being produced in the informal seed sector due to inadequate supply of initial planting materials, improper fertilizer management practices and irregular rainfall patterns. A study was done at the Horticultural Research and Teaching Farm of Egerton University to determine the effect of integration of irrigation water, nitrogen and phosphorus rates on seed tuber relative weight loss and sprouting characteristics after storage. The three factors were tested in a split-split plot design where irrigation water supply was assigned to main plots, N to subplots and P to sub-subplots. The treatments were replicated three times and the trial repeated once. The treatments consisted of three irrigation water rates (40%, 65% and 100% field capacity), applied throughout the potato growth period through drip tube lines. Nitrogen was supplied as urea (46% N) at four equivalent rates of 0, 75, 112.5 and 150 kg N/ha, while phosphorus was supplied at planting time as triple superphosphate (46% P2O5) at four rates of 0, 115, 172.5 and 230 kg/ha P2O5, which translated into 0, 50.6, 75.9, 101.2 kg P/ha. Data collected included relative percentage weight loss, number of sprouts and sprouting percentage. Data collected was subjected to analysis of variance and significantly different means separated using Tukey’s Studentized Range Test at p ≤ 0.05. The 100% compared to 65% and 40% irrigation water rates resulted in relatively high weight loss, sprout length and reduced the number of sprouts and sprouting percentage of seed tubers. N and P rates generally decreased the relative weight loss, improved the number of sprouts and sprouting percentage. It is recommended to apply low to intermediate irrigation water, intermediate to high N and P rates to reduce the percentage relative weight loss and sprouting characteristics.

Quality and Safety Warning of Edible Forest Products Based on Gray Forecast Model

Strengthening food security early warning system is an important content of the food safety supervision. The gray model of edible forest products warning is constructed on the basis of gray prediction theory, and this article takes the pecan peroxide value in laboratory at room temperature be measured during storage as the example to do the case study. The results show that the model has higher prediction accuracy and generalization ability, and the early warning of edible forest product quality and safety is reliable.

Leveraging Farmer Producer Organizations to Boost Production, Mitigate Risk and Strengthen Food Security: Lessons and Challenges

This article examines the role of farmer producer organizations in addressing several constraints and risks faced by small producers, especially access to credit, technical services and marketing. It surveys current literature on the subject and suggests policy support to member based farmer producer organizations to help smallholder agriculture mitigate risk and improve market access. In particular, the paper makes a case for integrating farmer producer organizations in the food security architecture of the country to leverage their inclusive growth potential.

Strengthening Informal Seed Systems To Enhance Food Security in Southeast Asia

In 2011, the number of hungry people in the world surpassed one billion for the first time. The majority of these people are largely dependent for their food security upon resource-poor smallholder farmers in developing or emerging economies. These smallholders depend on informal seed systems for 75–90% of their food crop cultivation. Southeast Asia, one of the world's biodiversity hotspots in the face of rapidly dwindling global genetic diversity, is at the forefront of seed systems issues. This article examines activities undertaken by a collaboration of researchers and local institutions to enhance food security within informal seed systems in Thai and Cambodian rural communities. We employed a two-step model for strengthening food security using a range of participatory activities to first understand and characterize, and secondly strengthen informal seed systems in the target regions. We documented seed pathways, histories, and storage as well as gender roles in each community. Informal seed systems were strengthened through identifying potential species for commercialization, addressing technological barriers to seed analysis, and conducting seed fairs and seed banking. These activities not only strengthened informal seed systems, but also significantly enhanced all four pillars of food security in the study communities. Recommendations for future informal seed systems and food security research include extending research into more communities and countries, focusing on the potential for enhancing formal seed systems, and examining the possibilities for synergies with food sovereignty approaches.

