scholarly journals COVID-19 As an Opportunity for a Healthy-Sustainable Food Transition. An Analysis of Dietary Transformations during the First Italian Lockdown

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (10) ◽  
pp. 5661
Author(s):  
Raffaele Matacena ◽  
Mariangela Zenga ◽  
Marco D’Addario ◽  
Silvia Mari ◽  
Massimo Labra

The COVID-19 emergency and the consequent social distancing requirements have caused major disruptions in daily food-related practices at the household level. In this paper, we evaluate the transformations that occurred in the daily nutritional choices and behaviors of a convenience sample (n = 2288) of Italian residents during the first nation-wide lockdown (March–May 2020) to assess the impact on the health and socio-environmental sustainability of their diets. Results portray a scenario of wide-spread change, especially in relation to the quantity of daily food consumed, the composition of diets and the time and commitment devoted to home-cooking, with young individuals emerging as the most impacted generational cohort. Through the construction of an indicator for healthy–sustainable transition (HST index), we demonstrate that such changes unfold on a gradient, revealing that while for many respondents lockdown nutrition implied overeating and weight gain, a substantial segment of the population conversely improved the healthiness and sustainability of their daily nutritional patterns. In this sense, improvements are associated with young age, socio-economic status, frequency and enjoyment of cooking-from-scratch and, more generally, an attentive attitude towards the quality, provenance and materiality of food that, in turn, the COVID-19 crisis appears to have re-kindled. We conclude by highlighting five areas of institutional intervention (i.e., young people, time, tools, food supply at work, and local food chains) on which to focus in order to ensure the current crisis does not represent a missed opportunity for creating the necessary conditions for sustainable food production and consumption to take hold as the ‘new’ normal in the post-pandemic era.

2017 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Enrica Imbert

AbstractThe world is confronted with the depletion of natural resources due to their unsustainable use, increased global competiveness, increasing population and other environmental and economic challenges. Under the European 2020 growth strategy launched in 2010, Europe has set itself the goal of shifting from linear to circular models of production and consumption. In this context, food waste management poses a great challenge. This study focusses on the possible destinations for food waste, specifically, on the most sustainable practices that turn waste into valuable resources. Particular attention is devoted to the potential offered by fast-growing sectors such as the bioeconomy, which is contributing to increased energy and materials production with reduced environmental impact, at the same time creating new job opportunities. In this paper we will argue that an holistic approach considering the issue of food wastage as part of a broader emerging bio-economy and circular-economic model, might provide win-win solutions able to minimize wastage, promote income growth and job creation, and prompt sustainable local development. However, in order to enable an effective transition to a circular bioeconomy able to minimize the impact of food wastage, the economic, social, and environmental sustainability of this new model must be properly evaluated through appropriate tools, e.g. through an overall Life Cycle Sustainability Assessment (LCSA).


Author(s):  
Faza Dhora Nailufar ◽  
Novy Setia Yunas ◽  
M Alexander Mujiburrohman

One of the important justifications for the development of the Sustainable Food House Area or in Indonesia called Kawasan Rumah Pangan Lestari (KRPL) is national food security must begin with food security at the household level. Until now, most papers about KRPL have only addressed the impact of KRPL in part or in groups, but this study provides a detailed explanation of the effectiveness of some KRPLs implantation, allowing broad generalizations to be reached about the main consequences. The location is in three east java districts with leading KRPL practices. The data was obtained by in-depth interviews with managers, local government, and affected communities. Researchers also observed the practice of KRPL in the field to complete the data. As a result, KRPL policy has at least some good impacts, such as the existence of KRPL can reduce household spending due to reduce the budget for food shopping and KRPL can stimulate the growth of productive economic enterprises in rural areas. And another important thing is KRPL can be a means of sharing and control between villagers and the village government.


