Production and processing of foods as core aspects of nutrition-sensitive agriculture and sustainable diets

Nutritional quality and climate impact of Norwegian adults' diet classified according to the NOVA system

Information about how ultra-processed foods (UPF) contribute to the intake of energy and nutrients and environmental impact is important for future food policies and dietary recommendations. This study assessed the contribution of the four NOVA food groups, including UPF, to energy intake, nutritional quality, and climate impact in Norwegian adults' diet. We used dietary data from 348 participants in the Norkost 4 pilot study, collected through two non-consecutive 24-h dietary recalls. Foods, beverages, and dietary supplements were classified using the NOVA system. The NOVA system has four groups; NOVA 1: Unprocessed or minimally processed foods, NOVA 2: Processed culinary ingredients, NOVA 3: Processed foods, and NOVA 4: UPF. UPF contributed to 48% of the total energy intake, NOVA 3 with 19%, and NOVA 1 with 28%. Within UPF, bread contributed the most to energy intake. Foods in NOVA 1 had the highest nutrient density (expressed as amount of nutrients provided per unit of energy) for protein, fiber, and several essential micronutrients. UPF had the highest nutrient density for added sugar, fats, and sodium. UPF contributed to 32% of total GWP from the diet, while NOVA 1 contributed to 38%. In conclusion, UPF contributed to about half of the energy intake of Norwegian adults, and had lower nutritional quality compared to NOVA 1. UPF also accounted for about one-third of the GWP from the total diet. These findings emphasize the importance of addressing the intake of UPF in dietary policies and recommendations to improve nutritional quality and reduce environmental impact.

The predictors of food security and dietary diversity among internally displaced persons' children (6-59 months) in Bamenda health district, Cameroon

BACKGROUND

Malnutrition remains a major cause of morbidity and mortality amongst children in displaced settings. Nutrition at this stage is crucial for the growth and development of the child. It is estimated that 41 million children under 5 years are obese/overweight, 159 million are stunted and 50 million are wasted worldwide. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and predictors of food insecurity and dietary diversity among internally displaced persons' children from 6 to 59 months.

METHODOLOGY

A cross sectional community-based study was conducted on 395 children aged 6-59 months from May 2021-June 2021. A multistage cluster sampling method was used to select the study participants. A validated structured questionnaire was used to collect data on sociodemographic characteristics, food security and dietary diversity. Predictors of food insecurity and dietary diversity were identified using logistic regression. The outputs were presented using adjusted odd ratio (AOR) with 95% confidence interval (CI).

RESULTS

The study results revealed that the level of household food insecurity was 91.6%, at risk of experiencing hunger (3.3%) and food secure (5.5%). Participants had mean dietary diversity score of 3.6 food groups, 51.6% had a low or inadequate dietary diversity and 48.4% had adequate dietary diversity. Children who were from households with monthly income of $101- $200 US dollars and had been displaced just once were 79% (AOR: 0.21, 95%CI: 0.07-0.60) and 84% (AOR: 0.16, 95%CI: 0.05-0.50) less likely to be food insecure compared to their counterparts respectively. While households with participants who Walked ≥ 10 min to fetch drinking water (AOR: 11.61 95%CI: 2.39-52.08) were more likely food insecure. In addition, household monthly income of ≥ $100 US dollars (AOR: 0.20, 95%CI: 0.07-0.56) had a reduced chance of providing low diversified food. Households that had received social grants (AOR: 2.15, 95%CI: 1.38-3.49) and walked ≥ 10 min to fetch drinking water (AOR: 2.43, 95%CI: 1.48-3.98) had a higher chance of providing low diversified food.

CONCLUSION

Dietary diversity and household food insecurity was unacceptably low and high respectively among internally displaced children. Policymakers should prioritize strengthening both nutrition sensitive and specific activities that contribute to reduction of food insecurity and consumption of unbalance diet.

