scholarly journals Hunger by Choice? Rethinking Food Security Strategies

2021 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 17-21
Author(s):  
Shadreck Tanyanyiwa
Keyword(s):  
Food Security ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Human Right ◽  
Maize Production ◽  
Small Grains ◽  
Food Imports ◽  
Global Threat ◽  
Staple Crop ◽  
Harsh Conditions ◽  
Traditional Crops

Food insecurity is a global threat with devastating effects, particularly in ‘developing’ countries. This threat is worsened by a parochial perspective in most of southern Africa that associates food security with the major staple crop maize. This bias is witnessed in the amount of land, investments, research, and marketing allocated to maize, in comparison to traditional crops such as millet, rapoko and sorghum. However, increased investments in agriculture, particularly maize production has failed to translate to increased production of the crop, particularly in Zimbabwe. The vagaries of climate-change manifested through droughts, coupled with man-made policy disasters are evidence enough to factor diversified production systems to include traditional crops into the food security basket. Since independence in 1980, Zimbabwe has experienced more than a dozen drought periods, which translates into multi-million dollar food imports. To feed the growing number of food insecure people, the solution could be in the shunned small grains, whose resilience in harsh conditions compared to maize, calls for urgent transformation and orchestration of the food security basket. Through renewed focus on traditional crops, Zimbabwe and other countries in east and southern African could attain food secure status and ensure that food as a human right is available to all.

scholarly journals Drought-tolerant Varieties as an Adaptation Strategy in the Context of Climate Change: Insight from Maize Production Systems in Benin

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-7
Author(s):  
Mohamed Nasser Baco
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Food Security ◽  
Crop Production ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Smallholder Farmers ◽  
Value Chains ◽  
Maize Production ◽  
Ecological Zones ◽  
Drought Tolerant ◽  
Agro Ecological Zones

Previous studies suggested that maize is set to become a cash crop while ensuring food security better than any other crop. However, climate change has become one of the key production constraints that are now hampering and threatening the sustainability of maize production systems. We conducted a study to better understand changes here defined as adaptations made by smallholder farmers to ensure food security and improve income through maize production in a climate change context. Our results show that maize farmers in northern Benin mainly rely on traditional seeds. Drought as abiotic stress is perceived by farmers in many agro-ecological zones as a disruptive factor for crop production, including maize. When drought is associated with pest damages, both the quantity (i.e. yield) and the quality (i.e. attributes) of products/harvests are negatively affected. The adverse effects of drought continue to reduce production in different agro-ecological zones of the country, because of the lack of widespread adoption of tolerant varieties. The study suggests actions towards the production of drought-tolerant maize seeds, a promotion of seed companies, the organization of actors and value chains. Apart from climate change, the promotion of value chains is also emerging as one of the important aspects to take into account to sustain maize production in Benin.

scholarly journals Rainy season characteristics for the Luvuvhu River catchment, South Africa

Water SA ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 47 (4 October) ◽  
Author(s):  
Fhulufhelo Phillis Tshililo ◽  
Michael John Savage ◽  
Mokhele Edmond Moeletsi
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Food Security ◽  
Rainy Season ◽  
Rank Correlation ◽  
Daily Rainfall ◽  
Maize Production ◽  
River Catchment ◽  
Level Of Significance ◽  
Staple Crop ◽  
Spearman Rank Correlation Test

