Agri-Food Markets in Qatar: Drivers, Trends, and Policy Responses

Agri-food markets are vital in achieving food security, especially for resource-poor, food-importing countries such as Qatar. The paper provides an overview of the evolution of agri-food markets in Qatar and explores the implications of past and ongoing changes in terms of food security and food system sustainability. In particular, the review analyzes drivers of changes, trends, and challenges as well as policy responses to address the emerging challenges while ensuring the country’s food security. It draws upon a systematic review of scholarly literature indexed in the Web of Science as well as data from gray literature (e.g., reports) and databases (e.g., FAOSTAT). Different drivers (e.g., population growth with huge expatriate inflow, urbanization, income increase) affected the functioning of agri-food markets as well as the structure of the food chain (viz. production, processing, distribution, consumption) in Qatar. In addition to drivers, the food-related trends were also shaped by numerous environmental (e.g., land/water scarcity), economic, health, and trade challenges. To ensure long-term food and nutrition security for its population, Qatar implemented various policies and strategies (e.g., National Food Security Strategy 2018–2023). In this context, agri-food markets, as functional links between production and consumption, can foster transition towards sustainable food consumption and production patterns in Qatar.

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Assessing Sustainable Food and Nutrition Security of the EU Food System—An Integrated Approach

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su10114271 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 10 (11) ◽

pp. 4271 ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

Monika Zurek ◽

Aniek Hebinck ◽

Adrian Leip ◽

Joost Vervoort ◽

Marijke Kuiper ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Science Communication ◽

Food Systems ◽

Food System ◽

Sustainable Food ◽

Food And Nutrition Security ◽

Nutrition Security ◽

Systems Research ◽

Nutrition And Diet ◽

Food And Nutrition ◽

The Eu

Steering the EU food system towards a sustainability transformation requires a vast and actionable knowledge base available to a range of public and private actors. Few have captured this complexity by assessing food systems from a multi-dimensional and multi-level perspective, which would include (1) nutrition and diet, environmental and economic outcomes together with social equity dimensions and (2) system interactions across country, EU and global scales. This paper addresses this gap in food systems research and science communication by providing an integrated analytical approach and new ways to communicate this complexity outside science. Based on a transdisciplinary science approach with continuous stakeholder input, the EU Horizon2020 project ‘Metrics, Models and Foresight for European SUStainable Food And Nutrition Security’ (SUSFANS) developed a five-step process: Creating a participatory space; designing a conceptual framework of the EU food system; developing food system performance metrics; designing a modelling toolbox and developing a visualization tool. The Sustainable Food and Nutrition-Visualizer, designed to communicate complex policy change-impacts and trade-off questions, enables an informed debate about trade-offs associated with options for change among food system actors as well as in the policy making arena. The discussion highlights points for further research related to indicator development, reach of assessment models, participatory processes and obstacles in science communication.

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Agricultural and Food Policy

Developing Sustainable Food Systems, Policies, and Securities - Practice, Progress, and Proficiency in Sustainability ◽

10.4018/978-1-7998-2599-9.ch001 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 1-15

Author(s):

Abiodun Elijah Obayelu ◽

Simeon Olusola Ayansina

Keyword(s):

Food Security ◽

Food Systems ◽

Food System ◽

Food Policy ◽

Policy Intervention ◽

Sustainable Food Systems ◽

Sustainable Food ◽

Adequate Food ◽

System Sustainability ◽

Sustainable Food System

Policy plays significant role in defining the food system of any country, and a sustainable food system is necessary for food security. This chapter maps out the causal interactions between food systems, food security and policy, and the challenges in transition to a sustainable food system while respecting the rights of all people to have access to adequate food in Nigeria. Explicit, rigorous, and transparent literature search was undertaken and many articles were assessed and reviewed. Although the results established a mutual relationship between food system and food security, existing literature have widely failed to take interactions between food systems, food security and policy into account. While food production is used as an entry point to improving food system sustainability, the quest for food security are undermining transition towards sustainable food systems. It was found that without right policies in place, it may be difficult to have food systems that are sustainable and ensure food security. This chapter provides a useful contribution to policy, and research on transitions towards sustainable food system. Any policy intervention to address one part of the food systems will impact on other parts and will determine whether a country is food secure or not. Enabling policy environment is therefore essential in ensuring a sustainable food system and for the attainment of food security.