Covid-19 related factors to food security and dietary diversity among urban households in western Oromia, Ethiopia

Background

This study aims to assess factors associated with food security and dietary diversity among poor urban households of western Oromia, Ethiopia, after the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Method

A cross-sectional, community-based study was conducted in May to June 2021 with 361 poor urban households in the Horo Guduru Wollega zone, western Oromia, Ethiopia. A pre-tested structured questionnaire was used to collect primary data. Twenty-four hour reminder points were used to assess household dietary diversity, and household food security was assessed using the Household Food Insecurity Access Scale tool. Data were evaluated using the statistical software SPSS version 25.0.

Results

This study showed a prevalence of food insecurity in households of 59.6%. The mean and standard deviation of household dietary diversity values were 4.19 ± 1.844. Family size (AOR = 8.5; 95% CI:3.295-21.92), monthly income (AOR = 3.52; 95% CI; 1.771-6.986), dietary diversity (AOR = 8.5; 95% CI; 3.92-18.59), knowledge (AOR = 3.0, 95% CI = 1.08-)8.347), attitude (AOR = 8.35, 95% CI:3.112-22.39) and practices against Covid-19 (AOR = 2.12; 95% CI:1.299-11.4) were factors significantly associated with food insecurity. Variables like educational status (AOR = 3.46; 95% CI:1.44-8.312), increased family size after the Covid-19 pandemic (AOR = 2.26; 95% CI:1.02-5.04), food security (AOR = 6.7; 95% CI:4.01-19.01), knowledge (AOR = 3.96; 95% CI:1.57-10.0), attitude (AOR = 3.9; 95% CI:1.75-8.82) and practices toward coronavirus (AOR = 2.23; 95% CI:2.18-23.95) were predictors significantly associated with dietary diversity.

Conclusion

This study concluded that family size, monthly income, and dietary diversity were factors contributed to household food security. On the other hand, variables such as educational status, family size, and food security were highly relevant factors for dietary diversity after the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic. Knowledge, attitudes, and practices were also variables related to both household food security and dietary diversity. Therefore, immediate interventions such as nutrition-specific interventions can be suggested to address food insecurity and problems of inadequate food intake in poor urban households. In addition, governmental and non-governmental organizations should raise awareness and policies to support those at higher risk by developing affordable, sustainable and targeted social protection systems that ensure food security and adequate dietary intake at the household level.

Impact of Ultra-Processed Food Consumption on Quality of Diet among Brazilian Pregnant Women Assisted in Primary Health Care

The quality of diet and nutritional status during pregnancy are crucial to optimize maternal and fetal health. Ultra-processed foods (UPFs) are increasingly prevalent in pregnancy groups despite being nutritionally unbalanced and associated with adverse perinatal outcomes. This cross-sectional study, conducted with data from 229 pregnant women, aimed to investigate the association between UPFs consumption and dietary nutrient intake of pregnant women assisted by Primary Health Care (PHC) in Federal District (DF), Brazil. Food consumption was assessed through two non-consecutive 24-h food records and categorized by the extent of processing using the NOVA classification. Multivariate linear regression models were used to analyze the association between the quintiles of UPF consumption and the total energy and nutrients intake. Mean daily energy intake was 1741 kcal, with 22.6% derived from UPFs. Greater UPF consumption was associated with reduced intake of unprocessed and minimally processed food. The highest quintile of UPFs was positively associated with higher total energy, trans fat, and sodium intake; and inversely associated with the diet content of protein, fiber, iron, magnesium, potassium, copper, zinc, selenium, and folate. Greater UPFs intake negatively impacts the nutritional quality of the diet and impoverishes the nutrient intake of pregnant women. Reducing UPF consumption may broadly improve dietary guidelines adherence in pregnant women and promote maternal and neonatal health.

Unhealthy Food and Beverage Consumption during Childhood and Risk of Cardiometabolic Disease: A Systematic Review of Prospective Cohort Studies

BACKGROUND

Global consumption of unhealthy foods, including ultra-processed foods (UPFs) and sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs), has increased substantially among pediatric populations. Suboptimal diet during early life can track into adulthood, alongside risk factors for cardiometabolic disease.

