1
|
Chiaka JC, Zhen L, Xiao Y, Hu Y, Wen X, Muhirwa F. Spatial Assessment of Land Suitability Potential for Agriculture in Nigeria. Foods 2024; 13:568. [PMID: 38397545 PMCID: PMC10887589 DOI: 10.3390/foods13040568] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2023] [Revised: 02/04/2024] [Accepted: 02/12/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
From land cover analysis, cropland expansion was a major driving factor for land use land cover changes in Nigeria from 2000 to 2020. This further highlights the food production needs in the country. While this land use change indicates a significant alteration in land cover, it was exigent to assess land suitability using a Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) combined with geospatial techniques to identify areas with agricultural suitability potential and to analyze cropland suitability. The results showed that the country had 8% of very high suitability, high suitability (25%), moderate suitability (29%), and marginal suitability (25%) croplands. However, low suitability accounts for 14% of the entire cropland. The spatial distribution of cropland suitability shows that most areas in the South East, South South, and South West, respectively, have the most suitable cropland as they meet the biophysical conditions for crop production, followed by the North Central regions, while most places in the North (North East and North West) have a higher share of moderate to low suitability. This study highlights the potential of the country to target localized self-sufficiency. Therefore, this study recommends using the cropland suitability map to launch food security programs across the six geopolitical zones to maximize their inherent environmental potentials to alleviate the country's food production needs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jeffrey Chiwuikem Chiaka
- Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; (J.C.C.); (Y.X.); (Y.H.); (X.W.); (F.M.)
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
- Anambra-Imo River Basin Development Authority, Agbala 460109, Imo State, Nigeria
| | - Lin Zhen
- Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; (J.C.C.); (Y.X.); (Y.H.); (X.W.); (F.M.)
- School of Resource and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Yu Xiao
- Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; (J.C.C.); (Y.X.); (Y.H.); (X.W.); (F.M.)
- School of Resource and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Yunfeng Hu
- Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; (J.C.C.); (Y.X.); (Y.H.); (X.W.); (F.M.)
- School of Resource and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Xin Wen
- Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; (J.C.C.); (Y.X.); (Y.H.); (X.W.); (F.M.)
- Department of Biology and Institute of Environmental and Interdisciplinary Science, Carleton University, Ottawa, ON K1S 5B6, Canada
| | - Fabien Muhirwa
- Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; (J.C.C.); (Y.X.); (Y.H.); (X.W.); (F.M.)
- Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
García P, Bustamante A, Echeverría F, Encina C, Palma M, Sanhueza L, Sambra V, Pando ME, Jiménez P. A Feasible Approach to Developing Fiber-Enriched Bread Using Pomegranate Peel Powder: Assessing Its Nutritional Composition and Glycemic Index. Foods 2023; 12:2798. [PMID: 37509890 PMCID: PMC10379044 DOI: 10.3390/foods12142798] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2023] [Revised: 07/14/2023] [Accepted: 07/19/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
The consumption of dietary fiber (DF) has been associated with a reduced incidence of non-communicable diseases. Despite various strategies implemented worldwide to increase DF intake, it remains low. Therefore, the development of new fiber-rich food products that are widely consumed could be a strategy to improve DF intake. In this study, an agro-industrial by-product, pomegranate peel powder (PPP), was used as an innovative source of DF and antioxidant. The objective was to develop a bread enriched with DF, antioxidants, and sensory characteristics by partially replacing wheat flour (WF) with PPP at levels of 0%, 2.5%, 5%, 7.5%, and 10%. Bread with 2.5% and 5% PPP was chosen for a clinical trial to evaluate glycemic response (GR) in healthy subjects and determine the bread's glycemic index (GI). As the percentage of PPP increased, both the DF and total polyphenol content increased significantly. The highest overall acceptability was achieved with bread containing up to 5% PPP. Consumption of bread with 2.5% and 5.0% PPP significantly reduced the GI compared to the control bread, while the decrease in GR was not significant. PPP could be a potential food and low-cost ingredient to improve the bread's nutritional quality through its contribution to DF and antioxidants.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Paula García
- Departamento de Nutrición, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Santiago 8380453, Chile
| | - Andrés Bustamante
