Total Food Supply Research Articles

Substitution of Mineral Fertilizer with Organic Fertilizer in Maize Systems: A Meta-Analysis of Reduced Nitrogen and Carbon Emissions

Organic fertilizer is an effective substitute for mineral fertilizer that improves crop yield and is environmentally friendly. However, the effects of substitution often vary due to complicated interactions among the organic fertilizer substitution rate (Rs), total nutrient supply, and type of cropping system used. We performed a meta-analysis of 133 maize studies, conducted worldwide, to assess maize yield and environmental performance with substitution of mineral fertilizer with organic fertilizer. At an equivalent nitrogen (N) rate, substituting mineral fertilizer with organic fertilizer increased maize yield by 4.22%, reduced NH3 volatilization by 64.8%, reduced N leaching and runoff by 26.9%, and increased CO2 emissions by 26.8%; however, it had no significant effect on N2O or CH4 emissions. Moreover, substitution with organic fertilizer increased the soil organic carbon sequestration rate by 925 kg C ha−1 yr−1 and decreased the global warming potential by 116 kg CO2 eq ha−1 compared with mineral fertilizer treatment. The net global warming potential after organic fertilizer substitution was −3507 kg CO2 eq ha−1, indicating a net carbon sink. Furthermore, the effect of organic fertilizer substitution varied with the fertilization rate, Rs, and treatment duration. Maize yield and nitrogen use efficiency tended to increase with increasing N application rate following substitution of mineral fertilizer with organic fertilizer. Full substitution reduced N losses more than partial substitution. Further analysis revealed that the yield-optimal Rs for organic N in maize production was 40–60%. Moreover, maize yield and nitrogen use efficiency were further increased after long-term (≥ 3 years) combined use of organic and mineral fertilizers. These findings suggest that rational use of organic and mineral fertilizers improves maize productivity, increases soil organic carbon sequestration, and reduces N and C losses.

Impact of food wastage on water resources and GHG emissions in Korea: A trend-based prediction modeling study

Unsustainable use of water resources and environmental degradation as related to global food production systems are critical issues of concern. However, reducing food wastage along the supply chain can provide the needed solutions to resources and environmental conservations, while meeting food demand. This study quantified the wastage of common food types at each stage along the supply chain in Korea using top-down mass flow analysis for the period of 2007–2017. The principal component analysis (PCA) was used to rank the food types based on their contribution to the total wastage. The water resources and GHG emissions associated with food wastage were assessed using the production footprint concept, after which prediction models were developed. The estimated food wastage was 14.97 ± 1.2 million tonnes, with production, postharvest, processing, distribution, and consumption representing 14%, 11%, 13%, 15%, and 46%, respectively. Vegetables, maize, and rice were ranked as the highest food types contributing to the total wastage, while mutton and rapeseed were the least. Our results indicated 15.24 ± 1.95 billion m3 and 20.08 ± 6.14 megatonnes CO2eq of water footprint and GHG emissions associated with food wastage, respectively, with substantial variations among the 28 major food commodity types. The prediction models using Bradley-Terry fitted well for the trend analysis of water footprint and GHG emission associated with food wastage. The prediction suggested that the total food supply, total wastage, water footprint, and GHG emission were estimated to reach 54.89 million tonnes, 16.91 million tonnes, 18.63 billion m3, and 27.41 megatonnes CO2eq by 2030, respectively. This study is of utmost importance considering the strong desire of the Korean government to pursue food self-sufficiency in the face of constraint water resources and GHG emission reduction target.

Effect of increasing pre-pubertal concentrate levels on reproductive and lactation performance of Nili-Ravi Buffalo heifers.