OBJECTIVE

To inform the development of updated WHO guiding principles for complementary feeding of infants and young children, this systematic review sought to examine the association between unhealthy food consumption during childhood and cardiometabolic risk biomarkers.

METHODS

PubMed (Medline), EMBASE, and Cochrane CENTRAL were systematically searched, with no language restriction, up to 10 March 2022. Inclusion criteria were randomized controlled trials (RCTs), non-RCTs, and longitudinal cohort studies; children aged ≤10.9 y at exposure; studies reporting greater consumption of unhealthy foods and beverages (defined using nutrient- and food-based approaches) than no or low consumption; studies assessing critical nonanthropometric cardiometabolic disease risk outcomes (blood lipid profile, glycemic control, or blood pressure).

RESULTS

Of 30,021 identified citations, 11 articles from 8 longitudinal cohort studies were included. Six studies focused on exposure to unhealthy foods or UPF, and 4 focused on SSB only. Methodological heterogeneity was too high across studies to meta-analyze effect estimates. A narrative synthesis of quantitative data revealed that exposure to unhealthy foods and beverages, specifically NOVA-defined UPF, in children of preschool age may be associated with a worse blood lipid and blood pressure profile in later childhood (Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation [GRADE]: low and very low certainty, respectively). No associations were evident between SSB consumption and blood lipids, glycemic control, or blood pressure (GRADE: all low certainty).

CONCLUSIONS

No definitive conclusion can be made because of quality of the data. More high-quality studies that purposefully assess the effects of unhealthy food and beverage exposure during childhood on cardiometabolic risk outcomes are needed. This protocol was registered at https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/ as CRD42020218109.

Are processed fruits and vegetables able to reduce diet costs and address micronutrient deficiencies? Evidence from rural Tanzania

OBJECTIVE

To assess the impact of integrating processed fruits and vegetables (FV) into diets in terms of diet cost reduction and ensuring nutritional adequacy year-round.

DESIGN

Market surveys were conducted to record foods. Focus group discussions (FGD) and 24-h dietary assessments - from children and women - were carried out to determine culturally accepted dietary habits. Six processed FV were considered for addition to diets. Using the Cost of Diet linear programming tool, standards diets were first modelled, and subsequently, the processed FV were included to analyse their impact.

SETTING

Rural Tanzania: Mtwara and Morogoro.

PARTICIPANTS

Market survey: 50 traders; FGD: 40 women; 24-h recalls: 36 infants aged 6-23 months, 52 children aged 6-13 years and 292 women.

RESULTS

The standard diet costs between TZS 232 and 2368 (USD 0·3-3) daily for infants. For children aged 6-13 years, it costs between TZS 1711 and 7199 (USD 2·2-9·1) daily and the cost for the women was between TZS 2793 and 10 449 (USD 3·5-13·2). Addition of the processed FV reduced diet costs by up to 61 %, 48 % and 49 % for children aged 12-23 months, children aged 6-13 years and women, respectively. However, for infants aged 6-11 months, costs rose by up to 127 %. The processed FV addressed all micronutrient gaps in the diets except for infants aged 6-11 months, where some micronutrient intakes were unfulfilled.

CONCLUSIONS

Processed FV could provide a feasible option to ensure availability of nutritious but cheap diets year-round. Hence, interventions to process FV into nutritious and affordable products should extensively be pursued.

Consumer demand for novel fruit and vegetable products with extended shelf lives in East Africa: a multinational multi-product analysis

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the potential of products made out of underutilised fruits and vegetables for closing seasonal nutritional gaps among rural and urban consumers in East Africa.

DESIGN

The multinational analysis combines sensory testing and experimental auctions to assess consumers' perceptions and willingness to pay (WTP) for 6 different fruit and vegetable products.

SETTING

Open markets in rural and urban areas in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda.

PARTICIPANTS

There were 939 male and female adults who were at least 18 years old.

