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Edwards DP, Cerullo GR. Biodiversity is central for restoration. Curr Biol 2024; 34:R371-R379. [PMID: 38714168 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2024.02.032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/09/2024]
Abstract
The global restoration agenda can help solve the biodiversity extinction crisis by regenerating biodiversity-rich ecosystems, maximising conservation benefits using natural regeneration. Yet, conservation is rarely the core objective of restoration, and biodiversity is often neglected in restoration projects targeted towards carbon sequestration or enhancing ecosystem services for improved local livelihoods. Here, we synthesise evidence to show that promoting biodiversity in restoration planning and delivery is integral to delivering other long-term restoration aims, such as carbon sequestration, timber production, enhanced local farm yields, reduced soil erosion, recovered hydrological services and improved human health. For each of these restoration goals, biodiversity must be a keystone objective to the entire process. Biodiversity integration requires improved evidence and action, delivered via a socio-ecological process operating at landscape scales and backed by supportive regulations and finance. Conceiving restoration and biodiversity conservation as synergistic, mutually reinforcing partners is critical for humanity's bids to tackle the global crises of climate change, land degradation and biodiversity extinction.
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Affiliation(s)
- David P Edwards
- Department of Plant Sciences and Conservation Research Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3EA, UK.
| | - Gianluca R Cerullo
- Department of Zoology and Conservation Research Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3EA, UK
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2
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Iannotti L, Kleban E, Fracassi P, Oenema S, Lutter C. Evidence for Policies and Practices to Address Global Food Insecurity. Annu Rev Public Health 2024; 45:375-400. [PMID: 38166503 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-publhealth-060922-041451] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2024]
Abstract
Food insecurity affects an estimated 691-783 million people globally and is disproportionately high in Africa and Asia. It arises from poverty, armed conflict, and climate change, among other demographic and globalization forces. This review summarizes evidence for policies and practices across five elements of the agrifood system framework and identifies gaps that inform an agenda for future research. Under availability, imbalanced agriculture policies protect primarily staple food producers, and there is limited evidence on food security impacts for smallholder and women food producers. Evidence supports the use of cash transfers and food aid for affordability and school feeding for multiple benefits. Food-based dietary guidelines can improve the nutritional quality of dietary patterns, yet they may not reflect the latest evidence or food supplies. Evidence from the newer food environment elements, promotion and sustainability, while relatively minimal, provides insight into achieving long-term impacts. To eliminate hunger, our global community should embrace integrated approaches and bring evidence-based policies and practices to scale.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lora Iannotti
- E3 Nutrition Lab, Brown School, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, USA;
| | - Eliza Kleban
- E3 Nutrition Lab, Brown School, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, USA;
| | - Patrizia Fracassi
- Food and Nutrition Division, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Rome, Italy
| | - Stineke Oenema
- UN-Nutrition Secretariat, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Rome, Italy
| | - Chessa Lutter
- Division of Food Security and Agriculture, RTI International, Washington, DC, USA
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den Braber B, Hall C, Brandt M, Reiner F, Mugabowindekwe M, Rasmussen LV. Even low levels of tree cover improve dietary quality in West Africa. PNAS NEXUS 2024; 3:pgae067. [PMID: 38404357 PMCID: PMC10890828 DOI: 10.1093/pnasnexus/pgae067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2023] [Accepted: 01/29/2024] [Indexed: 02/27/2024]
Abstract
Forests are attracting attention as a promising avenue to provide nutritious and "free" food without damaging the environment. Yet, we lack knowledge on the extent to which this holds in areas with sparse tree cover, such as in West Africa. This is largely due to the fact that existing methods are poorly designed to quantify tree cover in drylands. In this study, we estimate how various levels of tree cover across West Africa affect children's (aged 12-59 months) consumption of vitamin A-rich foods. We do so by combining detailed tree cover estimates based on PlanetScope imagery (3 m resolution) with Demographic Health Survey data from >15,000 households. We find that the probability of consuming vitamin A-rich foods increases from 0.45 to 0.53 with an increase in tree cover from the median value of 8.8 to 16.8% (which is the tree cover level at which the predicted probability of consuming vitamin A-rich foods is the highest). Moreover, we observe that the effects of tree cover vary across poverty levels and ecoregions. The poor are more likely than the non-poor to consume vitamin A-rich foods at low levels of tree cover in the lowland forest-savanna ecoregions, whereas the difference between poor and non-poor is less pronounced in the Sahel-Sudan. These results highlight the importance of trees and forests in sustainable food system transformation, even in areas with sparse tree cover.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bowy den Braber