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Emerging food and nutrition security challenges in Central Asia—implications for BRICS and emerging economies

Handbook of BRICS and Emerging Economies ◽

10.1093/oso/9780198827535.003.0035 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 909-932

Author(s):

Suresh Chandra Babu ◽

Kamiljon Akramov

Keyword(s):

Food Security ◽

Central Asia ◽

Emerging Economies ◽

Food And Nutrition Security ◽

Nutrition Security ◽

Central Asian ◽

Security Challenges ◽

Food And Nutrition ◽

Critical Issues

In the last two decades, Central Asia has gone through several transitions in institutions and governance, each with consequences for the agricultural sectors in the region. Since their independence, the five countries Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan, have made considerable progress towards increasing domestic food production. However, food security in the region is still threatened by major geopolitical and socio-economic challenges. Lack of support from institutions to advance farming has resulted in the low level of food security in the region. Lack of research and extension of support to farmers and low capacity for designing evidence-based policies are major challenges to the region’s food security. This chapter identifies critical issues and challenges faced by Central Asian countries for attaining short-term and long-term food and nutrition security, and the implications for BRICS and other emerging economies.

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Role of Agriculture in ensuring Food Security

International Journal of Humanities and Applied Social Science ◽

10.33642/ijhass.v5n1p1 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 1-5

Author(s):

Malati Kaini

Keyword(s):

Food Security ◽

Development Strategy ◽

Food Production ◽

Food System ◽

Food Prices ◽

Poor People ◽

Food And Nutrition Security ◽

Nutrition Security ◽

Structural Problems ◽

Food And Nutrition

The 2007-2008 food crises and the renewed surge in food prices in 2010-2011 have exposed deep structural problems in the global food system and the need to increase food production. The World Food Summit of 1996 defined food security as existing "when all people at all times have access to sufficient, safe, nutritious food to maintain a healthy and active life". Despite Nepal has no worse food and nutrition security situation among SAARC countries, there are some districts where food is always in shortage. The explicit constitutional recognition of the right to food and other related provisions in articles 36 and 42 of the new constitution will be instrumental for implementing food security programs in the country. Food security for poor people is based on sustainable food production. Many proven technologies and improved practices have the promise to boost agricultural production and ensure food security in developing countries like Nepal. Food and Nutrition security program (FANUSEP) is one of the flagship programs of Agriculture Development Strategy 2015-2035 (ADS), which is in the first phase of its implementation. It aims at improving the food and nutrition security of the most disadvantaged groups of the population.

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Animal-based food systems are unsafe: severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) fosters the debate on meat consumption

Public Health Nutrition ◽

10.1017/s1368980020002657 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 23 (17) ◽

pp. 3250-3255 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Michelle Cristine Medeiros Jacob ◽

Ivanilda Soares Feitosa ◽

Ulysses Paulino Albuquerque

Keyword(s):

Food Systems ◽

Food System ◽

Meat Consumption ◽

Zoonotic Diseases ◽

Meat Production ◽

Rational Analysis ◽

Nutrition Security ◽

Production And Consumption ◽

Food And Nutrition ◽

The Status

AbstractObjective:The current pandemic restarts a debate on permanently banning wildlife consumption in an effort to prevent further public health threats. In this commentary, we offer two ideas to enhance the discussion on foodborne zoonotic diseases in food systems.Design:First, we focus on the probable consequences that the loss of access to wildlife could cause to the status of food and nutrition security of many people in developing countries that rely on bushmeat to subsist. Second, we argue that all animal-based food systems, especially the ones based on intensive husbandry, present food safety threats.Conclusion:To ban the access to bushmeat without a rational analysis of all human meat production and consumption in the global animal-based food system will not help us to prevent future outbreaks.