RESULTS

Tobit models for each product show that besides sensory perception, similar socio-demographic characteristics influence consumers' WTP for these products in all 3 countries. The products are especially liked among younger, male and urban consumers.

CONCLUSION

We conclude that there is demand and a potential market for processed fruit and vegetable products based on indigenous raw material in East Africa. The products, thus, have promising potential to improve nutrition, especially during off-season conditions when access to fresh produce is limited.

Evaluation of foods, drinks and diets in the Netherlands according to the degree of processing for nutritional quality, environmental impact and food costs

OBJECTIVE

This study investigates nutritional quality, environmental impact and costs of foods and drinks and their consumption in daily diets according to the degree of processing across the Dutch population.

DESIGN

The NOVA classification was used to classify the degree of processing (ultra-processed foods (UPF) and ultra-processed drinks (UPD)). Food consumption data were derived from the Dutch National Food Consumption Survey 2012-2016. Indicators assessed were nutritional quality (saturated fatty acids (SFA), sodium, mono and disaccharides (sugar), fibre and protein), environmental impact (greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and blue water use) and food costs.

SETTING

The Netherlands.

PARTICIPANTS

Four thousand three hundred thirteen Dutch participants aged 1 to 79 years.

RESULTS

Per 100 g, UPF were more energy-dense and less healthy than unprocessed or minimally processed foods (MPF); UPF were associated with higher GHG emissions and lower blue water use, and were cheaper. The energy and sugar content of UPD were similar to those of unprocessed or minimally processed drinks (MPD); associated with similar GHG emissions but blue water use was less, and they were also more expensive. In the average Dutch diet, per 2000 kcal, ultra-processed foods and drinks (UPFD) covered 29% (456 g UPF and 437 g UPD) of daily consumption and 61% of energy intake. UPFD consumption was higher among children than adults, especially for UPD. UPFD consumption determined 45% of GHG emissions, 23% of blue water use and 39% of expenses for daily food consumption. UPFD consumption contributed 54% to 72% to daily sodium, sugar and SFA intake.

CONCLUSIONS

Compared with unprocessed or minimally processed foods and drinks, UPF and UPD were found to be less healthy considering their high energy, SFA, sugar and sodium content. However, UPF were associated higher GHG emissions and with less blue water use and food costs. Therefore daily blue water use and food costs might increase if UPF are replaced by those unprocessed or minimally processed. As nutritional quality, environmental impacts and food costs relate differently to the NOVA classification, the classification is not directly applicable to identify win-win-wins of nutritional quality, environmental impact and costs of diets.

Nutritional Quality, Environmental Impact and Cost of Ultra-Processed Foods: A UK Food-Based Analysis

Food-based analyses of the healthiness, environmental sustainability and affordability of processed and ultra-processed foods are lacking. This paper aimed to determine how ultra-processed and processed foods compare to fresh and minimally processed foods in relation to nutritional quality, greenhouse gas emissions and cost on the food and food group level. Data from the National Diet and Nutrition Survey nutrient databank year 11 (2018/2019) were used for this analysis. Median and bootstrapped medians of nutritional quality (NRF8.3 index), greenhouse gas emissions (gCO2-equivalents) and cost (in GBP) were compared across processing categories. An optimal score based on the medians was created to identify the most nutritional, sustainable, and affordable options across processing categories. On a per 100 kcal basis, ultra-processed and processed foods had a lower nutritional quality, lower greenhouse gas emissions, and were cheaper than minimally processed foods, regardless of their total fat, salt and/or sugar content. The most nutritious, environmentally friendly, and affordable foods were generally lower in total fat, salt, and sugar, irrespective of processing level. The high variability in greenhouse gas emissions and cost across food groups and processing levels offer opportunities for food swaps representing the healthiest, greenest, and most affordable options.