Author(s):  
Amy Mizen ◽  
Richard Fry ◽  
Ben Wheeler ◽  
Sarah Rodgers

Background with rationaleSpending time in green-blue spaces (GBS) is beneficial for mental health and wellbeing. There are few longitudinal studies, and definitions of GBS differ within academic studies and between policy, practice and research. Main AimQuantify the impact of longitudinal exposure to GBS on wellbeing and common mental health disorders, for a national population (2008-2018) for use in a population-wide natural experiment. MethodsWe co-produced a GBS typology with planners and policy makers at a day-long workshop using validated public participation methods. Using this typology, we built a national, longitudinal GBS dataset created from local government audits and satellite data for 1.4 million homes in Wales, UK. Results produced a nested national typology to define GBS that built on previous academic literature and considered policy and local government planning priorities. The typology differentiated between inland and coastal GBS and facilities available at the GBS e.g. benches, public toilets etc. We created a national, longitudinal dataset of GBS and a cross-sectional dataset of household-level access to GBS for 2018. Access to GBS varied by socio-economic status, urban/rural classification and type of GBS. ConclusionWe worked with policy and planners to produce a typology that will enable us to translate our findings to be used in evidence based policy and planning. We will use the dataset to create quarterly household access to GBS for eleven years (2008-2018). We will link GBS access scores to individual level mental health for 1.7 million people with primary care data and survey data (n = ~12,000) on wellbeing. The results from the wider study will inform the planning and management of GBS in urban and rural environments and contribute to international work on impacts of the built environment on mental health and wellbeing.


Nutrients ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 93
Author(s):  
Laura Trijsburg ◽  
Elise F. Talsma ◽  
Sandra P. Crispim ◽  
James Garrett ◽  
Gina Kennedy ◽  
...  

Promoting both a healthy diet and at the same time considering the environmental sustainability aspects of production and consumption of the diet are urgent global issues. We developed the WISH (World Index for Sustainability and Health) to evaluate diets for healthiness and sustainability. The WISH seeks to measure two complex multidimensional concepts, diet quality and environmental sustainability, in one scoring system. The WISH is based on the EAT-Lancet recommendations for a healthy and sustainable diet in the general population with global applicability across multiple settings. Thirteen food groups are scored between 0 and 10, based on their association with disease and impact on environmental indicators. The scoring system was applied using a dataset of duplicate 24 h dietary recalls from 396 urban Vietnamese men and women. Out of a maximum score of 130, the mean total WISH score was 46 (SD 11), and scores for the healthy and high-environmental impact sub-scores were mean 25 (11) (out of 100) and mean 26 (8) (out of 70) respectively. A higher score was observed for the less-healthy (mean 20 (2) out of 30) sub-score. Our initial analysis shows that the WISH is able to differentiate between the healthiness and the environmental sustainability of a Vietnamese diet.


2020 ◽  
Vol 59 (04) ◽  
pp. 294-299 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lutz S. Freudenberg ◽  
Ulf Dittmer ◽  
Ken Herrmann

Abstract Introduction Preparations of health systems to accommodate large number of severely ill COVID-19 patients in March/April 2020 has a significant impact on nuclear medicine departments. Materials and Methods A web-based questionnaire was designed to differentiate the impact of the pandemic on inpatient and outpatient nuclear medicine operations and on public versus private health systems, respectively. Questions were addressing the following issues: impact on nuclear medicine diagnostics and therapy, use of recommendations, personal protective equipment, and organizational adaptations. The survey was available for 6 days and closed on April 20, 2020. Results 113 complete responses were recorded. Nearly all participants (97 %) report a decline of nuclear medicine diagnostic procedures. The mean reduction in the last three weeks for PET/CT, scintigraphies of bone, myocardium, lung thyroid, sentinel lymph-node are –14.4 %, –47.2 %, –47.5 %, –40.7 %, –58.4 %, and –25.2 % respectively. Furthermore, 76 % of the participants report a reduction in therapies especially for benign thyroid disease (-41.8 %) and radiosynoviorthesis (–53.8 %) while tumor therapies remained mainly stable. 48 % of the participants report a shortage of personal protective equipment. Conclusions Nuclear medicine services are notably reduced 3 weeks after the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic reached Germany, Austria and Switzerland on a large scale. We must be aware that the current crisis will also have a significant economic impact on the healthcare system. As the survey cannot adapt to daily dynamic changes in priorities, it serves as a first snapshot requiring follow-up studies and comparisons with other countries and regions.