The objective of this study was to determine the effect of increasing total nutrient supply by increasing level of concentrate supplementation in forage-based diet of growing Nili-Ravi buffalo replacement heifers on pre-pubertal growth rate and its impact on age at puberty and post-pubertal productive and reproductive performance. Twenty-eight Nili-Ravi buffalo heifers of 7 ± 1month age were divided into 3 groups. The treatments were 3 levels of concentrate (crude protein (CP) = 17.9%, metabolisable energy (ME) = 2.66Mcal/kg), i.e. 0.5, 1, and 1.5% of the body weight referred as low, medium, and high treatments, respectively. Irrespective of pre-pubertal treatment, all the heifers received similar feed after puberty up to completion of their first lactation. The results of the study showed a similar response across the treatments in age, weight, and condition at puberty, weight at calving, lactation length, and yield. The medium and high treatments resulted in poor reproductive performance because of higher services per conception and less number of heifers confirmed conceived compared with low treatment. The low treatment resulted in less mortality compared with medium and high treatments. The feeding cost per animal at puberty, conception, and calving was lowest for treatment low as compared with medium and high. In conclusion, the results of the study showed that Nili-Ravi buffalo heifers achieved puberty at 23months with feeding of concentrate (CP = 17.9%, ME = 2.66Mcal/kg) during pre-pubertal stage at the rate of 0.5% of the body weight with better reproductive performance.

New insights into the role of nutrient cycling in food web dynamics

Nutrient cycling is fundamental to ecosystem functioning. Despite recent major advances in the understanding of complex food web dynamics, food web models have so far generally ignored nutrient cycling. However, nutrient cycling is expected to strongly impact food web stability and functioning. To make up for this gap, we built an allometric and size structured food web model including nutrient cycling. By releasing mineral nutrients, recycling increases the availability of limiting resources for primary producers and links each trophic level to the bottom of food webs. We found that nutrient cycling can provide a significant part of the total nutrient supply of the food web, leading to a strong enrichment effect that promotes species persistence in nutrient poor ecosystems but leads to a paradox of enrichment at high nutrient inputs. The presence of recycling loops linking each trophic level to the basal resources weakly affects species biomass temporal variability in the food web. Recycling loops tend to slightly dampen the destabilising effect of nutrient enrichment on consumer temporal variability while they have opposite effects for primary producers. By considering nutrient cycling, this new model improves our understanding of the response of food webs to nutrient availability and opens perspectives to better link studies on food web dynamics and ecosystem functioning.

Urban agriculture could provide 15% of food supply to Sydney, Australia, under expanded land use scenarios

Urban agriculture (UA) can be highly productive in terms of yield per unit area, however productivity is limited by available land and high input requirements. We determined how much of the food supply of Sydney, Australia, could be produced through UA by synthesising yield data from 13 UA gardens with information on labour and key material inputs and using spatial analyses to assess available land area. We modelled three scenarios with varying proportions of available land used for food production; 25 %, 50 % or 75 % of domestic yard space along with street verges and unused land (e.g. vacant lots). Around 15 % of Sydney’s total food supply, or its entire vegetable supply, could be produced through UA under the low range scenario, increasing to 34 % under the highest land use scenario. Under the low range scenario, all necessary irrigation water and organic soil amendments could be obtained from local waste streams, though these sources were insufficient to meet the needs of higher range scenarios. Available labour was a limiting factor in all scenarios, with the entire population being insufficient to meet labour needs required to maintain food production under efficiency and labour investment regimes typical of amateur urban gardeners. Establishing a professionalised UA workforce with greater labour efficiency would be required for managing the available land, however this scenario would likely require changes in public attitudes towards use of private land. These social issues, rather than physical limitations, may be the biggest factors preventing cities like Sydney from obtaining a non-trivial proportion of their food supply from UA.

FOOD SECURITY IN SUDAN: A HISTORICAL ANALYSIS OF FOOD AVAILABILITY

This study aimed to analyse historical food availability in Sudan during 1961-2013. This was achieved by assessing the food supply (kg/capita/yr.), dietary energy supply (DES) (kcal/capita/day), composition of diets and food self-sufficiency. The study depended on the available secondary data from FAO balance sheets. Percent share, annual cumulative growth rate and trends were used as analytical tools. The total food supply had a positive growth rate of 4.9%. The DES increased from 1743 to 2186 kcal/capita/day, implying that Sudan is food insecure. Cereals constitute approximately half of the total DES. The percentage share of vegetal sources was paramount in the DES (80%), protein supply (60%) and fat supply (45-68%) relative to that of animal sources. The per capita consumption of protein and fat (g/capita/day) were considered within the adequate supply, and below the average of the world and Arab countries. Carbohydrates ranked as the highest source contributing to the DES, followed by fats and proteins. These macro-nutrient contributions to the total DES fell within the recommendation ranges of the WHO for the balanced diets. The growth rate of imports outnumbered that of the domestic food supply and production, reflected in declining trend of the overall food self-sufficiency ratio by 1.5% per decade. The study recommended efficient use of Sudan abundant resources to increase food availability.