Contribution of traditional fermented foods to food systems transformation: value addition and inclusive entrepreneurship

To date, many efforts to eradicate hunger include increasing agricultural production, processing of raw materials and supplementation, and fortification of foods. Locally produced foods represent a significant part of Food Systems as they contribute to tackling hunger and malnutrition. However, few studies have investigated the processing of traditional fermented foods at household level as a means to improve nutrition and triggering inclusive entrepreneurship, two crucial dimensions Food Systems build on. Fermentation is an ancient processing technique that relies on transformation of raw materials by microbial activity and is mainly undertaken by women. This paper posits that upscaling small scale fermented food processing activities while enhancing functional food properties and fostering women entrepreneurship contributes to prevention of food losses, promotion of nutrition and health, and entrepreneurial opportunities for current processors. This is key for effective policy interventions to foster food security in challenging contexts.⨪.

Labeling Nutrition-Sensitive Food Chains: A Consumer Preference Analysis of Milk Products

While nutrition-sensitive value-chain approaches are strongly advocated, studies on consumer preferences for such interventions are lacking. This study aims to fill this gap by examining a nutrition-sensitive chain labeling scheme, using the Ugandan dairy sector as a case. A survey was conducted among 250 consumers, primarily eliciting perceptions of the importance of a nutrition-sensitive chain label compared to nutrition claims/facts. In addition, a choice-based conjoint experiment was designed with nutrition label, brand, fat content, and price as attributes. Findings show that nutrition-sensitive chain labeling was more positively perceived by consumers than by nutrition claims/facts. Ordered logistic regression analysis indicated that BMI, nutrition knowledge, and label use influenced consumers' perceived importance of a nutrition-sensitive chain label relative to sex, age, children, and milk purchase frequency for nutrition claims/facts. This is confirmed by the higher utilities for the nutrition-sensitive chain label in our conjoint experiment. Future research should focus on the integration of nutrition-sensitive chain labeling with existing labels in a way that promotes candid interpretation by consumers. Industrial and policy actors in the agri-food sector can use these findings to innovate and regulate appropriate labeling schemes in the context of nutrition-sensitive value chains.

A Review of Leadership and Capacity Gaps in Nutrition-Sensitive Agricultural Policies and Strategies for Selected Countries in Sub-Saharan Africa and Asia

BACKGROUND

Agriculture policies and strategies designed, purposefully, to address malnutrition are considered nutrition-sensitive and are a critical component of global efforts to address malnutrition in all its forms. However, limited evidence exists on extent and how nutrition is being integrated into agriculture sector policies, strategies, and programs. A review was conducted to address 2 questions: How nutrition-sensitive are agriculture policies, plans, and investments in selected Sub-Saharan African (SSA) and Asian countries? and Which capacity and leadership gaps limit scale up of nutrition-sensitive agriculture policy and programs?

METHODS

The review of existing policies was conducted for 11 selected focus countries (9 in SSA and 2 from Asia) of the CGIAR (Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research) Collaborative Research Programme on Agriculture for Nutrition and Health led by the IFPRI (International Food Policy Research Institute). The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)'s 10-point key recommendations for designing nutrition-sensitive agricultural interventions was used as an analytical framework. Additionally, a rapid systematic review of published peer-reviewed and grey literature was carried out to identify capacity gaps based on the United Nations Development Program's capacity assessment framework.

RESULTS

We found that there is nutrition sensitivity of the policies and strategies but to varying degrees. There is limited capacity for optimum implementation of these policies, programs, and strategies. For most of the countries, there is capacity to articulate what needs to happen, but there are important capacity limitations to translate the given policy/program instruments into effective action.

CONCLUSIONS

The gaps identified constitute important evidence to inform capacity strengthening of nutrition-sensitive actions for desired nutrition and health outcomes in Africa and Asia.