Maize is a staple crop in South Africa and is mainly grown under rain-fed conditions. Rain-fed agricultural production is heavily reliant on rainfall during the planting season. Information on rainy season characteristics is of utmost importance as it guides farmers in preparing for the upcoming season. The study investigated rainy season characteristics for the Luvuvhu River Catchment with reference to rain-fed maize production. Historical daily rainfall data were obtained from 12 weather stations for the period 1923–2015. Instant+ statistical software was used to compute onset, false onset, cessation and length of the rainy season. The trends in rainy season characteristics were analysed using the Spearman rank correlation test. Onset of the rainy season can be expected from the first week of October to the third week of January, while cessation can be expected from the first week of February to the first week of May. The length of the rainy season ranged from 67 to 203 days. Seasonal rainfall ranged from 182 to 1 535 mm. Phafuri, Sigonde, Phunda Maria and Folovhodwe had a higher probability of false onset. No significant changes in rainy season characteristics at a 5% level of significance were observed. There was a strong correlation between onset and length of the rainy season. Based on rainfall patterns only, Phafuri, Sigonde and Folovhodwe might not be suitable for maize production under the current climate. The most favourable sites for maize production within the catchment are Entabeni, Levubu, Lwamondo, Thathe, Tshiombo and Vreemedeling. The findings of this study have implications on agricultural activities and food security as maize is a staple crop in the Luvuvhu River catchment area. Information on rainy season characteristics may therefore help in strengthening food security.

Phosphorus: Past History and Contributions to the Global Food Supply

2019 ◽  
Vol 103 (1) ◽  
pp. 6-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Terry Roberts
Keyword(s):  
Food Security ◽  
Food Supply ◽  
Food Production ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Past History ◽  
Phosphate Fertilizer ◽  
Global Food ◽  
Global Food Supply

Since its early rudimentary forms, phosphate fertilizer has developed in step with our understanding of successful food production systems. Recognized as essential to life, the responsible use P in agriculture remains key to food security.

scholarly journals Food Security, Environmental Health, and the Economy in Mexico: Lessons Learned with the COVID-19

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (13) ◽  
pp. 7470
Author(s):  
Rebeca Monroy-Torres ◽  
Ángela Castillo-Chávez ◽  
Erika Carcaño-Valencia ◽  
Marco Hernández-Luna ◽  
Alex Caldera-Ortega ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Food Security ◽  
Food Insecurity ◽  
Environmental Health ◽  
Public Policies ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Civil Society Organizations ◽  
Human Right ◽  
Healthy Environment ◽  
Mesh Terms

The COVID-19 pandemic showed an impact mainly on the health of people and the economy of households. The levels of food security in the world’s households, especially in Mexico, have decreased. When people do not have food security, their health is compromised and they have financial problems; on the other hand, environmental deterioration has a link with food security. The purpose of this review is to analysis of the current situation in Mexico of food security, environmental health and economy, the main lessons learned in these areas and their proposals integrating public policies. A review was carried out in the main databases (MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL Plus, Web of Science, CAB Abstracts y PAIS Index) with the following keywords and according to the MeSH terms: Food security, food insecurity, environmental health, public policies, environmental, production, integrating the word COVID-19 in English and Spanish. Only 44.5% of Mexican households presented food security. For food insecurity, 22.6% had moderate and severe food insecurity, while 32.9% had mild insecurity. Food insecurity and the health impacts of environmental origin (waste management during the coronavirus pandemic, water contaminated by bacteria, viruses, and toxins; air pollution) generates impacts on economic activity by not offering food that meets health regulations. Without the application of cost-effective measures and interventions for the prevention and control of patients with obesity, the direct costs for 2023 will amount to 9 million dollars, which worsens the household economy. Despite having laws and policies on the right to food, a healthy environment (water), and opportunities for economic growth, these human rights are not fulfilled. The conclusion is that it is necessary to use a health and agroecological model to promote public policies (health, environment, and economy) that aims to prevent the discussed issues, with multidisciplinary and intersectoral interventions (government, academia, researchers, civil society organizations, industry, and population). This upholds the human right that all people should enjoy an adequate, healthy environment and have access to high-quality food.

scholarly journals Food Security and COVID-19: Impacts and Resilience in Singapore

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cecilia Tortajada ◽  
Nicole Sher Wen Lim
Keyword(s):  
Food Security ◽  
Supply Chains ◽  
Open Economy ◽  
Food Supply ◽  
Food Supply Chains ◽  
Foreign Governments ◽  
Food Imports ◽  
City State ◽  
The City ◽  
Trade Partners