- Departamento de Nutrición, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Santiago 8380453, Chile
| | - Francisca Echeverría
- Carrera de Nutrición y Dietética, Departamento Ciencias de la Salud, Facultad de Medicina, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago 7820436, Chile
| | - Cristian Encina
- Nutrición y Dietética, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Autónoma de Chile, Santiago 7500912, Chile
| | - Manuel Palma
- P&M Foods, Los Olmos 3465, Santiago 7810668, Chile
| | - Leyla Sanhueza
- Departamento Ciencia de los Alimentos y Tecnología Química, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas y Farmacéuticas, Universidad de Chile, Santiago 8380492, Chile
| | - Verónica Sambra
- Departamento de Nutrición, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Santiago 8380453, Chile
| | - Maria Elsa Pando
- Departamento de Nutrición, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Santiago 8380453, Chile
| | - Paula Jiménez
- Departamento de Nutrición, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Santiago 8380453, Chile
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Trollman H, Jagtap S, Trollman F. Crowdsourcing food security: introducing food choice derivatives for sustainability. Food Secur 2023; 15:1-13. [PMID: 37362054 PMCID: PMC10130302 DOI: 10.1007/s12571-023-01363-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2022] [Accepted: 03/15/2023] [Indexed: 06/28/2023]
Abstract
Global food supply chains are unprepared for the increasing number and severity of the expected environmental, social and economic shocks in the coming years. The price-setting process of commodities is directly impacted by such shocks, influencing consumer behavior regarding food choice and consumption. Both the market and advances in precision agriculture drive increased production and consumption. However, there has been a lack of consideration of how consumer behavior could be harnessed to mitigate such shocks through decreased consumption and reduced waste. The SAPPhIRE model of causality was applied to design sustainable and ecologically embedded futures derivatives that could have a role in affecting commodity markets. Multi-agent systems were combined with artificial intelligence and edge computing to provide the necessary functionality. The impact of war in Ukraine was used to exemplify the design of consumer "food choice" derivatives. This resulted in a mechanism to bring aggregated acts of consumer compassion and sustainability to commodities markets to mitigate food security shocks. When implementing food choice derivatives, care must be taken to ensure that consumer food choices are rational and compatible with individual nutritional needs and financial situations, and that the legitimate interests of agri-food businesses are protected.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hana Trollman
- Department of Work, Employment, Management and Organisations, School of Business, University of Leicester, University Road, Leicester, LE1 7RH UK
| | - Sandeep Jagtap
- Sustainable Manufacturing Systems Centre, School of Aerospace, Transport & Manufacturing, Cranfield University, Cranfield, MK43 0AL UK
| | - Frank Trollman
- Glenfield Hospital, University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust, Leicester, LE3 9QP UK
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Rejeb A, Rejeb K, Appolloni A, Treiblmaier H, Iranmanesh M. Circular Economy Research in the COVID-19 Era: a Review and the Road Ahead. CIRCULAR ECONOMY AND SUSTAINABILITY 2023:1-31. [PMID: 37360377 PMCID: PMC10042431 DOI: 10.1007/s43615-023-00265-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2022] [Accepted: 03/13/2023] [Indexed: 03/29/2023]
Abstract
The onset of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has resulted in a major crisis that has severely impacted numerous economic, environmental, and social aspects of human life. During the pandemic, the potential of the circular economy (CE) has gained increasing attention as a prospective remedy for numerous sustainability problems. This systematic literature review charts CE research in the COVID-19 era. To this end, 160 journal articles were selected from the Scopus database. The performance indicators of the literature were determined and described through a bibliometric analysis. Moreover, the conceptual structure of CE research was identified via a keyword co-occurrence network. Based on bibliographic coupling, the focus of CE research in the COVID-19 era revolves mainly around five thematic areas, including: (1) waste management; (2) digitalization and sustainable supply chain management; (3) the impact of COVID-19 on food systems; (4) sustainable development goals, smart cities, and bioeconomy; and (5) closed-loop supply chains. Overall, this review contributes to enriching the literature by determining the main thematic areas and future research directions that can help to advance the transition to the CE and reduce the impact of COVID-19 and similar disasters in the future.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Abderahman Rejeb