- Department of Geosciences and Natural Resource Management, University of Copenhagen, Øster Voldgade 10, 1350 Copenhagen K, Denmark
| | - Charlotte Hall
- Department of Geosciences and Natural Resource Management, University of Copenhagen, Øster Voldgade 10, 1350 Copenhagen K, Denmark
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Stirling, Stirling FK9 4LA, UK
| | - Martin Brandt
- Department of Geosciences and Natural Resource Management, University of Copenhagen, Øster Voldgade 10, 1350 Copenhagen K, Denmark
| | - Florian Reiner
- Department of Geosciences and Natural Resource Management, University of Copenhagen, Øster Voldgade 10, 1350 Copenhagen K, Denmark
| | - Maurice Mugabowindekwe
- Department of Geosciences and Natural Resource Management, University of Copenhagen, Øster Voldgade 10, 1350 Copenhagen K, Denmark
| | - Laura Vang Rasmussen
- Department of Geosciences and Natural Resource Management, University of Copenhagen, Øster Voldgade 10, 1350 Copenhagen K, Denmark
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Wyckhuys KAG, Hadi BAR. Institutional Context of Pest Management Science in the Global South. PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 12:4143. [PMID: 38140470 PMCID: PMC10747170 DOI: 10.3390/plants12244143] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2023] [Revised: 11/14/2023] [Accepted: 12/07/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023]
Abstract
The natural sciences are receiving increasing attention in the Global South. This timely development may help mitigate global change and quicken an envisioned food system transformation. Yet in order to resolve complex issues such as agrochemical pollution, science ideally proceeds along suitable trajectories within appropriate institutional contexts. Here, we employ a systematic literature review to map the nature of inquiry and institutional context of pest management science in 65 low- and middle-income countries published from 2010 to 2020. Despite large inter-country variability, any given country generates an average of 5.9 publications per annum (range 0-45.9) and individual nations such as Brazil, Kenya, Benin, Vietnam, and Turkey engage extensively in regional cooperation. International development partners are prominent scientific actors in West Africa but are commonly outpaced by national institutions and foreign academia in other regions. Transnational institutions such as the CGIAR represent a 1.4-fold higher share of studies on host plant resistance but lag in public interest science disciplines such as biological control. Despite high levels of scientific abstraction, research conducted jointly with development partners shows real yet marginal improvements in incorporating the multiple (social-ecological) layers of the farming system. Added emphasis on integrative system-level approaches and agroecological or biodiversity-driven measures can extend the reach of science to unlock transformative change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kris A. G. Wyckhuys
- Chrysalis Consulting, Danang 50000, Vietnam
- Institute for Plant Protection, China Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), Beijing 100193, China
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Queensland, Saint Lucia 4072, Australia
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Sacande M, Muir G. Restoring Food Systems with Nutritious Native Plants: Experiences from the African Drylands. Food Nutr Bull 2023; 44:S58-S68. [PMID: 37850924 DOI: 10.1177/03795721231190779] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Twenty-seven African countries have committed to restore more than 100 million hectares of degraded land by 2030 as part of the African Forest Landscape Restoration Initiative (AFR100). In addition, for the same period of time, the African-led Great Green Wall initiative seeks to restore 100 million hectares of degraded agro-sylvo-pastoral lands in the Sahel. The current UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration (2021-2030) moreover marks an unprecedented opportunity to shape future landscapes, and forge more biodiverse and nutritious food systems. Yet most large-scale restoration actions continue to be largely isolated from socioeconomic challenges facing dryland communities, not least food security and acute malnutrition. Such isolations contribute to low restoration successes and outcomes in Africa's drylands. At the same time, international interventions aimed at improving acute malnutrition in the drylands have not adequately considered the agriculture-nutrition linkages, particularly "pre-farm gate"-including consumption pathways which optimize the use of native plant diversity. OBJECTIVES This article identifies priority action areas emerging from experiences over 5 years of restoration activities carried out in the Sahel through Food and Agriculture Organization's (FAO) Action Against Desertification Programme supporting the implementation of Africa's Great Green Wall. These actions aim to inform development and humanitarian interventions on the ground to render restoration interventions nutrition-sensitive and hence more effective in practice. RESULTS Recognizing the symbiotic relationship between landscapes and livelihoods, FAO developed a blueprint for large-scale restoration that combines biophysical and socioeconomic aspects for the benefit of rural communities. The approach builds climate and nutritional resilience into its restoration interventions as a preventative approach to reverse land degradation and ultimately improve livelihoods, food security, and nutrition. CONCLUSIONS FAO's experience demonstrated that what is planted and when has the potential to not only significantly improve biodiversity and reverse land degradation, but also positively influence nutrition outcomes. Future interventions in the drylands must involve joint efforts between nutritionists and natural resource managem prove both human and planetary health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Moctar Sacande
- Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Rome, Lazio, Italy
| | - Giulia Muir
- Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Rome, Lazio, Italy
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Kindt R, Graudal L, Lillesø JPB, Pedercini F, Smith P, Jamnadass R. GlobalUsefulNativeTrees, a database documenting 14,014 tree species, supports synergies between biodiversity recovery and local livelihoods in landscape restoration. Sci Rep 2023; 13:12640. [PMID: 37537200 PMCID: PMC10400654 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-39552-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2023] [Accepted: 07/26/2023] [Indexed: 08/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Tree planting has the potential to improve the livelihoods of millions of people as well as to support environmental services such as biodiversity conservation. Planting however needs to be executed wisely if benefits are to be achieved. We have developed the GlobalUsefulNativeTrees (GlobUNT) database to directly support the principles advocated by the 'golden rules for reforestation', including planting tree mixtures that maximize the benefits to local livelihoods and the diversity of native trees. Developed primarily by combining data from GlobalTreeSearch with the World Checklist of Useful Plant Species (WCUPS), GlobUNT includes 14,014 tree species that can be filtered for ten major use categories, across 242 countries and territories. The 14,014 species represent roughly a quarter of the tree species from GlobalTreeSearch and a third of the plant species from WCUPS. GlobUNT includes over 8000 species used as materials (9261 species; 68.4% of the total in WCUPS for that use category) or medicines (8283; 31.1%), over 2000 species with environmental uses (3317; 36.9%), used as human food (3310; 47.0%) or fuel (2162; 85.5%), over 1000 species used as gene sources (1552; 29.8%), animal food (1494; 33.7%), social uses (1396; 53.8%) or poisons (1109; 36.8%), and 712 species (68.4%) as insect food.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roeland Kindt
- Trees and Forest Genetic Resources, and Biodiversity, World Agroforestry, CIFOR-ICRAF, Nairobi, Kenya.
| | - Lars Graudal
- Trees and Forest Genetic Resources, and Biodiversity, World Agroforestry, CIFOR-ICRAF, Nairobi, Kenya
- Department of Geosciences and Natural Resource Management, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Jens-Peter B Lillesø
- Department of Geosciences and Natural Resource Management, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Fabio Pedercini
- Department of Geosciences and Natural Resource Management, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Paul Smith
- Botanic Gardens Conservation International, Richmond, UK
| | - Ramni Jamnadass
- Trees and Forest Genetic Resources, and Biodiversity, World Agroforestry, CIFOR-ICRAF, Nairobi, Kenya
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Sunderland T. Wild foods' role in human diets. NATURE FOOD 2023:10.1038/s43016-023-00776-z. [PMID: 37349563 DOI: 10.1038/s43016-023-00776-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/24/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Terry Sunderland
- Department of Forest and Conservation Sciences, Faculty of Forestry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
- Centre for International Forestry Research, Bogor, Indonesia.
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Stadlmayr B, Trübswasser U, McMullin S, Karanja A, Wurzinger M, Hundscheid L, Riefler P, Lemke S, Brouwer ID, Sommer I. Factors affecting fruit and vegetable consumption and purchase behavior of adults in sub-Saharan Africa: A rapid review. Front Nutr 2023; 10:1113013. [PMID: 37113298 PMCID: PMC10126510 DOI: 10.3389/fnut.2023.1113013] [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: 11/30/2022] [Accepted: 03/22/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023] Open
Abstract
In order to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, considerable dietary shifts, including an increase in the consumption of fruit and vegetables (FV) will be required. However, worldwide consumption of FV is far below international recommendations, including in many low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), particularly in Africa. Understanding what, where, when, and how people choose to eat requires an understanding of how individuals are influenced by factors in their social, physical, and macro-level environments. In order to develop effective interventions to increase fruit and vegetable consumption, the factors influencing consumer behavior need to be better understood. We conducted a rapid review to assess and synthesize data on individual, social, physical, and macro-level factors that enable or constrain fruit and vegetable consumption and purchase among adults living in sub-Saharan Africa. Our conceptual framework is based on a socio-ecological model which has been adapted to settings in LMICs and Africa. We systematically