БИОТОПИЧЕСКИЕ ОСОБЕННОСТИ РАСПРОСТРАНЕНИЯ И УСТОЙЧИВОСТЬ К АНТРОПОГЕННОМУ ВОЗДЕЙСТВИЮ LISTERA OVATA (L.) R.BR. В КИРОВСКОЙ ОБЛАСТИ

Stash ovate (Listera ovata (L.) R. Br.) – herbaceous short-rooted perennial. The purpose of the study is to identify the environmental preferences of Listera ovata and its resistance to anthropogenic impact on the territory of the Kirov region. As a result of phytoindication of the studied Listera ovata habitats, ecological characteristics were obtained using six H. Ellenberg scales (1974). According to the illumination scale, which evaluates the ratio of plants to the relative illumination prevailing in the habitat of the species, Listera ovata grows at different levels of illumination: as in open habitats with 60–80 % illumination. In relation to the thermoclimatic factor that evaluates heat / cold resistance, the studied species is an inhabitant of a temperate climate (the 5th stage of the Ellenberg scale). On the continental scale Listera ovata is characterized as a suboceanic species (4th stage of the Ellenberg scale), which corresponds to the geographical distribution zone of the species within the Kirov region. In relation to soil moisture, the distribution of the species in habitats with soils ranging from medium-wet (5th stage of the Ellenberg scale) to wet (6th stage of the Ellenberg scale) was noted. On the scale of soil acidity, which determines the dependence of species on acid-base soil conditions, Listera ovata occupies habitats characterized from moderately acidic (5th stage of the Ellenberg scale) to weakly alkaline soils (7th stage of the Ellenberg scale). According to the nitrogen richness scale, which shows the total supply of nutrients (N, K, P, Mg) in the soil, the species is confined to habitats with moderately provided basic nutrients (5th stage of the Ellenberg scale). Analysis of hemerobicity by species composition in plant communities showed that the studied plant communities with Listera ovata are mainly represented by oligo and meso-hemerobic species: from 30.56 to 37.78 %. These are species of communities that are close to natural, that tolerate irregular weak influences, and species of semi-natural communities that are resistant to extensive influences (Vaccinium vitis-idaea, Fragaria vesca, Asarum europaeum, Pimpinella saxifraga, Melica nutans, Maianthemum bifolium, Vaccinium myrtillus). The share of species of natural communities that do not tolerate anthropogenic influence is 1.65 %. About 21 % are occupied by species far from natural communities that are resistant to intensive use (Melilotus albus, Pastinaca silvestris, Calamagrostis epigeios). Weed species of natural and anthropogenic communities that suffer regular severe disturbances account for 7.67 % (Trifolium repens, Galium odorata, Taraxacum officinale). The share of specialized weed species of intensive crops is 4.06 % (Chamaenerion angustifolium, Tussilago farfara, Cirsium arvense, Galium aparine, Anthriscus sylvestris). Types of completely disturbed ecosystems in the studied habitats were not identified. All studied phytocenoses with L. ovata are dominated by anthropophobic species: from 62 to 77 %. The percentage of anthropotolerant species is not high and varies from 23 to 38 %.