- Department of Management and Law, Faculty of Economics, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Via Columbia, 2, Rome, 00133 Italy
| | - Karim Rejeb
- Faculty of Sciences of Bizerte, University of Carthage, Zarzouna, Bizerte 7021 Tunisia
| | - Andrea Appolloni
- Department of Management and Law, Faculty of Economics, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Via Columbia, 2, Rome, 00133 Italy
- School of Management, Cranfield University, MK43 0AL Cranfield, Bedford, UK
| | - Horst Treiblmaier
- School of International Management, Modul University Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | | |
Collapse
|
5
|
Ettinger L, Falkeisen A, Knowles S, Gorman M, Barker S, Moss R, McSweeney MB. Consumer Perception and Acceptability of Plant-Based Alternatives to Chicken. Foods 2022; 11:foods11152271. [PMID: 35954038 PMCID: PMC9367704 DOI: 10.3390/foods11152271] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2022] [Revised: 07/24/2022] [Accepted: 07/25/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The prevalence of plant-based alternatives (PBAs) to meat in the marketplace has been increasing in recent years due to consumer demand. One of these plant-based products has aimed to mimic chicken products, specifically chicken nuggets. However, few sensory studies have been conducted on these products. The objective of this study is to evaluate the sensory properties, acceptability, and consumer perception of these PBAs. Participants (n = 105) were asked to evaluate five PBAs and a control (chicken nugget) using hedonic scales and a check-all-that-apply question. They also answered an open-ended comment question about PBAs. The participants separated the control from the PBAs in terms of their hedonic scores and sensory properties. They separated the PBAs based on their textural properties and if they had off-flavors. Participants disliked PBAs that were associated with an aftertaste, as well as beany, fibrous, and chewy attributes. The participants believed the PBAs currently on the market did not successfully mimic a chicken nugget and that improvement is needed, but they did believe PBAs are environmentally friendly.
Collapse
|
6
|
Jagtap S, Trollman H, Trollman F, Garcia-Garcia G, Parra-López C, Duong L, Martindale W, Munekata PES, Lorenzo JM, Hdaifeh A, Hassoun A, Salonitis K, Afy-Shararah M. The Russia-Ukraine Conflict: Its Implications for the Global Food Supply Chains. Foods 2022; 11:2098. [PMID: 35885340 PMCID: PMC9318935 DOI: 10.3390/foods11142098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2022] [Revised: 06/29/2022] [Accepted: 07/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Food is one of the most traded goods, and the conflict in Ukraine, one of the European breadbaskets, has triggered a significant additional disruption in the global food supply chains after the COVID-19 impact. The disruption to food output, supply chains, availability, and affordability could have a long-standing impact. As a result, the availability and supply of a wide range of food raw materials and finished food products are under threat, and global markets have seen recent increases in food prices. Furthermore, the Russian-Ukrainian conflict has adversely affected food supply chains, with significant effects on production, sourcing, manufacturing, processing, logistics, and significant shifts in demand between nations reliant on imports from Ukraine. This paper aims to analyze the impacts of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine on the effectiveness and responsiveness of the global food supply chains. A PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) approach, including grey literature, was deployed to investigate six key areas of the food supply chains that would be impacted most due to the ongoing war. Findings include solutions and strategies to mitigate supply chain impacts such as alternative food raw materials, suppliers and supply chain partners supported by technological innovations to ensure food safety and quality in warlike situations.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sandeep Jagtap
- Sustainable Manufacturing Systems Centre, School of Aerospace, Transport & Manufacturing, Cranfield University, Cranfield MK43 0AL, UK; (K.S.); (M.A.-S.)
| | - Hana Trollman
- Department of Work, Employment, Management and Organisations, School of Business, The University of Leicester, University Road, Leicester LE1 7RH, UK;
| | - Frank Trollman
- Glenfield Hospital, University Hospitals of Leicester, NHS Trust, Leicester LE3 9QP, UK;
| | - Guillermo Garcia-Garcia
- Department of Agrifood System Economics, Centre ‘Camino de Purchil’, Institute of Agricultural and Fisheries Research and Training (IFAPA), 18080 Granada, Spain; (G.G.-G.); (C.P.-L.)
| | - Carlos Parra-López
- Department of Agrifood System Economics, Centre ‘Camino de Purchil’, Institute of Agricultural and Fisheries Research and Training (IFAPA), 18080 Granada, Spain; (G.G.-G.); (C.P.-L.)
