The Links between Human Diets and Health and Climate Outcomes in the World’s Macro-Regions during the Last 50 Years

Globally, traditional food security fears have been supplemented by concerns about food system sustainability that link current agricultural production practices to damages of environmental ecosystems and the world’s climate, thus threatening the natural resource base of future generations. This paper aims at creating a better understanding of the evolution of diet sustainability from 1961 to 2013. Data from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations were used to investigate the situation for the world as a whole as well as for its macro-regions Africa, Asia, the Americas, Europe and Oceania. We define diet sustainability by (a) the share of daily per capita calorie intake derived from vegetable/plant products and (b) the variety of vegetable/plant products consumed, measured by the Simpson diversity index. Moreover, total calorie consumption is considered. Then the correlations between diet sustainability and (a) macro-regional life expectancy rates and (b) food system greenhouse gas emissions are calculated. The results show that diet sustainability has not changed much during the last 50 years. Moreover, the nexus between diets and health and climate outcomes is not fully evident at the macro-regional level. Therefore, Malthus 2.0, i.e., scientific food pessimism, should be avoided. In particular, the limitations of dietary contributions to human and planetary health ought to be more widely acknowledged.

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City Region Food Systems: Building Resilience to COVID-19 and Other Shocks

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su13031325 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (3) ◽

pp. 1325

Author(s):

Alison Blay-Palmer ◽

Guido Santini ◽

Jess Halliday ◽

Roman Malec ◽

Joy Carey ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

Food Systems ◽

Ad Hoc ◽

Food System ◽

City Region ◽

Food And Agriculture ◽

Food And Agriculture Organization ◽

Entry Points ◽

System Sustainability ◽

United Nations Food

Using examples from the COVID-19 pandemic, this paper reviews the contribution a City Region Food Systems (CRFS) approach makes to regional sustainability and resilience for existing and future shocks including climate change. We include both explicit interventions under United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO-RUAF) led initiatives, as well as ad hoc efforts that engage with elements of the CRFS approach. To provide context, we begin with a literature review of the CRFS approach followed by an overview of the global food crisis, where we outline many of the challenges inherent to the industrial capital driven food system. Next, we elaborate three key entry points for the CRFS approach—multistakeholder engagement across urban rural spaces; the infrastructure needed to support more robust CRFS; system centered planning, and, the role of policy in enabling (or thwarting) food system sustainability. The pandemic raises questions and provides insights about how to foster more resilient food systems, and provides lessons for the future for the City Region Food System approach in the context of others shocks including climate change.

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Indicators of Complexity and Over-Complexification in Global Food Systems

Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems ◽

10.3389/fsufs.2021.683100 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 5 ◽

Author(s):

Philip A. Loring ◽

Palash Sanyal

Keyword(s):

Food Systems ◽

Food System ◽

Genetically Modified Crops ◽

Developed Countries ◽

Disruptive Technology ◽

Least Developed Countries ◽

Food And Agriculture ◽

Agricultural Revolution ◽

Food And Agriculture Organization ◽

Global Food

Global food systems have increased in complexity significantly since the mid-twentieth century, through such innovations as mechanization, irrigation, genetic modification, and the globalization of supply chains. While complexification can be an effective problem-solving strategy, over-complexification can cause environmental degradation and lead systems to become increasingly dependent on external subsidies and vulnerable to collapse. Here, we explore a wide array of evidence of complexification and over-complexification in contemporary global food systems, drawing on data from the Food and Agriculture Organization and elsewhere. We find that food systems in developed, emerging, and least developed countries have all followed a trajectory of complexification, but that return on investments for energy and other food system inputs have significantly declined—a key indicator of over-complexification. Food systems in developed countries are further along in the process of over-complexification than least developed and emerging countries. Recent agricultural developments, specifically the introduction of genetically modified crops, have not altered this trend or improved return on investments for inputs into food systems. Similarly, emerging innovations belonging to the “digital agricultural revolution” are likewise accompanied by energy demands that may further exacerbate over-complexification. To reverse over-complexification, we discuss strategies including innovation by subtraction, agroecology, and disruptive technology.