Urban agriculture’s bounty: contributions to Phoenix’s sustainability goals

With over half of the world’s population living in cities, there is mounting evidence indicating that investments in urban sustainability can deliver high returns on socioeconomic and environmental fronts. Current scholarship on urban agriculture (UA) reports a wide range of benefits which have been shown to vary with the scale and type of benefit examined. Notably, most city-scale studies do not align benefits of UA with locally meaningful goals. We fill this gap by conducting a city-scale analysis for Phoenix, the fifth largest city in the USA by population, and evaluate these benefits based on their ability to contribute to select desired outcomes specified in Phoenix’s 2050 Sustainability Goals: the elimination of food deserts, provision of green open space, and energy and CO2 emissions savings from buildings. We consider three types of surfaces for UA deployment—undeveloped vacant lots, flat rooftops, and building façades—and find that the existing building stock provides 71% of available UA space in the study area. The estimated total food supply from UA is 183 000 tons per year, providing local produce in all existing food deserts of Phoenix, and meeting 90% of current annual consumption of fresh produce based on national per capita consumption patterns. UA would also add green open space and reduce by 60% the number of block groups underserved by public parks. Rooftop deployment of UA could reduce energy use in buildings and has the potential to displace more than 50 000 tons of CO2 per year. Our work highlights the importance of combining a data-driven framework with local information to address place-based sustainability goals and can be used as a template for city-scale evaluations of UA in alternate settings.

Roles of the Ocean Mesoscale in the Horizontal Supply of Mass, Heat, Carbon, and Nutrients to the Northern Hemisphere Subtropical Gyres

AbstractHorizontal transport at the boundaries of the subtropical gyres plays a crucial role in providing the nutrients that fuel gyre primary productivity, the heat that helps restratify the surface mixed layer, and the dissolved inorganic carbon that influences air‐sea carbon exchange. Mesoscale eddies may be an important component of these horizontal transports; however, previous studies have not quantified the horizontal tracer transport due to eddies across the subtropical gyre boundaries. Here we assess the physical mechanisms that control the horizontal transport of mass, heat, nutrients, and carbon across the North Pacific and North Atlantic subtropical gyre boundaries using the eddy‐rich ocean component of a climate model (Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory Climate Model version 2.6) coupled to a simple biogeochemical model (mini‐BLING). Our results suggest that horizontal transport across the gyre boundaries supplies a substantial amount of mass and tracers to the ventilated layer of both Northern Hemisphere subtropical gyres, with the Kuroshio and Gulf Stream acting as main exchange gateways. Mass, heat, and dissolved inorganic carbon supply is principally driven by the time‐mean circulation, whereas nutrient transport differs markedly from the other tracers, as nutrients are mainly supplied to both subtropical gyres by downgradient eddy mixing across gyre boundaries. A budget analysis further reveals that the horizontal nutrient transport, combining the roles of both mean and eddy components, is responsible for more than three quarters of the total nutrient supply into the subtropical gyres, surpassing a recent estimate based on a coarse‐resolution model and thus further highlighting the importance of horizontal nutrient transport.

Beyond Calories: A Holistic Assessment of the Global Food System

The global food system is failing to meet nutritional needs, with growing concerns for health related to both under-, over-consumption and severe micronutrient deficiency. The 2nd Sustainable Development Goal (SDG2) targets the end of malnutrition in all forms by 2030. To address this challenge, the focus around food security and malnutrition must be broadened beyond the scope of sufficient energy intake to take full account of total nutrient supply and requirements. Here, for the first time, we have quantitatively mapped the global food system in terms of energy, protein, fat, essential amino acids, and micronutrients from 'field-to-fork', normalised to an equitable per capita availability metric. This framework allows for the evaluation of the sufficiency of nutrient supply, identifies the key hotspots within the global food supply chain which could be targeted for improved efficiency, and highlights the trade-offs which may arise in delivering a balanced nutritional system.

Mapping Antarctic Suspension Feeder Abundances and Seafloor Food-Availability, and Modeling Their Change After a Major Glacier Calving

Seafloor communities are a critical part of the unique and diverse Antarctic marine life. Processes at the ocean-surface can strongly influence the diversity and abundance of these communities, even when they live at hundreds of meters water depth. However, even though we understand the importance of this link, there are so far no quantitative spatial predictions on how seafloor communities will respond to changing conditions at the ocean surface. Here, we map patterns in abundance of important habitat-forming suspension feeders on the seafloor in East Antarctica, and predict how these patterns change after a major disturbance in the icescape, caused by the calving of the Mertz Glacier Tongue. We use a purpose-built ocean model for the time-period before and after the calving of the Mertz-Glacier Tongue in 2010, data from satellites and a validated food-availability model to estimate changes in horizontal flux of food since the glacier calving. We then predict the post-calving distribution of suspension feeder abundances using the established relationships with the environmental variables, and changes in horizontal flux of food. Our results indicate strong increases in suspension feeder abundances close to the glacier calving site, fueled by increased food supply, while the remainder of the region maintains similar suspension feeder abundances despite a slight decrease in total food supply. The oceanographic setting of the entire region changes, with a shorter ice-free season, altered seafloor currents and changes in food-availability. Our study provides important insight into the flow-on effects of a changing icescape on seafloor habitat and fauna in polar environments. Understanding these connections is important in the context of current and future effects of climate change, and the mapped predictions of the seafloor fauna as presented for the study region can be used as a decision-tool for planning potential marine protected areas, and for focusing future sampling and monitoring initiatives.