Author(s):  
Hesti Prastiwi ◽  
Martua Sihaloho

Lahan merupakan salah satu sumber daya agraria yang sangat penting bagi petani dikarenakan lahan merupakan salah satu sumber untuk bertahan hidup. Sesuai dengan Undang-Undang Dasar Nomor 41 Tahun 2009 tentang Perlindungan Lahan Pertanian Pangan Berkelanjutan. Pembangunan yang terjadi di Indonesia semakin masif, menimbulkan konversi lahan bersifat permanen ketika lahan sawah beririgasi berubah menjadi kawasan pemukiman atau industri. Konversi lahan yang terjadi menyebabkan hilangnya beberapa atau seluruh modal nafkah yang ada. Perubahan modal nafkah ini akan mengakibatkan perubahan strategi nafkah petani. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk menganalisis dampak konversi lahan terhadap strategi nafkah dan pengaruh pemanfaatan  modal nafkah  terhadap strategi nafkah rumah tangga. Lokasi penelitian ini yaitu Desa Pasirgaok, Kecamatan Rancabungur, Kabupaten Bogor. Metode yang digunakan untuk menggali fakta, data, dan informasi dalam penelitian adalah pendekatan kuantitatif melalui metode survei dengan kuesioner yang didukung oleh data kualitatif melalui wawancara dan studi literatur hingga diperoleh hasil bahwa dampak konversi lahan mempengaruhi modal dan strategi nafkah.Kata Kunci: buruh tani, konversi lahan, modal nafkah, strategi nafkah=====ABSTRACTLand is one of the most important agrarian resources for farmers because land is one source of livelihood survival. According to Constitution Number 41 Year 2009 on concerning The Protection of Sustainable Food Agriculture. The development that is taking place in Indonesia is increasingly massive leading to permanent land conversion when technical irrigated rice fields change into residential or industrial areas. The land conversion that occurs causes a loss of some or all existing livelihood asset. This change in livelihood asset will result in a change in farmers livelihood strategies. This study aims to analyze the influence of the impact of land conversion towards livelihood strategies and the influence of the utilization of livelihood asset towards the livelihood strategies households. The location of this research is Pasirgaok Village, Rancabungur District, Bogor Regency. The method used to extract facts, data, and information in the research is the quantitative approach through survey method with questionnaires supported by qualitative data through interview and literature study until it is obtained that the impact of land conversion towards landless farmer household’s assets and livelihood strategies.Keywords: land conversion, landless farmer, livelihood asset, livelihood strategies


1986 ◽  
Vol 25 (4) ◽  
pp. 553-570
Author(s):  
Ghulam Yasin Soomro

Experiencing high fertility and declining mortality levels, the developing countries are today faced with the problem of relatively high rates of natural increase in their populations. This pace of growth in population, influenced by high fertility levels, impedes the overall development planning. As pointed out in a document prepared by the Planning Commission of Pakistan, 'A vicious circle is set in motion in which high fertility and socio-economic stagnation breed upon each other' [5]. In the developing countries, development programmes including birth control programmes are in operation. The sustained high fertility levels, therefore, call for more insights into the mechanisms operating in the society and influencing fertility. Studies of fertility behaviour are conducted at both micro and macro levels. The difference between micro and macro is a matter of emphasis rather than one of kind, and both approaches are concerned with each level of social aggregation. Macrolevel studies describe the level and pattern of change resulting from the ongoing socio-econornic development in the society as a whole and do not explain variations in fertility at the household level [12]. However, development programmes, which are implemented at aggregate levels defined by geographical boundaries, influence the population in terms of socio-economic status and fertility behaviour. There are many factors which affect human fertility individually or collectively. Attempts have been made to identify these factors, and conceptual frameworks have been developed to explain the causal hypotheses. In this context mention may be made of the demographic transition theory, which is often applied to study fertility behaviour.