IUFoST's strategy to strengthen food security in rural areas of developing countries

SummaryOne sixth of the world's population is food insecure with many of these people living in Sub‐Saharan Africa. Food insecurity, hunger and malnutrition have multiple reasons, many of which are beyond the reach and capacity of the food science community to remediate. Knowledge of food science and technology can dramatically improve the situation wherever food insecurity exists. This knowledge can increase our understanding of the conditions under which agricultural produce has to be handled, processed and distributed after harvesting. To develop practical measures, the Food Security Task Force of the International Union of Food Science and Technology (IUFoST) is developing a strategy to expand and broaden the Food Science/Technology knowledge base in neglected geographical areas. Specifically, IUFoST is offering Food Science/Technology training material for non‐academic food industry entrepreneurs utilising distance education technology. Part of IUFoST's effort is the transfer of appropriate technologies for pilot‐scale processes which foster linkages between farmers and food industries and stimulate growing high value crops.

Using Garden-Based Service-Learning to Work Toward Food Justice, Better Educate Students, and Strengthen Campus-Community Ties

In this article, we present several approaches for using garden-based service-learning to work toward food justice, better educate undergraduate students, and strengthen campus-community ties. We begin by introducing several key concepts related to food justice, community gardens as a strategy for strengthening food security and community development, and service-learning as a pedagogical tool for educating students about social justice, civic engagement, and personal responsibility for positive social change. We then discuss three of our service-learning projects in depth from an interdisciplinary perspective: the Fairmount Community Garden, the North Side Garden Survey, and the Como Community Garden. We evaluate the success of our approaches using multiple measures and identify the benefits our approaches have provided for undergraduates, community partners, communities served by the gardens, educators, and our university. We also discuss lessons we have learned, offer suggestions for best practices to follow in developing future garden-based service-learning projects, and compare and contrast our pedagogy with that of critical service-learning.

The Agricultural Ethics of Biofuels: The Food vs. Fuel Debate

Plant-based transportation fuels were the focus of extended criticism in the press, especially during 2008 when a portion of the blame for a spike in global food prices was associated with growth of the United States’ corn ethanol industry. The critique is based on an unsophisticated portrayal of the ethical issues at stake in the food security implications of biofuel. Three ethical critiques can be leveled at the food vs. fuel debate. First, although market drivers of biofuels indeed skew consumption of agricultural grains, this is not a problem that is unique to biofuels. Second, the critique does not reflect an adequate understanding of the way that rising food prices and changes in agricultural technology affect the food security of the poorest people. Third, although rising food prices could be beneficial to poor farm producers among the world’s poor, it is unlikely that benefits will materialize in the absence of concerted programs to deliberately select biofuel development strategies that are targeted to strengthen food security for poor and small-holding producers. An adequate agricultural ethics for biofuels will require commitment by both private and public sector biofuel developers to ensure that potentially positive attributes of biofuel development are realized.

Food insufficiency is associated with psychiatric morbidity in a nationally representative study of mental illness among food insecure Canadians

Studies suggest that people who are food insecure are more likely to experience mental illness. However, little is known about which aspects of food insecurity place individuals most at risk of mental illness. The purpose of this study was to establish the prevalence of mental illness among food insecure Canadians, and examine whether mental illness differs between those who are consuming insufficient amounts of food versus poor quality foods. This analysis utilized the publically available dataset from the Canadian Community Health Survey cycle 4.1. Bivariable and multivariable logistic regression were used to examine the associations between food insecurity and mental health disorder diagnosis, while adjusting for potential confounders. Stratified analyses were used to identify vulnerable sub-groups. Among 5,588 Canadian adults (18-64 years) reporting food insecurity, 58 % reported poor food quality and 42 % reported food insufficiency. The prevalence of mental health diagnosis was 24 % among participants with poor food quality, and 35 % among individuals who were food insufficient (hunger). After adjusting for confounders, adults experiencing food insufficiency had 1.69 adjusted-odds [95 % confidence interval (CI): 1.49-1.91] of having a mental health diagnosis. Stratified analyses revealed increased odds among women (a-OR 1.89, 95 % CI 1.62-2.20), single parent households (a-OR 2.05, 95 % CI 1.51-2.78), and non-immigrants (a-OR 1.88, 95 % CI 1.64-2.16). The prevalence of mental illness is alarmingly high in this population-based sample of food insecure Canadians. These findings suggest that government and community-based programming aimed at strengthening food security should integrate supports for mental illness in this population.