Assessing national nutrition security: The UK reliance on imports to meet population energy and nutrient recommendations.

Nutrition security describes the adequacy of the food supply to meet not only energy but also macronutrient and micronutrient requirements for the population. The aim of this study was to develop a method to assess trends in national nutrition security and the contribution of imports to nutrition security, using the UK as a case study. Food supply data from FAO food balance sheets and national food composition tables were used to estimate the nutrient content of domestically produced food, imported food and exported food. Nutrition security was defined as the total nutrient supply (domestic production, minus exports, plus imports) to meet population-level nutrient requirements. The results showed that the UK was nutrition secure over the period 1961–2011 for energy, macronutrients and key micronutrients, with the exception of total carbohydrates and fibre, which may be due to the loss of fibre incurred by processing cereals into refined products. The supply of protein exceeded population requirements and could be met with domestic production alone. Even excluding all meat there was sufficient protein for population requirements. The supply of total fat, saturated fat and sugar considerably exceeded the current dietary recommendation. As regards nutrition security in 2010, the UK was reliant on imported foods to meet energy, fibre, total carbohydrate, iron, zinc and vitamin A requirements. This analysis demonstrates the importance of including nutrients other than energy to determine the adequacy of the food supply. The methodology also provides an alternative perspective on food security and self-sufficiency by assessing the dependency on imports to meet population level nutritional requirements.

Efecto de la interacción del nivel nutricional de la dieta y el polimorfismo de los genes BGH, PRL e IGF2a sobre el porcentaje de grasa y proteína en la leche de ganado Holstein

El conocimiento de los fenómenos que afectan la composición de la leche, puede contribuir a mejorar este aspecto. La genómica nutricional evalúa en sinergismo factores importantes como la genética y la nutrición y ha tomado fuerza como herramienta que permite explicar el engranaje correcto entre estos factores y puede ayudar a mejorar los índices de productividad en los hatos lecheros. El objetivo de esta investigación fue explorar la interacción entre el aporte de nutrientes en la dieta y el efecto de los polimorfismos de los genes BGH, PRL e IGF2A sobre el porcentaje de proteína y grasa en vacas Holstein del departamento de Antioquia. Para este propósito se contó con información fenotípica y genotípica de 1070 vacas Holstein distribuidas en 21 hatos del departamento de Antioquia. Los animales se genotipificaron mediante la técnica PDR-RFLP. El aporte de materia seca, proteína y energía de la dieta fue determinado mediante visitas, mediciones y estimaciones realizadas mensualmente en cada hato. En los modelos para grasa y proteína en leche se encontró efecto significativo de las interacciones (p

Resource use and benefits of mixed farming approach in arecanut ecosystem in India