2020 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
pp. 25
Author(s):  
Enik Maslahah

<p>Purun is a typical plant that grow in peatland area that has important functions for people living in peatland area. The availability of purun is now decreasing due to changes in land management and environmental destruction. Almost all of the plantation commodities in the peatlands area, management of peatlands in the forestry, agriculture, plantation and fisheries sectors apply exploitative and pragmatic methods, while ignoring environmental sustainability. Furthermore, environmental damage also occurs due to disasters such as forest and land fires that often occur in peatland areas in Indonesia. One of the damages happen to peatland area is the damage and scarcity of purun. As users and beneficiaries of purun, women become the affected group that face  the impact of peatland destruction. This paper describes the experiences and efforts of women in peatland areas to restore land and restore the existence of purun in their villages.</p><p> </p>


On the grey forest medium-loamy soil of Vladimir Opolye region we have studied the impact of various methods of basic cultivation and fertilizer systems on the activity of redox and hydrolytic enzymes: ure-ase (nitrogen cycle), invertase (carbon cycle), phosphatase (phosphorus cycle), and catalase, involved in the cycle of carbon in the soil. The second humus horizon with capacity of 19-24cm was found at the depth of 20 - 21 cm on the experimental field. We have studied three modes of basic soil cultivation: an-nual shallow flat plowing (6-8 cm), annual deep flat plowing (20-22 cm), and annual moldboard plowing (20-22 cm) with normal and intensive application of fertilizers. The most enzymatically active layer is 0-20 cm. No relevant difference has been found in the level of enzymes activity between variants of basic soil treatment. Activity of enzymes increases with application of fertilizers on the intensive background. In agrogenic soils, soil enzymatic activity is lower on average by 16-22% compared to the soil of the res-ervoir. The biggest negative transformation of activity has been observed at the urease enzyme (up to 50%). With annual moldboard plowing on the intensive backgroung, enzyme activity has been close to the natural level – 98.4%. Catalise and invertase activity in this case were found to be higher (105 and 116% respectively) than that of natural analogues. Activity of enzymes increases with intensive application of fertilizers as compared with normal background. This is particularly evident with 6-8cm deep beardless plowing and 20-22cm deep moldboard plowing. In general, the obtained biochemical indicators charac-terize the highest environmental sustainability of this variation within our research.


Author(s):  
Maryna Khmara

The peculiarities of gemstone market functioning under the impact of globalization are examined. Modern condition of financial stabilization in world is defined and main features of gemstones are outlined. Negative impact of illegal market on socio-economic development of countries, namely on revenues to the country’s budget from the business, is revealed. The importance of the problem of transferring most of gemstones processing operations beyond the countries of production is emphasized. Poor public control over the circulation of precious stones is proven. The challenges are substantiated to be aggravating under the impact of globalization. The diamonds market, which has peculiar high demand, is analyzed: diamonds and derivatives account for 85% of global turnover. Application of managerial strategies for gemstones market to efficiently use resources is defined to be complicated by the fact that managerial strategies impact the high cost of product items and its variability; unique features; intangible qualities; complicated processing. More environmentally friendly production and social responsibility are confirmed to have impact on forming of demand on gemstones. Investment attractiveness of gemstones, except for diamonds, is proven to be low. Condition of production and consumption of diamonds is analyzed. Development condition of the market segment – non-diamonds gemstones – is shown. The activity of small enterprises and households engaged in gemstones production is confirmed to be characterized by chaotic and complicated nature of broker networks, leading to aggravated global challenges. The paper defines that expansion of spectrum and emergence of new opportunities for illegal activity, reduced income and loss of other types of economic benefits, growing negative ecological and social impact, growing exploitation of workers at illegal enterprises remain to be the global challenges of gemstones market functioning. The author suggests increasing of social and ecological responsibility of business, strengthening of the state regulating functions and promotion of gemstones market legalization in order to reduce the challenges.


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