Theoretical and methodological problems of innovation development of the Russian agricultural and food processing complex

This paper focuses on the most important results of scientific research made by the Institution of the Russian Academy of Sciences Institute of Agrarian Problems of RAS. The feature of this research is to implement cross-sectoral and interdisciplinary approaches to the analysis and projection of agricultural and food industry development. The conceptual framework for strategic cross-sectoral management of the Russian agricultural and food processing sector was elaborated; it is aimed at strengthening food security. The priority of ensuring food security is to develop a new model of the Russian agricultural complex which has potential for sustainable dynamic growth and innovation receptivity that allows solving problems of raising living standards, efficiency and competitiveness.

The potential of small-scale rainfed agriculture to strengthen food security in Arab countries

In most Arab countries, domestic agricultural production is insufficient. The gap between production and demand is likely to increase due to climate change and other factors. This review paper examines the challenges and possible solutions to ensuring food security in the future. It focuses on rainfed agriculture, which accounts for two-thirds of the region’s cropland, the bulk of its food staples, and almost all its rangelands. Given the scarcity of water and arable land, there are few opportunities in the region to expand cultivated area. But numerous effective, proven technologies are available that can increase productivity per unit area of land or volume of water. Crop technologies include, for example, new stress-tolerant varieties, supplemental irrigation and other techniques to increase water productivity, and conservation agriculture and other land management methods. Livestock nutrition and productivity could be increased with new forage or dual-purpose varieties, and greater use of alternative feed sources such as feed blocks made from crop by-products. The paper describes some of these technologies, and summarizes results obtained from on-station and on-farm testing. The key issue is poor adoption of available technologies. The priority for researchers and policy makers must therefore be to scale up investments in research and extension; encourage private sector participation; and create enabling policies to encourage technology adoption, market participation and more sustainable use of natural resources, by smallholder farmers.

Enduring starvation in silent Population: A study on prevalence and factors contributing to household food security in the tribal population in Bankura, West Bengal

Strengthening food security enhancement intervention should be based on the assessment of household food security and its correlates. The objective was to find out the prevalence and factors contributing to household food security in a tribal population in Bankura. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 267 tribal households in Bankura-I CD Block selected through cluster random sampling. Household food security was assessed using a validated Bengali version of Household Food Security Scale-Short Form along with the collection of information regarding the monthly per capita expenditure (MPCE), total to earning member ratio, BPL card holding, utilization of the public distribution system (PDS) and receipt of any social assistance through a house-to-house survey. Overall, 47.2% of study households were food secure whereas 29.6% and 23.2% were low and very low food secure, respectively. MPCE ≥ Rs. 356, total to earning member ratio ≤ 4:1, regular utilization of PDS, and nonholding of the BPL card were significantly related with household food security.

Potency of Sago Palm as Carbohydrate Resource for Strengthening Food Security Program

A new competition between biofuel production and food production has occurred in recent years, therefore the development of some new plant resources and their utilization are needed. Sago palm and related species that can store a large amount of starch in the trunk and can grow under severe environmental conditions are considered to be potential starch resources for not only food production but also ethanol production. However, even sago palm, an elite species among the starch producing palms, grows under semi-domesicated or natural condition and there are many problems to utilize it. Thus, the systematic, ecological, physiological, agronomic and economic studies should be carried out for improvement of these species. Here, the recent research progress is reviewed. Large variation in morphological characteristics and palm size existed among the folk varieties of sago palm, and the difference in pith dry-matter yield was mainly attributable to trunk diameter and dry-matter content of the pith. The two key parameters were closely related with soil profile indicating natural fertility. On the other hand, the genetic distance of sago palm individuals grown in the Malay Archipelago was considered to be related to geographical distribution. The genetic variation was small in the western area and large in the eastern area. Sago palm tolerated up to 171mM (1.0%) NaCl concentration in the growth media for comparatively long period. The salt resistance of sago palm might be due to salt avoidance to mechanically restrict an excess of Na distribution from the roots to leaflets. The Na influx might be disturbed by the endodermal cells of roots even under 342mM (2.0%) NaCl condition. Sago palm tolerated severe low pH condition such at pH 3.6 in the growth media for 5 months at least and maintained a low Al3+ concentration in the plant tissues. Sago palm was considered to have a high tolerance to Al with the Al exclusion ability. Moreover, the growth of sago palm was stimulated when AlCl3 was added into the growth media with 10ppm Al. These physiological information on the growth response of sago palm to environmental stresses will be valuable for investigating concrete strategies to introduce new plant resources to barren lands with sterile soil and produce economic plants from poor productivity lands. Key words: acid soil, biofuel, genetic variation, Metroxylon, salt stress, starch