An eight-year experiment studied the sustainability, profitability, interdependencies and ecosystem services of crop–livestock integration in an arecanut plantation (ABMS) in humid tropics of India during 2007–2014. Arecanut registered similar kernel yields in both sole and intercropped systems in all years. The sole Napier Bajra Hybrid (NBH) recorded significantly higher green fodder yield than intercropped NBH. There was 5–47% yield reduction in intercropped NBH in different plantations over sole NBH on unit area basis. The total standing carbon stocks were significantly higher in arecanut+fodder system (210–228tha−1) than arecanut sole and fodder sole. Total water use was 47 to 50% higher in arecanut sole (2340–3280m3) compared to ABMS (1178–1546m3) per unit area. The contribution of livestock to total outflows was high (82 to 87%) from 2008 to 2014 except in establishment year of dairy unit (54%). On an average, organic waste recycling potential of arecanut+dairy unit was 13.7tha−1 and dairy unit alone contributed to 87% of the manure production. Total nutrient supply from ABMS after recycling to the system was estimated at 218kgN, 51.8kg P and 33kgK that can meet N and P demand of 1.7 and 2.2ha of arecanut, respectively. The farm gate nutrient surplus was five times higher than utilization in ABMS that enables farmers to earn higher profits. The use of hard laterite soil for livestock enterprises like dairy, fishery and fodder cultivation resulted in improved resource use efficiency and profits per unit area per unit time. Dairy was economical under all scenarios due to on-farm fodder availability throughout the year. Our main recommendations are to include livestock components in arecanut ecosystem to adapt to climate change scenario, to provide ecosystem services and to reduce ecological imbalances arising due to continuous cultivation of perennial crop.

Detoxification effects of phytonutrients against environmental toxicants and sharing of clinical experience on practical applications.

According to the Food and Health Bureau and Trade and Industry Department of the Hong Kong Government, 90% of the total food supply in Hong Kong was imported from the Mainland China. In addition, the hidden or illegal use of prohibited pesticides, food adulteration (e.g., using industrial salt in food processing, using gutter oil as cooking oil), and pollutions were periodically reported by the media. Excessive exposure to toxic heavy metals or persistent organic pollutants (POPs) from diet or environmental is inevitable amid industrialization and pollution. Understanding of the detoxification ability among nutrients in plant-based food (i.e., phytonutrients in green tea, onion, garlic, coriander, and turmeric) offers therapeutic and preventive effects against the poisoning effects due to these pollutants. Oxidative stress and pro-inflammatory actions are the common mechanisms for heavy metals or POPs toxicities, while phytonutrients counteracts these cellular insults by anti-oxidation, upregulation of anti-inflammatory pathways, and chelation.

ENERGY CROPS FOR BIO FUEL AND FOOD SECURITY

In light of the recent rise in global food p rices, much of the publications on crop - based biofuel production focus on the potential impacts on food security. The bio fuels include bio ethanol, bio butanol, biodiesel, vegetable oils, bio methanol, pyrolysis oils, biogas, and bio hydrogen. There are two global biomass based liquid t ransportation fuels that might replace gasoline and diesel fuel. These are bioethanol and biodiesel. About 60 % of global bioethanol production comes from sugarcane and 40 % from other crops. The central policy of biofuel concerns job creation, greater eff iciency in t he general business environment and protection of the environment. The use of biofuels decreases the external energy dependence, promotion of regional engineering, increased R and D, decrease in impact of electricity production and transformati on; increases the level of services for the rural population, creation of employment, etc. There is considerable controversy about the impact of biofuels on food security in developing countries. A major concern is that biofu els reduce food security by inc reasing food prices. In this paper we use survey evidence to assess the impact of castor production on poor and food insecure rural households in Ethiopia. About 1/3 of poor farmers have allocated on average 15 % of their land to the production of castor b eans under contract in biofuel supply chains. Castor production significantly improves their food security: they have fewer months without food and the amount of food they consum e increases. Castor cultivation is beneficial for participating households’ fo od security in several ways: by generating cash income from castor contracts, they can store food for the lean season; castor beans preserve well on the field which allows sales when farmers are in need of cash (or food); spillover effe cts of castor contra cts increases the productivity of food crops. Increased food crop productivity offsets the amount of land used for castor so that the total loc al food supply is not affected.

Biofuels and food security: Micro-evidence from Ethiopia

There is considerable controversy about the impact of biofuels on food security in developing countries. A major concern is that biofuels reduce food security by increasing food prices. In this paper we use survey evidence to assess the impact of castor production on poor and food insecure rural households in Ethiopia. About 1/3 of poor farmers have allocated on average 15% of their land to the production of castor beans under contract in biofuel supply chains. Castor production significantly improves their food security: they have fewer months without food and the amount of food they consume increases. Castor cultivation is beneficial for participating households’ food security in several ways: by generating cash income from castor contracts, they can store food for the lean season; castor beans preserve well on the field which allows sales when farmers are in need of cash (or food); spillover effects of castor contracts increases the productivity of food crops. Increased food crop productivity offsets the amount of land used for castor so that the total local food supply is not affected.