The impact of interventions in the global land and agri-food sectors on Nature's Contributions to People and the UN Sustainable Development Goals

Interlocked challenges of climate change, biodiversity loss, and land degradation require transformative interventions in the land management and food production sectors to reduce carbon emissions, strengthen adaptive capacity, and increase food security. However, deciding which interventions to pursue and understanding their relative co-benefits with and trade-offs against different social and environmental goals have been difficult without comparisons across a range of possible actions. This study examined 40 different options, implemented through land management, value chains, or risk management, for their relative impacts across 18 Nature's Contributions to People (NCPs) and the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). We find that a relatively small number of interventions show positive synergies with both SDGs and NCPs with no significant adverse trade-offs; these include improved cropland management, improved grazing land management, improved livestock management, agroforestry, integrated water management, increased soil organic carbon content, reduced soil erosion, salinization, and compaction, fire management, reduced landslides and hazards, reduced pollution, reduced post-harvest losses, improved energy use in food systems, and disaster risk management. Several interventions show potentially significant negative impacts on both SDGs and NCPs; these include bioenergy and bioenergy with carbon capture and storage, afforestation, and some risk sharing measures, like commercial crop insurance. Our results demonstrate that a better understanding of co-benefits and trade-offs of different policy approaches can help decision-makers choose the more effective, or at the very minimum, more benign interventions for implementation.

Ultra-Processed Foods and Food System Sustainability: What Are the Links?

Global food systems are no longer sustainable for health, the environment, animal biodiversity and wellbeing, culinary traditions, socioeconomics, or small farmers. The increasing massive consumption of animal foods has been identified as a major determinant of unsustainability. However, today, the consumption of ultra-processed foods (UPFs) is also questioned. The main objective of this review is therefore to check the validity of this new hypothesis. We first identified the main ingredients/additives present in UPFs and the agricultural practices involved in their provision to agro-industrials. Overall, UPF production is analysed regarding its impacts on the environment, biodiversity, animal wellbeing, and cultural and socio-economic dimensions. Our main conclusion is that UPFs are associated with intensive agriculture/livestock and threaten all dimensions of food system sustainability due to the combination of low-cost ingredients at purchase and increased consumption worldwide. However, low-animal-calorie UPFs do not produce the highest greenhouse gas emissions (GHGEs) compared to conventional meat and dairy products. In addition, only reducing energy dense UPF intake, without substitution, might substantially reduce GHGEs. Therefore, significant improvement in food system sustainability requires urgently encouraging limiting UPF consumption to the benefit of mildly processed foods, preferably seasonal, organic, and local products.

The role of food science and technology in humanitarian response

Background

In humanitarian contexts, ensuring access to safe, nutritious, good quality and culturally appropriate food in the right quantity at the right time and place during an emergency or a protracted crisis is an enormous challenge, which is likely to increase given uncertainties such as climate change, global political and economic instability and emerging pandemics like COVID-19. Several international organizations and non-government organizations have well established systems to respond to food security emergencies. However, the role of food science and technology in humanitarian response is not well understood and is seldom considered in humanitarian circles.

Scope and approach

The role of food science and technology in humanitarian response and the importance of addressing the requirements of the local consumers within the local food systems are discussed.

Key findings and conclusions

Humanitarian food aid policies focus on immediate and short-term assistance to save lives. The implementation of emergency programs and projects tends to induce dependency on aid, rather than strengthening local food systems and ensuring resilience. Transformative change must embrace innovation across the whole food system with an increased emphasis on food science and technology that addresses local food security, generates employment and contributes to the local economy. There needs to be a move beyond rehabilitating and increasing agricultural production to addressing the whole food system with a view to link humanitarian assistance and longer-term support to sustainable livelihoods and resilience.

Seasonal Nutritional Food Security to Indian Women through Community-level Implementation of Domestic Solar Conduction Dryer

This study explores the impact of a house-hold, post-harvest processing unit on the nutritional, economic, and social status of rural women. Solar Conduction Dryer (SCD) is an electricity-free, solar-powered food dehydrator for the production of dried vegetables, fruits, marine, and meat-based products. SCD was provided to 200 rural women farmers in the Aurangabad district of India. The availability of the dryer enabled the women to preserve seasonal produce during the surplus season and consume it during the lean period. An increase of 36% in the Women's Dietary Diversity Score was observed in the intervention group as compared to the control group in the lean season, indicating increased food accessibility and availability. Providing the appropriate market linkage and initial hand-holding helped the women to earn additional income through the sale of the dehydrated products. This research explores the sustainability of the said technological intervention and its role in agri-nutrition linkage.