Liberalization of Wheat: Production, Prices and Trade

The present study seeks to address the issues of opening-up of India's wheat imports as well as the relationship between production, government procurement, prices and imports of wheat. The authors find that the world wheat production has been continued to decline, while India's wheat production has been growing rapidly. The share of wheat in world total merchandise trade and in agricultural trade has been declining continuously. Further, results indicate that there is a strong and positive relationship between volume of GOI procurement of wheat and procurement price. Imports have failed to depress wheat prices substantially. Being a large country India's food security is more a function of harvest than that of volume of food imports. Thus, there is a strong case to devote more resources for increase in government procurement and production of wheat, in view of strengthening food security base of the country.

Status of non‐cultivated food plants in Bulamogi County, Uganda

AbstractThis study was carried out to document the non‐cultivated food plants (NCFPs) of Bulamogi County, Uganda. It formed part of a wider study meant to document all edible plant species in the county with the general aim of strengthening food security. The study was conducted using semi‐structured interviews. Fifty‐nine NCFPs were recorded in the county. These grow as weeds, wild plants and semi‐cultivated crops. They are equally distributed between herbaceous (54%) and woody (46%) growth habits. They yield fruits (31, n = 59), leaves (11, n = 59) or leaves and stems (10, n = 59) for consumption. A short list of 27 NCFPs with potential for domestication is suggested here for further study.

An Overview of Food Security and Its Measurement.

Food insecurity is still found in approximately 10% of US households. Food security status can be measured reliably using the Food Security Survey Module. Nutrition and dietetics professionals have the skills to assist in the efforts to reduce hunger, improve nutrition, and measure and strengthen food security in the United States.

Food Insecurity and Foreign-Exchange Constraints in Sub-Saharan Africa

The problem of food insecurity in less-developed countries (L.D.C.s) continues to demand the attention of the international community. Despite the progress that has been made in increasing the world's production of cereals and other major foodstuffs, many L.D.C.s continue to face immense difficulties in ensuring an adequate level of food supplies on a regular year-to-year basis. The current African food crisis has once again demonstrated the vulnerability of low-income economies to a sudden shortfall in supplies, and has highlighted the need for additional measures to strengthen food security in the Third World.

Mechanism and kinetics of liquid phase oxidation of metacrolein to methacrylic acid

Peri-urban agriculture (PUA) has been proposed as an important urban element to deal with the challenges of increasing poverty, food insecurity, and environmental degradation as particularly found in rapidly expanding cities of the developing world. However, farming in the peri-urban is under strong pressure from urbanization. The economic and social roles of farming need to be better understood in order to integrate peri-urban agriculture into urban planning. This study used multivariate techniques and Geographically Weighted Regression to analyze statistical data at a village and sub-district, to explore the varying relationships between agricultural activities and urban economic activities, urban poverty and informality, as well as food security. This method was applied in the Jabodetabek Metropolitan Area (JMA) with Indonesia’s capital Jakarta at its core, and it resulted in some important findings. First, PUA was more associated with the increasing low and middle class residential areas and the growing small-middle scale urban economic activities rather than development of tourism and larger traditional market facilities. Second, whereas PUA in the North of JMA was under pressure by the increasing poverty, in the Southeast of JMA it has expanded concurrently with increasing poverty. Third, PUA is strengthened by increasing informal activities in the peri-urban zone that offer alternative jobs and additional income for the farmers. Fourth, PUA in the surroundings of Jakarta as well as in the East and Northeast of JMA has contributed to increasing food affordability as well as strengthening food security policy. Based on these results, recommendations to maintain the PUA have been formulated to support its role for the peri-urban economy, reduce poverty, manage informality, and increase food security.