searched four electronic databases including Scopus, Medline (PubMed), PsycInfo, and African Index Medicus, and screened Google Scholar for gray literature. We included a total of 52 studies and narratively summarized the existing evidence for each identified factor across the different levels. We found that most studies assessed demographic factors at the individual level including household or family income, socio-economic status and education. Furthermore we identified a variety of important factors that influence FV consumption, in the social, physical, and macro environment. These include women's empowerment and gender inequalities, the influence of neighborhood and retail food environment such as distance to market and price of FV as well as the importance of natural landscapes including forest areas for FV consumption. This review identified the need to develop and improve indicators both for exposure and outcome variables but also to diversify research approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barbara Stadlmayr
- Institute for Development Research, Department of Sustainable Agricultural Systems, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria
- World Agroforestry (ICRAF), Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Ursula Trübswasser
- Division of Human Nutrition and Health, Wageningen University, Wageningen, Netherlands
| | | | | | - Maria Wurzinger
- Institute for Development Research, Department of Sustainable Agricultural Systems, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria
| | - Laura Hundscheid
- Institute for Development Research, Department of Sustainable Agricultural Systems, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria
| | - Petra Riefler
- Institute for Marketing and Innovation, Department of Economics and Social Science, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria
| | - Stefanie Lemke
- Institute for Development Research, Department of Sustainable Agricultural Systems, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria
- Center for Agroecology, Water and Resilience, Coventry University, Coventry, United Kingdom
| | - Inge D. Brouwer
- Division of Human Nutrition and Health/CGIAR Initiative Sustainable Healthy Diets (SHiFT), Wageningen University, Wageningen, Netherlands
| | - Isolde Sommer
- Department for Evidence-Based Medicine and Evaluation, University for Continuing Education, Krems, Austria
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van Zonneveld M, Kindt R, McMullin S, Achigan-Dako EG, N’Danikou S, Hsieh WH, Lin YR, Dawson IK. Forgotten food crops in sub-Saharan Africa for healthy diets in a changing climate. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2023; 120:e2205794120. [PMID: 36972432 PMCID: PMC10083591 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2205794120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2022] [Accepted: 01/31/2023] [Indexed: 03/29/2023] Open
Abstract
As climate changes in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), Africa's "forgotten" food crops offer a wide range of options to diversify major staple production as a key measure toward achieving zero hunger and healthy diets. So far, however, these forgotten food crops have been neglected in SSA's climate-change adaptation strategies. Here, we quantified their capacity to adapt cropping systems of SSA's major staples of maize, rice, cassava, and yams to changing climates for the four subregions of West, Central, East, and Southern Africa. We used climate-niche modeling to explore their potential for crop diversification or the replacement of these major staples by 2070, and assessed the possible effects on micronutrient supply. Our results indicated that approximately 10% of the present production locations of these four major staples in SSA may experience novel climate conditions in 2070, ranging from a high of almost 18% in West Africa to a low of less than 1% in Southern Africa. From an initial candidate panel of 138 African forgotten food crops embracing leafy vegetables, other vegetables, fruits, cereals, pulses, seeds and nuts, and roots and tubers, we selected those that contributed most to covering projected future and contemporary climate conditions of the major staples' production locations. A prioritized shortlist of 58 forgotten food crops, able to complement each other in micronutrient provision, was determined, which covered over 95% of assessed production locations. The integration of these prioritized forgotten food crops in SSA's cropping systems will support the "double-win" of more climate-resilient and nutrient-sensitive food production in the region.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Roeland Kindt
- Trees Research Theme, World Agroforestry, CIFOR-ICRAF, Nairobi, 00100, Kenya
| | - Stepha McMullin
- Trees Research Theme, World Agroforestry, CIFOR-ICRAF, Nairobi, 00100, Kenya
| | - Enoch G. Achigan-Dako
- Unit of Genetics, Biotechnology and Seed Sciences, Faculty of Agronomic Sciences, University of Abomey-Calavi01 BP 526, Cotonou, Republic of Benin
| | - Sognigbé N’Danikou
- World Vegetable Center, Eastern and Southern Africa, Duluti, Arusha, Tanzania
| | - Wei-hsun Hsieh
- Department of Agronomy, National Taiwan University, Taipei10617, Taiwan
| | - Yann-rong Lin
- World Vegetable Center, Headquarters, Shanhua, Tainan74151, Taiwan
- Department of Agronomy, National Taiwan University, Taipei10617, Taiwan
| | - Ian K. Dawson
- Trees Research Theme, World Agroforestry, CIFOR-ICRAF, Nairobi, 00100, Kenya
- Principal’s Research Group, Scotland’s Rural College, Edinburgh, EH9 3JG, UK
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