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Food-Based Dietary Guidelines Make Seafood a Priority, Sustainability an Afterthought

Current Developments in Nutrition ◽

10.1093/cdn/nzaa042_004 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 4 (Supplement_2) ◽

pp. 139-139

Author(s):

Elizabeth Graham ◽

Andrew L Thorne-Lyman ◽

Dave Love ◽

Elizabeth Nussbaumer ◽

Martin Bloem ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Food System ◽

Food Group ◽

Dietary Guidelines ◽

Portion Size ◽

Funding Sources ◽

Food And Agriculture ◽

Food And Agriculture Organization ◽

Healthy Diets ◽

Species Type ◽

Animal Source Food

Abstract Objectives National food-based dietary guidelines (FBDGs) are adapted by governments reflecting their nation's food system and specific nutrition context, with varied approaches by country. Seafood is commonly included as one of many items in a “meat” or “animal-source” food group. It is currently unclear whether FBDG recommendations for seafood are achievable for the food supply, equitable for people, or sustainable for the planet. We seek to (1) Review the specific recommendations of national FBDGs related to seafood intake, quantifying the amount of seafood recommended for adults (2) Document the rationale for seafood consumption and mentions of sustainability (3) Estimate the supply required to meet recommendations and compare it with national fish production for each country. Methods The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) FBDG database was used to identify 92 countries with officially recognized FBDGs. Extracted data include (1) Recommended consumption of seafood (amounts, standard portion size, frequency of consumption and species/type) and (2) Mentions of sustainability. To calculate the fish supply needed to fulfill recommendations, conversions from cooked portions to raw (grams) seafood weights were used. These converted figures were then compared against that from FAO FishStat and the Sea Around Us database, and gaps/surpluses by country were identified. Mentions of sustainability were evaluated in terms of specific mention of fish vs. more generic recommendations. Results Out of 92 FBDGs, 77 mentioned seafood. Out of 40 high-income country's FBDG, 35 countries have a seafood servings per week recommendation, but only 23 provide serving size recommendations. Final presented results will illustrate the differences in the supply of seafood needed to meet recommended consumption levels. Sustainability was mentioned in eight guidelines independently of seafood and five additional mentioned seafood and sustainability together. Implications for sustainability of seafood production and global trade and nutritional status of populations will be discussed. Conclusions Seafood is systematically noted for healthy diets but rarely based on sustainable limits nor linked to sustainable goals. Funding Sources Johns Hopkins Bloomberg Distinguished Professor Fund, Johns Hopkins Center for a Livable Future.

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Coping with hunger? Visions of a global food system, 1930–1960

Journal of Global History ◽

10.1017/s1740022811000064 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 6 (1) ◽

pp. 99-119 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

Ruth Jachertz ◽

Alexander Nützenadel

Keyword(s):

Food System ◽

World Population ◽

New Approach ◽

The Great Depression ◽

Food And Agriculture ◽

Food And Agriculture Organization ◽

Global Food System ◽

Food Shortages ◽

Technical Aid ◽

Global Food

AbstractThe 1930s and 1940s saw the rise of a new model of global food politics. This model was strongly moulded by the experiences of the Great Depression and the two world wars, all of which had brought hunger and malnutrition back to Europe. Whereas until the nineteenth century famines and food shortages had commonly been interpreted as regional Malthusian crises, they were now attributed to global economic disturbances and imbalances. This article explores how the far-reaching plans of a World Food Board, advocated by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization under John Boyd Orr, were abandoned and supplanted by a new approach that focused on technical aid and the distribution of surpluses. Moreover, the problems of hunger and malnutrition were embedded in a larger discourse on world population and economic development.