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A Review of Indigenous Food Crops in Africa and the Implications for more Sustainable and Healthy Food Systems

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su12083493 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 12 (8) ◽

pp. 3493 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Racheal Akinola ◽

Laura Maureen Pereira ◽

Tafadzwanashe Mabhaudhi ◽

Francia-Marié de Bruin ◽

Loubie Rusch

Keyword(s):

South African ◽

Food Systems ◽

Food System ◽

Healthy Food ◽

Crop Species ◽

Sustainable Food ◽

Nutrition Security ◽

Food And Nutrition ◽

African Context ◽

Indigenous Foods

Indigenous and traditional foods crops (ITFCs) have multiple uses within society, and most notably have an important role to play in the attempt to diversify the food in order to enhance food and nutrition security. However, research suggests that the benefits and value of indigenous foods within the South African and the African context have not been fully understood and synthesized. Their potential value to the African food system could be enhanced if their benefits were explored more comprehensively. This synthesis presents a literature review relating to underutilized indigenous crop species and foods in Africa. It organizes the findings into four main contributions, nutritional, environmental, economic, and social-cultural, in line with key themes of a sustainable food system framework. It also goes on to unpack the benefits and challenges associated with ITFCs under these themes. A major obstacle is that people are not valuing indigenous foods and the potential benefit that can be derived from using them is thus neglected. Furthermore, knowledge is being lost from one generation to the next, with potentially dire implications for long-term sustainable food security. The results show the need to recognize and enable indigenous foods as a key resource in ensuring healthy food systems in the African continent.

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Organic Agroforestry Long-Term Field Experiment Designing Trough Actors’ Knowledge towards Food System Sustainability

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su13105532 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (10) ◽

pp. 5532

Author(s):

Corrado Ciaccia ◽

Elena Testani ◽

Angelo Fiore ◽

Ileana Iocola ◽

Marta Di Pierro ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Food Systems ◽

Food System ◽

Research Process ◽

Field Trials ◽

Participatory Action ◽

Sustainable Food ◽

Local Food System ◽

Local Actors ◽

System Sustainability

The implementation of agroecology principles within organic farming research is a crux to redesign sustainable agri-food systems. To govern this transition, the local research demand should be addressed by direct engagement of all stakeholders in the research process. The first step is the involvement of farmers and technicians, with the aim of restoring their decision-making role, switching governance to local scale. The co-design/co-management of Long-Term Experiments (LTEs) can be crucial to govern the above-described transition through networking and participatory activities. In this study, we report the experience of co-designing a new LTE in Southern Italy by local actors and scientists. Through a participatory action research methodology, an LTE was considered as a biophysical component of an agroecological living lab, a public–private environment aimed to design a local food system. The setup of parallel field trials in satellite farms stands for the other biophysical component, whereas the stakeholder platform represents the social one. Through definition of common objectives, a step-by-step process is presented, which highlights the interest of local organic actors to share ideas and perspectives for the territory, pointing out the inclusion of end-users (the consumers) in the process to complete the transition to sustainable food systems.

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Food Systems and Food Security: The Role of Small Farms and Small Food Businesses in Santiago Island, Cabo Verde

Agriculture ◽

10.3390/agriculture10060216 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (6) ◽

pp. 216

Author(s):

Arlindo Rodrigues Fortes ◽

Vladmir Ferreira ◽

Elsa Barbosa Simões ◽

Isaurinda Baptista ◽

Stefano Grando ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Food Security ◽