| | - Linh Duong
- Faculty of Business and Law, The University of the West of England, Bristol BS16 1QY, UK;
| | - Wayne Martindale
- National Centre for Food Manufacturing, University of Lincoln, Holbeach PE12 7PT, UK;
| | - Paulo E. S. Munekata
- Centro Tecnológico de la Carne de Galicia, Rúa Galicia n 4, Parque Tecnológico de Galicia, San Cibrao das Viñas, 32900 Ourense, Spain; (P.E.S.M.); (J.M.L.)
| | - Jose M. Lorenzo
- Centro Tecnológico de la Carne de Galicia, Rúa Galicia n 4, Parque Tecnológico de Galicia, San Cibrao das Viñas, 32900 Ourense, Spain; (P.E.S.M.); (J.M.L.)
- Area de Tecnoloxía dos Alimentos, Facultade de Ciencias, Universidade de Vigo, 32004 Ourense, Spain
| | - Ammar Hdaifeh
- Agri-Food Sustainability Assessment, University de Lorraine, 54600 Nancy, France;
| | - Abdo Hassoun
- Sustainable AgriFoodTech Innovation & Research (SAFIR), 62000 Arras, France;
- Syrian Academic Expertise (SAE), Gaziantep 27200, Turkey
| | - Konstantinos Salonitis
- Sustainable Manufacturing Systems Centre, School of Aerospace, Transport & Manufacturing, Cranfield University, Cranfield MK43 0AL, UK; (K.S.); (M.A.-S.)
| | - Mohamed Afy-Shararah
- Sustainable Manufacturing Systems Centre, School of Aerospace, Transport & Manufacturing, Cranfield University, Cranfield MK43 0AL, UK; (K.S.); (M.A.-S.)
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Wang Y, Wang J, Shen Q. A Consumer Segmentation Study of Nutrition Information Seeking and Its Relation to Food Consumption in Beijing, China. Foods 2022; 11:foods11030453. [PMID: 35159603 PMCID: PMC8834010 DOI: 10.3390/foods11030453] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2022] [Revised: 01/30/2022] [Accepted: 01/30/2022] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
The aim of this study is to identify consumer groups based on nutrition information-seeking behavior and how it relates to food consumption. Although the Chinese public can now access nutrition information through different channels, research on the segmentation of homogeneous consumer groups seeking nutrition information is lacking. This study closes this research gap and, in doing so, also shows how information seeking is related to dietary behavior. A questionnaire was sent out to a stratified random sample in Beijing, resulting in 448 responses. A cluster analysis using hierarchical methods was conducted, identifying four distinct consumer groups: Multi-Channel (27.43%), Mass Media (20.57%), Moderate (27.88%), and Uninterested (24.12%). The four segments differed significantly concerning food consumption frequencies, food literacy, and sociodemographic characteristics. Consumers who were more involved in nutrition information tended to eat healthier. Our findings indicate that nutrition information is worth promoting, but this kind of intervention is not a cure-all. Targeted interventions should focus on uninterested populations by providing non-informational nudging strategies to promote healthy eating behaviors. This study contributes to the identification of meaningful profiles for targeted interventions, particularly as regards uninterested or unreached consumers.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yin Wang
- Business School, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450000, China;
| | - Jiayou Wang
- Institute of Agricultural Economics and Information, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Guangzhou 510640, China;
| | - Qiong Shen
- Business School, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450000, China;
- Correspondence:
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Chiaka JC, Zhen L, Xiao Y. Changing Food Consumption Patterns and Land Requirements for Food in the Six Geopolitical Zones in Nigeria. Foods 2022; 11:150. [PMID: 35053882 PMCID: PMC8774323 DOI: 10.3390/foods11020150] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2021] [Revised: 12/13/2021] [Accepted: 12/27/2021] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Research on food consumption in Nigeria has mainly focused on food intake, household diversity, and purchasing power. We investigated a knowledge gap for food consumed by households and the land requirements for food resulting from household consumption patterns. The food consumed and the household size determine the land requirement for food. Therefore, a quantity-based analysis and a land demand methodology were applied to derive household food quantity and land requirements for food respectively. The results show that a greater percentage of household income is spent on cereals and starchy roots as the main source of calories and that cowpea is a secondary food option for households. In addition, households are changing their dietary intake from rice to maize and rice to cassava and yams as a cheaper alternative and experts' measurements of food security at the household level indicates that households in our study are moderately food insecure. Other findings show that the country's specific and per capita land requirements for food have gradually increased between 2000 and 2018. Across the six geopolitical zones, Northern regions with higher populations have high land requirements for food, especially for rice and maize (cereals), while Southern regions have high land requirements for cassava and yams (starchy roots) due to their respective consumption and household sizes. In addition, from our study, the land requirements for food show the actual cropland area of South South fed 5000 households. Consequently, a scenario analysis shows that the land requirements for food in our study exceeds the entire geographical area of Nigeria. Therefore, continued population growth without improved living standards and adequate food production output per hectare will further exacerbate food insecurity and land shortage in Nigeria.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jeffrey Chiwuikem Chiaka
- Key Laboratory for Resources Use and Environmental Remediation, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; (J.C.C.); (Y.X.)