Shortening food supply chains: A means for maintaining agriculture close to urban areas? The case of the French metropolitan area of Paris

The development of short supply food chains (SSFCs) is a noteworthy phenomenon in Europe. This paper questions whether these SSFC contribute or not to the preservation and/or development of urban agriculture in the Ile-de-France Region (Paris and surrounding areas), where agriculture still represents a major land use activity (more than 50%). Based on documentary and empirical research the analysis shows that a quarter of farms are involved in SSFC in this region. Taking different forms, these SSFC initiatives are for the majority very recent, they often develop in the frame of hybrid forms of farming. Even though the contribution of SSFC in the total food supply of the Parisian region is poorly informed, and probably very small, the recent interest of consumers, inhabitants, and territorial stakeholders in organic and/or local food is real and has encouraged various types of incentives and commitments. The development of SSFC in the Paris region nevertheless faces numerous obstacles such as the scarcity of land and labour and the environmental impacts that still remain controversial. Promoting the role of SSFCs in the preservation of a sustainable urban agriculture requires access to more statistical and comparative data, which are currently unavailable.

Impact of water scarcity in Australia on global food security in an era of climate change

Australia is a major food exporting country. Recent droughts reduced dryland farming production and the volume of water allocated to irrigated agriculture, with a resulting decline in aggregate agricultural production and exports. This paper analyses the possible impact of increased water scarcity on Australian agricultural production and the magnitude of subsequent impacts on global food security. Using the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) data on land and water use coupled with a hydro-economic stochastic modelling approach, the impacts of reduced agricultural production in the southern Murray–Darling Basin, and more generally for Australia, are analysed. Changes in agricultural activity, reduction in agricultural exports and altered composition of products exported attributed to the severe 2000–2009 drought are also analysed to highlight the implications for global food security. The impact of climate change on food production is examined. The analysis shows that climate change, when modelled as the extreme case, along with other factors such as land use, will impact Australian food exports. Despite its relatively small contribution to total global food supply, Australia’s contribution to international trade in wheat, meat and dairy products is substantial and could affect global food prices. Furthermore, Australia’s agricultural exports are of disproportionate importance within the South- and South–East Asian and Oceania region, both in terms of volume and for strategic reasons. Adaptation along with investment in agriculture production is needed to maintain Australian agricultural production and enhance global food security.

Maternal corticosterone regulates nutrient allocation to fetal growth in mice

Stresses during pregnancy that increase maternal glucocorticoids reduce birth weight in several species. However, the role of natural glucocorticoids in the mother in fetal acquisition of nutrients for growth remains unknown. This study aimed to determine whether fetal growth was reduced as a consequence of altered amino acid supply when mice were given corticosterone in their drinking water for 5 day periods in mid to late pregnancy (day, D, 11-16 or D14-19). Compared to controls drinking tap water, fetal weight was always reduced by corticosterone. At D16, corticosterone had no effect on materno-fetal transfer of [(14)C]methylaminoisobutyric acid (MeAIB), although placental MeAIB accumulation and expression of the Slc38a1 and Slc38a2 transporters were increased. However, at D19, 3 days after treatment ended, materno-fetal transfer of MeAIB was increased by 37% (P < 0.04). During treatment at D19, placental accumulation and materno-fetal transfer of MeAIB were reduced by 40% (P < 0.01), although expression of Slc38a1 was again elevated. Permanent reductions in placental vascularity occurred during the earlier but not the later period of treatment. Placental Hsd11b2 expression, which regulates feto-placental glucocorticoid bioavailability, was also affected by treatment at D19 only. Maternal corticosterone concentrations inversely correlated with materno-fetal MeAIB clearance and fetal weight at D19 but not D16. On D19, weight gain of the maternal carcass was normal during corticosterone treatment but reduced in those mice treated from D11 to D16, in which corticosterone levels were lowest. Maternal corticosterone is, therefore, a physiological regulator of the amino acid supply for fetal growth via actions on placental phenotype.