Small Businesses ◽

Food Systems ◽

Food System ◽

Small Farms ◽

Sustainable Food ◽

Cabo Verde ◽

Nutrition Security ◽

The Stability ◽

Santiago Island

This study aims to analyse the role and contribution of small farms and small food businesses on the food system and food security. Drawing on a conceptual framework, methodology, and data from the EU H2020 ‘SALSA-Small farms, small food businesses and sustainable food and nutrition security’ project hereafter referred as SALSA project, this issue has been analysed in relation to four staple products (tomato, chicken, maize, and banana) in Santiago Island (Cabo Verde). The study follows a regional approach based on a detailed analysis of the territorial food systems and of the production/consumption balance of those staple products. The results show that the subsystems of production, processing, distribution, and consumption are different in the different food systems map for the four staple products, with complex and diversified interrelationships between small farms and related small businesses linking with various markets and all kinds of actors. Moreover, the evidence shows that small farms, in conjunction with small food businesses, are crucial to national food security in Santiago Island. The small farm is fundamental for greater food availability produced in the region, and the small food business is a key component playing a very important role by ensuring the stability of supply, being primarily responsible for establishing relationships to population centres.

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Enhancing the Glopan Food Systems Framework by Integrating Gender: Relevance for Women in African Agriculture

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su13158564 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (15) ◽

pp. 8564

Author(s):

Elizabeth Mkandawire ◽

Melody Mentz-Coetzee ◽

Margaret Najjingo Mangheni ◽

Eleonora Barusi

Keyword(s):

Food Security ◽

Food Systems ◽

Food System ◽

Social Systems ◽

Gender Inequalities ◽

Gender Barriers ◽

Nutrition Security ◽

African Agriculture ◽

Agriculture And Food ◽

Systems Framework

Globally, gender inequalities constrain food security, with women often disproportionately affected. Women play a fundamental role in household food and nutrition security. The multiple roles women play in various areas of the food system are not always recognised. This oversight emerges from an overemphasis on one aspect of the food system, without considering how this area might affect or be affected by another aspect. This study aimed to draw on international commitments and treaties using content analysis to enhance the Global Panel on Agriculture and Food Security food systems framework by integrating a gender perspective. The study found that generally, there is a consensus on specific actions that can be taken to advance gender equality at specific stages of the food system. However, governance and social systems constraints that are not necessarily part of the food system, but have a significant bearing on men and women’s capacity to effectively participate in the food system, need to be addressed. While the proposed conceptual framework has some limitations, it offers a foundation on which researchers, policymakers and other stakeholders can begin conceptualising the interconnectedness of gender barriers in the food system.

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Assessment of Glyphosate Impact on the Agrofood Ecosystem

Plants ◽

10.3390/plants10020405 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (2) ◽

pp. 405

Author(s):

Yaxin Sang ◽

Juan-Carlos Mejuto ◽

Jianbo Xiao ◽

Jesus Simal-Gandara

Keyword(s):

Risk Assessment ◽

Food Production ◽

Mitigation Strategies ◽

Regulatory Control ◽

Biological Pest Control ◽

Effective Strategies ◽

Nutrition Security ◽

Production And Consumption ◽

Food And Nutrition ◽

The Impact

Agro-industries should adopt effective strategies to use agrochemicals such as glyphosate herbicides cautiously in order to protect public health. This entails careful testing and risk assessment of available choices, and also educating farmers and users with mitigation strategies in ecosystem protection and sustainable development. The key to success in this endeavour is using scientific research on biological pest control, organic farming and regulatory control, etc., for new developments in food production and safety, and for environmental protection. Education and research is of paramount importance for food and nutrition security in the shadow of climate change, and their consequences in food production and consumption safety and sustainability. This review, therefore, diagnoses on the use of glyphosate and the associated development of glyphosate-resistant weeds. It also deals with the risk assessment on human health of glyphosate formulations through environment and dietary exposures based on the impact of glyphosate and its metabolite AMPA—(aminomethyl)phosphonic acid—on water and food. All this to setup further conclusions and recommendations on the regulated use of glyphosate and how to mitigate the adverse effects.

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