- College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
- Anambra-Imo River Basin Development Authority, Agbala 460109, Imo State, Nigeria
| | - Lin Zhen
- Key Laboratory for Resources Use and Environmental Remediation, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; (J.C.C.); (Y.X.)
- College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Yu Xiao
- Key Laboratory for Resources Use and Environmental Remediation, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; (J.C.C.); (Y.X.)
- College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Pu M, Chen X, Zhong Y. Overstocked Agricultural Produce and Emergency Supply System in the COVID-19 Pandemic: Responses from China. Foods 2021; 10:3027. [PMID: 34945577 PMCID: PMC8702081 DOI: 10.3390/foods10123027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2021] [Accepted: 11/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The spread of COVID-19 has affected not only public health but also agriculture, raising global concerns regarding the food system. As an immediate impact of COVID-19, farmers around the globe have had difficulties with sales, resulting in large amounts of overstocked agricultural products and food loss. This further threatens the livelihood of rural, poor farmers and impacts sustainable production. To provide a better understanding of the overstocking situation after the outbreak of the pandemic, this study depicts the distribution characteristics of overstocked agricultural products in China. After analyzing a nationwide data set collected from 3482 individuals/organizations by the Chinese Agri-products Marketing Association after the outbreak of the pandemic, we found that some of the initial prevention and control measures disrupted sales channels, and in turn, caused the farmers to suffer losses. The impact was more severe in perishable products and their production areas, as well as in poverty-stricken regions. Then, we identified China's quick and effective actions to match the supply and demand. These findings suggest that emergency responses should coordinate the relationship between emergency actions and the necessary logistics of agricultural production. To prepare for the possibility of such shock in the future, the government should take actions to clear logistics obstacles for necessary transportation, keep enhancing the fundamental infrastructure and effective mechanism of the food supply chain, and actively include innovative techniques to build a more resilient food system.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Yu Zhong
- Institute of Agricultural Economics and Development, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100082, China; (M.P.); (X.C.)
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Dumitras DE, Harun R, Arion FH, Chiciudean DI, Kovacs E, Oroian CF, Porutiu A, Muresan IC. Food Consumption Patterns in Romania during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Foods 2021; 10:2712. [PMID: 34828993 PMCID: PMC8623437 DOI: 10.3390/foods10112712] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2021] [Revised: 11/02/2021] [Accepted: 11/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Food consumption behavior during the COVID-19 pandemic has changed worldwide as a consequence of the restrictions imposed by law and/or due to the fear of contamination. Although some similarities are found among countries, there are still many particularities for each nation. The present study focused on Romanian consumers and their consumption behavior related to four main food categories: fruits and vegetables, meat and meat products, bread and bakery products, and milk and milk products. Frequency of buying, shopping habits, place of purchase, and concerns related to the place of purchasing food products during the COVID-19 pandemic were analyzed in comparison with the pre-COVID-19 period using descriptive statistics and inferential statistics regarding an online survey. Three types of behavior were identified as being related to the frequency of buying and to organizing a shopping list (less often, no change, more often). Two groups of consumers were identified as being related to the place of purchasing food: people with the same habits and people with new habits. Concerns related to the location of the stores and to the choice of buying directly from producers were also investigated using the ordered logistic regression. The empirical study revealed the new consumption patterns with a reflection on future trends.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Diana E. Dumitras
- Department of Economic Sciences, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca, 3-5 Manastur Street, 400372 Cluj-Napoca, Romania; (D.E.D.); (F.H.A.); (D.I.C.); (E.K.); (C.F.O.); (A.P.)