Climatic Impacts on Basic Human Needs in the United States of America: A Panel Data Analysis

This study empirically investigates the impact (overall, regional, and seasonal) of weather and climate extremes on basic human needs by employing a new poverty index, i.e., the Human Needs Index (HNI), in the United States of America. Detecting the contemporaneous correlations between errors, we apply second-generation unit root tests on monthly statewide panel data ranging from January 2004 to December 2018. The results obtained through cross-sectional time-series feasible generalized least square (i.e., FGLS) regression suggest that human necessities statistically and significantly correlate with a positive response to the weather extremes (cold, low precipitation) and with extreme events (drought, flood). However, the response is the opposite of that in the case of high precipitation. The seasonal variations in necessities indicate that there is a significant escalation of the needs between July and December (January is taken as the reference month), but, in February, they substantially shrink. Furthermore, the regional implications imply that, with the West of the US taken as the reference region, needs are significantly augmented in the Midwest; conversely, in the east and the south, they are significantly decreased. We also observe that some interaction effects, such as high precipitation and personal income as an interaction term, significantly, but negatively, correlate with HNI, indicating a 0.025% shared effect. Contrary to these findings, high precipitation, coupled with supplements to wages and salaries, shows a positive joint association of 0.274% with HNI. Besides, low precipitation, coupled with the unemployment rate, personal income, and flooding, shows an additional positive and significant mutual effect, while low precipitation has a negative effect on basic human needs when coupled with supplements to wages and salaries. The corresponding estimated interacting coefficients are 3.77, scoring 0.053%, 0.592%, and −0.67%, respectively.

Discussion paper: Sustainable increase of crop production through improved technical strategies, breeding and adapted management - A European perspective

During the next decade it will be necessary to develop novel combinations of management strategies to sustainably increase crop production and soil resilience. Improving agricultural productivity, while conserving and enhancing biotic and abiotic resources, is an essential requirement to increase global food production on a sustainable basis. The role of farmers in increasing agricultural productivity growth sustainably will be crucial. Farmers are at the center of any process of change involving natural resources and for this reason they need to be encouraged and guided, through appropriate incentives and governance practices, to conserve natural ecosystems and their biodiversity, and minimize the negative impact agriculture can have on the environment. Farmers and stakeholders need to revise traditional approaches not as productive as the modern approaches but more friendly with natural and environmental ecosystems values as well as emerging novel tools and approaches addressing precise farming, organic amendments, lowered water consumption, integrated pest control and beneficial plant-microbe interactions. While practical solutions are developing, science based recommendations for crop rotations, breeding and harvest/postharvest strategies leading to environmentally sound and pollinator friendly production and better life in rural areas have to be provided.

Liquid Chromatography Analysis of Common Nutritional Components, in Feed and Food

Food and feed laboratories share several similarities when facing the implementation of liquid-chromatographic analysis. Using the experience acquired over the years, through application chemistry in food and feed research, selected analytes of relevance for both areas were discussed. This review focused on the common obstacles and peculiarities that each analyte offers (during the sample treatment or the chromatographic separation) throughout the implementation of said methods. A brief description of the techniques which we considered to be more pertinent, commonly used to assay such analytes is provided, including approaches using commonly available detectors (especially in starter labs) as well as mass detection. This manuscript consists of three sections: feed analysis (as the start of the food chain); food destined for human consumption determinations (the end of the food chain); and finally, assays shared by either matrices or laboratories. Analytes discussed consist of both those considered undesirable substances, contaminants, additives, and those related to nutritional quality. Our review is comprised of the examination of polyphenols, capsaicinoids, theobromine and caffeine, cholesterol, mycotoxins, antibiotics, amino acids, triphenylmethane dyes, nitrates/nitrites, ethanol soluble carbohydrates/sugars, organic acids, carotenoids, hydro and liposoluble vitamins. All analytes are currently assayed in our laboratories.