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Food consumption patterns, nutrient adequacy, and the food systems in Nigeria

Agricultural and Food Economics ◽

10.1186/s40100-021-00188-2 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Daniel A. Mekonnen ◽

Laura Trijsburg ◽

Thom Achterbosch ◽

Inge D. Brouwer ◽

Gina Kennedy ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Food Systems ◽

Food System ◽

Dietary Diversity ◽

Household Head ◽

Household Survey ◽

Calorie Intake ◽

Food Groups ◽

Nutrient Adequacy ◽

Total Calorie ◽

Nationally Representative

AbstractPrevious studies in Nigeria examined food and nutrition security mainly using anthropometric indicators, total calorie intake, or the household dietary diversity score (HDDS). However, recent evidence on nutrient and dietary gaps, especially from nationally representative surveys, is weak. This study contributes by examining factors influencing household mean nutrient adequacy and HDDS with focus on components of food systems in Nigeria. Based on the 2015/16 Nigeria General Household Survey, we found that fruits and animal source foods were the least consumed food groups. Yet, these food groups seem to be the main sources of difference in HDDS and were strongly associated with the mean probability of nutrient adequacy, given covariates. Among 11 nutrients under study, large shortfalls were observed in consumption of iron, vitamin B12, and riboflavin with probability of adequacy being 0.2 or below, followed by niacin, vitamin C, and zinc with corresponding probability of adequacy ranged between 0.48 and 0.58. Further, results suggested that mobile phone ownership by the household head, household’s access to electricity, improved sources of water for household consumption, and percent of the community with improved sanitation were strongly associated with HDDS. Heterogeneities in food groups and nutrient consumption and food system drivers are discussed.

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The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

10.1093/oso/9780198755173.003.0010 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 630-706

Author(s):

Uma Lele ◽

Sambuddha Goswami

Keyword(s):

United Nations ◽

Public Goods ◽

Food System ◽

Director General ◽

Sustainable Food ◽

The Sustainable Development ◽

Food And Agriculture ◽

Food And Agriculture Organization ◽

The United Nations ◽

Zero Hunger

This chapter explores the evolving roles of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), and its reforms from the 2007 Independent External Evaluation until the arrival of Director-General Qu Dongyu. The chapter outlines how FAO’s adoption of a strategic framework and matrix management enabled it to meet the goals it has adopted for itself, toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG2 (zero hunger). It is a substantially expanded but necessary agenda. FAO has made considerable progress in its vision and strategy and laid the groundwork with a framework to be accountable for results. The chapter identifies four issues for FAO going forward. The first is the old debate on the balance between FAO’s normative, public goods function and the embrace of SDGs to help member countries advance them. Second, matrix management is a challenge that is by no means unique to FAO. Third, a big challenge is increasing resources in the context of FAO’s assessed contributions. Finally, the chapter makes a case for establishing FAO as a center of excellence to achieve a transformative, sustainable food system and to address its global public goods and SDGs functions, supported by predictable funds to be accorded to FAO, well beyond its current level of assessed and voluntary contributions, with expected transparency in the use of resources.

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Indicators of Complexity and Over-complexification in Global Food Systems

10.32942/osf.io/gkh38 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Philip A. Loring ◽

Palash Sanyal

Keyword(s):

Food Systems ◽

Food System ◽

Genetically Modified Crops ◽

Developed Countries ◽

Disruptive Technology ◽

Least Developed Countries ◽

Food And Agriculture ◽

Agricultural Revolution ◽

Food And Agriculture Organization ◽

Global Food

Global food systems have increased in complexity significantly since the mid-20th century, through such innovations as mechanization, irrigation, genetic modification, and the globalization of supply chains. While complexification can be an effective problem-solving strategy, over-complexification can cause environmental degradation and lead systems to become increasingly dependent on external subsidies and vulnerable to collapse. Here, we explore a wide array of evidence of complexification and over-complexification in contemporary global food systems, drawing on data from the Food and Agriculture Organization and elsewhere. We find that food systems in developed, emerging, and least developed countries have all followed a trajectory of complexification, but that return on investments for energy and other food system inputs have significantly declined—a key indicator of over-complexification. Food systems in developed countries are further along in the process of over-complexification than least developed and emerging countries. Recent agricultural developments, specifically the introduction of genetically modified crops, have not altered this trend or improved return on investments for inputs into food systems. Similarly, emerging innovations belonging to the “digital agricultural revolution” are likewise accompanied by energy demands that may further exacerbate over-complexification. To reverse over-complexification, we discuss strategies including innovation by subtraction, agroecology, and disruptive technology.