| | - Rezhen Harun
- Department of Agribusiness and Rural Development, College of Agricultural Sciences Engineering, University of Sulaimani, Sulaimani 5100, Iraq;
| | - Felix H. Arion
- Department of Economic Sciences, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca, 3-5 Manastur Street, 400372 Cluj-Napoca, Romania; (D.E.D.); (F.H.A.); (D.I.C.); (E.K.); (C.F.O.); (A.P.)
| | - Daniel I. Chiciudean
- Department of Economic Sciences, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca, 3-5 Manastur Street, 400372 Cluj-Napoca, Romania; (D.E.D.); (F.H.A.); (D.I.C.); (E.K.); (C.F.O.); (A.P.)
| | - Eniko Kovacs
- Department of Economic Sciences, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca, 3-5 Manastur Street, 400372 Cluj-Napoca, Romania; (D.E.D.); (F.H.A.); (D.I.C.); (E.K.); (C.F.O.); (A.P.)
- National Institute for Research and Development of Optoelectronics Bucharest INOE 2000, Research Institute for Analytical Instrumentation Subsidiary, 67 Donath Street, 400293 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Camelia F. Oroian
- Department of Economic Sciences, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca, 3-5 Manastur Street, 400372 Cluj-Napoca, Romania; (D.E.D.); (F.H.A.); (D.I.C.); (E.K.); (C.F.O.); (A.P.)
| | - Andra Porutiu
- Department of Economic Sciences, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca, 3-5 Manastur Street, 400372 Cluj-Napoca, Romania; (D.E.D.); (F.H.A.); (D.I.C.); (E.K.); (C.F.O.); (A.P.)
| | - Iulia C. Muresan
- Department of Economic Sciences, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca, 3-5 Manastur Street, 400372 Cluj-Napoca, Romania; (D.E.D.); (F.H.A.); (D.I.C.); (E.K.); (C.F.O.); (A.P.)
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Nchanji EB, Lutomia CK. COVID-19 challenges to sustainable food production and consumption: Future lessons for food systems in eastern and southern Africa from a gender lens. SUSTAINABLE PRODUCTION AND CONSUMPTION 2021; 27:2208-2220. [PMID: 36118161 PMCID: PMC9464269 DOI: 10.1016/j.spc.2021.05.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2021] [Revised: 05/17/2021] [Accepted: 05/18/2021] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
Despite fears that sub-Sahara Africa would be severely impacted by COVID-19, the implications of the pandemic on sustainable production and consumption have not been studied in detail. Notwithstanding, implications vary depending on country, region, and strictness of coronavirus containment measures. Thus, the impact of COVID-19 on food and nutritional security was expected to be dire in sub-Saharan Africa because of its enormous reliance on global food systems. This article explored the implications of COVID-19 on sustainable production and consumption by focusing on common beans, vegetables, fish, and fruits produced and consumed in rural, peri-urban and urban areas. Two surveys were conducted to collect quantitative data from 619 producers in rural areas and 307 consumers from peri-urban and urban areas of ten Eastern and Southern African countries. Descriptive statistics (frequencies and percentages) and chi-square test for independence were used to analyse the data. The results show that the pandemic disrupted bean production and consumption across the two sub-regions. However, Southern African farmers and consumers were disproportionately more affected. While farmers in Eastern Africa reported input market challenges, those in Southern Africa identified challenges related to marketing farm produce. We also report that home gardening in urban and peri-urban areas enhanced urban food systems' resilience to the impacts of the pandemic on food security. The study argues that short food supply chains can sustain rural and urban livelihood against adverse effects of the pandemics and contribute towards sustainable production and consumption. Therefore, local input and food distribution models and inclusive institutional and legal support for urban agriculture are crucial drivers for reducing food and nutritional insecurity, poverty, and gender inequality. They are also critical to supporting sustainable production and consumption.
Collapse
|