Across the world, the COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted food supply chains and threatened food security. Singapore is highly dependent on food imports and has an open economy that exposes it to volatile global markets, so it is acutely vulnerable to the effects of the pandemic on other countries, the effectiveness of measures taken by foreign governments to combat the spread of the virus and overall disruptions of international trade links. Proactive and reactive steps have been taken to protect Singapore's food supply chains against the adverse impacts of COVID-19. In this paper, we discuss food security in the city state, the impacts of COVID-19 in the population, the local production, and imports from two main trade partners: Malaysia and China. We conclude by acknowledging the complexity of achieving food security under the very difficult circumstances.

METODOLOGÍAS DE MEDICIÓN DE LA SEGURIDAD ALIMENTARIA NUTRICIONAL EN LA REPÚBLICA ARGENTINA

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
María Flor Feuermann ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Food Security ◽  
Food Insecurity ◽  
Food Policy ◽  
Food Sovereignty ◽  
Political Agenda ◽  
Human Right ◽  
Healthy Environment ◽  
Argentine Republic ◽  
Education And Care ◽  
The Government

ABSTRACT Introduction: food is a human right and a basic need for their subsistence and development. enough food is produced worldwide to supply all inhabitants and satisfy their caloric and nutritional needs. But the mere fact of producing them does not ensure access to safe and nutritious food for all. Therefore, the correct measurement of nutritional food insecurity is essential for a better understanding of this phenomenon, allowing better communication between society, decision-makers and the political agenda. Objectives: analyze the strengths and limitations of the methodologies used to measure nutritional food security in the Argentine Republic between 1984 and 2017. Materials and methods: a systematic review of articles published in five electronic databases was carried out: Scopus, SciELO, PubMed, BVS and Redalyc. The categories analyzed were the nutritional food security measurement methodologies (when people enjoy food security in addition to a healthy environment, as well as adequate health, education and care), with their type of technique, level, duration and dimension evaluated, limitations and strengths. The search terms used were food insecurity, food security, hunger, food sovereignty, food policy, food availability, nutritional programs, nutritional policies and food assistance. Results: after the search, 22 articles were selected for analysis. Conclusions: all the methodologies analyzed take partial aspects. A methodology has not yet been developed that reflects the multisectoral (food, agricultural, governmental, economic, social, etc.) and multidimensional (access, availability, use and stability) nature of the concept of nutritional food security. Having an adequate measurement of nutritional food security is essential to assess the state of nutritional food insecurity in the Argentine Republic, the government policies that are developed under this concept and verify its impact on the health and nutrition of the Argentine population. Key words: food security; food insecurity; hunger; nutrition policy; Argentina.

The tension between global GHG emissions of animal source foods, sustainability, and food security in Latin America and the Caribbean.

2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (057) ◽  
Author(s):  
Constanza Gutiérrez-Gómez
Keyword(s):  
Latin America ◽  
Food Security ◽  
Rural Communities ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Ghg Emissions ◽  
Animal Husbandry ◽  
Global Perspective ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Livestock Sector ◽  
The Caribbean

Abstract The livestock sector faces an important challenge in the medium and long term since it must satisfy an increasing demand for animal products as a result of the increase in population and the world economy but safeguarding natural resources and at the same time minimizing the environmental contamination, especially the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions attributed to livestock husbandry. For Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC), this becomes more relevant given the importance of the sector for the food security of rural communities, particularly for small-scale producers. In this manuscript, we address the main challenges of LAC in this context, from a global perspective that includes the demographic, economic, cultural, and environmental effects. The biggest global challenge for the LAC livestock sector for the coming decades is how to satisfy the growing human demand for animal protein in a sustainable way maintaining the food security of their communities. The efforts to achieve these goals require focusing on improving the efficiency of both animal husbandry and production systems. Therefore, it is necessary to implement technologies of sustainable intensification and it is urgent that those who make political decisions become aware of these issues.

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