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Food waste and dynamic complex systems: The case of Peru and a solution model proposal Part 1: Peruvian Anchoveta (Engraulis ringens)

10.31234/osf.io/3bjpv ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Carlos A Almenara

Keyword(s):

United Nations ◽

Complex Systems ◽

Revenue Management ◽

Food Waste ◽

Intelligent Systems ◽

Solution Model ◽

Food And Agriculture ◽

Food And Agriculture Organization ◽

Engraulis Ringens ◽

The United Nations

[THE MANUSCRIPT IS A DRAFT] According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO, 2020), food waste and losses comprises nearly 1.3 billion tonnes every year, which equates to around US$ 990 billion worldwide. Ironically, over 820 million people do not have enough food to eat (FAO, 2020). This gap production-consumption puts in evidence the need to reformulate certain practices such as the controversial monocropping (i.e., growing a single crop on the same land on a yearly basis), as well as to improve others such as revenue management through intelligent systems. In this first part of a series of articles, the focus is on the Peruvian anchoveta fish (Engraulis ringens).

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Nutritional Intervention May Improve Body Mass Index of Malnourished Hospitalized Psychiatric Patients – A Preliminary Observation

Current Topics in Nutraceutical Research ◽

10.37290/ctnr2641-452x.18:256-259 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 18 (3) ◽

pp. 256-259

Author(s):

Hou Y.C. ◽

Hsieh Y.L. ◽

Tzeng I.S. ◽

Kuo C.Y.

Keyword(s):

Body Weight ◽

Psychiatric Patients ◽

Psychiatric Hospitals ◽

Nutritional Intervention ◽

Nutrition Intervention ◽

Calorie Intake ◽

Psychiatric Ward ◽

Increased Risk ◽

Total Calorie ◽

Total Calorie Intake

Malnutrition is an important issue in hospitalized patients. Poor nutrition may lead to increased risk of morbidity and death, impaired mental and physical conditions, apathy, depression, self-neglect, increased risk of medical complications, increased risk of pressure ulcers, reduced immune response, delayed wound healing, longer hospital stays, and reduced quality of life. However, few studies have investigated malnutrition in psychiatric patients. Psychiatric patients are known to have an increased risk of malnutrition, but psychiatric hospitals rarely conduct physical examinations and nutritional assessments. In this preliminary study, patients from a psychiatric ward of the Taipei Tzu Chi Hospital were chosen using the Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool. We used the before-and-after analysis to test the effect of a nutrition intervention on the selected parameters. We found that patients who had an impaired nutritional status showed significant increases in body weight (mean: 43.6 ± 7.5 vs. 46.5 ± 8.2 kg; P < 0.001), BMI (mean: 16.8 ± 2.0 vs. 17.9 ± 2.1 kg/m2; P < 0.001), and total calorie intake (mean: 1128 ± 230 vs. 1378 ± 320 Kcal; P < 0.001). Nutritional intervention significantly improved body weight, BMI, and total calorie intake. Nutritional intervention may help prevent malnutrition and improve the management of psychiatric patients.

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To the Empire and Beyond

10.1093/oso/9780199642533.003.0007 ◽

2018 ◽

Author(s):

Gregory A. Barton

Keyword(s):

Second World War ◽

World War ◽

Chemical Fertilizers ◽

Basic Principles ◽

Food And Agriculture ◽

Food And Agriculture Organization ◽

Organic Farmers ◽

Southern Rhodesia ◽

The Government ◽

Second World

This chapter traces the expansion of industrial agricultural methods after the Second World War. Western governments and the Food and Agriculture Organization pushed for increased use of chemical fertilizers to aid development and resist Soviet encroachment. Meanwhile small groups of organic farmers and gardeners adopted Howard’s methods in the Anglo-sphere and elsewhere in the world. European movements paralleled these efforts and absorbed the basic principles of the Indore Method. British parliament debated the merits of organic farming, but Howard failed to persuade the government to adopt his policies. Southern Rhodesia, however, did implement his ideas in law. Desiccation theory aided his attempts in South Africa and elsewhere, and Louise Howard, after Albert’s death, kept alive a wide network of activists with her publications.

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