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Olesen RS, Reiner F, den Braber B, Hall C, Kilawe CJ, Kinabo J, Msuya J, Rasmussen LV. The importance of different forest management systems for people's dietary quality in Tanzania. LANDSCAPE ECOLOGY 2024; 39:176. [PMID: 39279919 PMCID: PMC11390844 DOI: 10.1007/s10980-024-01961-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2024] [Accepted: 08/11/2024] [Indexed: 09/18/2024]
Abstract
Context A large body of literature has shown that forests provide nutritious foods in many low- and middle-income countries. Yet, there is limited evidence on the contributions from different types of forest and tree systems. Objectives Here, we focus on individual trees and smaller forest patches outside established forest reserves as well as different forest management systems. Methods We do so by combining novel high-resolution data on tree cover with 24-h dietary recall surveys from 465 women in Tanzania. Results We show that people with more unclassified tree cover (i.e., individual trees and small forest patches) in their nearby surroundings have more adequate protein, iron, zinc, and vitamin A intakes. We also find that having a nearby forest under Participatory Forest Management (PFM) system is associated with higher adequacy levels of energy, iron, zinc and vitamin A. By contrast, tree cover within other types of forest (e.g., Government Forest Reserves and Government Forest Plantations) is not positively associated with people's dietary quality. Conclusions Our key finding is that having individual trees, smaller forest patches and/or forest under PFM in close proximity is more beneficial for people's diets than other types of established forests. Our results highlight the nutritional importance of trees outside established forests and question the often-assumed benefits of forests if these are made inaccessible by social barriers (e.g., legislation). Finally, our results emphasize the need to distinguish between different forest management systems when studying forest-diet linkages. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s10980-024-01961-6.
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Affiliation(s)
- R S Olesen
- Department of Geosciences and Natural Resource Management, University of Copenhagen, Øster Voldgade 10, 1350 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - F Reiner
- Department of Geosciences and Natural Resource Management, University of Copenhagen, Øster Voldgade 10, 1350 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - B den Braber
- Department of Geosciences and Natural Resource Management, University of Copenhagen, Øster Voldgade 10, 1350 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - C Hall
- Department of Geosciences and Natural Resource Management, University of Copenhagen, Øster Voldgade 10, 1350 Copenhagen, Denmark
- Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Stirling, Stirling, FK9 4LA UK
| | - C J Kilawe
- Department of Ecosystems and Conservation, Sokoine University of Agriculture, Morogoro, Tanzania
| | - J Kinabo
- Department of Human Nutrition and Consumer Sciences, Sokoine University of Agriculture, Morogoro, Tanzania
| | - J Msuya
- Department of Human Nutrition and Consumer Sciences, Sokoine University of Agriculture, Morogoro, Tanzania
| | - L V Rasmussen
- Department of Geosciences and Natural Resource Management, University of Copenhagen, Øster Voldgade 10, 1350 Copenhagen, Denmark
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Ferreira SRG, Macotela Y, Velloso LA, Mori MA. Determinants of obesity in Latin America. Nat Metab 2024; 6:409-432. [PMID: 38438626 DOI: 10.1038/s42255-024-00977-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2023] [Accepted: 01/04/2024] [Indexed: 03/06/2024]
Abstract
Obesity rates are increasing almost everywhere in the world, although the pace and timing for this increase differ when populations from developed and developing countries are compared. The sharp and more recent increase in obesity rates in many Latin American countries is an example of that and results from regional characteristics that emerge from interactions between multiple factors. Aware of the complexity of enumerating these factors, we highlight eight main determinants (the physical environment, food exposure, economic and political interest, social inequity, limited access to scientific knowledge, culture, contextual behaviour and genetics) and discuss how they impact obesity rates in Latin American countries. We propose that initiatives aimed at understanding obesity and hampering obesity growth in Latin America should involve multidisciplinary, global approaches that consider these determinants to build more effective public policy and strategies, accounting for regional differences and disease complexity at the individual and systemic levels.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Yazmín Macotela
- Instituto de Neurobiología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, UNAM Campus-Juriquilla, Querétaro, Mexico
| | - Licio A Velloso
- Obesity and Comorbidities Research Center, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, Brazil
| | - Marcelo A Mori
- Institute of Biology, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, Brazil.
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Mgalula ME. An ethnobotanical study of wild edible fruits in miombo woodlands of Tabora region in Western Tanzania. JOURNAL OF ETHNOBIOLOGY AND ETHNOMEDICINE 2024; 20:23. [PMID: 38403583 PMCID: PMC10895781 DOI: 10.1186/s13002-024-00668-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2023] [Accepted: 02/21/2024] [Indexed: 02/27/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Wild edible fruits found in Tanzania's miombo woods are an indispensable source of food and medicine. Unfortunately, with the rapid expansion of human activities and urbanisation in the Tabora rural, Uyui and Sikonge districts of Western Tanzania, some wild fruits are disappearing due to the loss of plant diversity. The objectives of this study wereL: to document the knowledge related to wild edible fruits; to quantify the use and cultural significance, and to determine their threats. METHODS The ethnobotanical study was conducted from June 2022 to February 2023 involving 244 local informants. The study used field visits, the collection of plant parts, and semi-structured interviews with locals for its data collection. Descriptive statistics and correlation test were used to analyse the knowledge related to wild fruits. Frequency citation (f) and use reports (UR) were computed to understand the diversity and cultural significance (CI). RESULTS The study documented 27 wild edible fruit species used for food and medicine. The life form constituted deciduous shrubs or trees (64%), shrub trees (21%) and evergreen or deciduous trees (15%). About (56%) of wild edible fruits were collected from June to August after the rainy season, (33%) were harvested between December and May during the rainy season, and (11%) were gathered from September and November before the rainy season. Household size and sex of the respondents were significantly correlated to the knowledge of wild edible fruits. Higher utilisation frequency (f) was recorded for Vitex mombassae Vatke (f = 0.84), Strychnos spinosa Lam. (f = 0.82), Vitex payos (Lour.) Merr. (f = 0.56), Phyllogeiton discolor (Klotzsch) Herzog. (f = 0.45), Vangueria infausta Burchell (f = 0.45), Tamarindus indica L. (f = 0.38), Parinari curatellifolia (f = 0.25), Landolphia parvifolia K.Schum. (f = 0.22) and Microcos conocarpa Burret (f = 0.22) fruits species. Additionally, Phyllogeiton discolor (Klotzsch) Herzog. (UR = 56), Vitex mombassae Vatke (UR = 56), Tamarindus indica L. (UR = 37), Strychnos spinosa Lam. (UR = 14) and Friesodielsia obovata (Benth.) Verdc. (UR = 11), have higher use reports (UR) and considered culturally important. Wild fruits were used to cure diabetes, gastrointestinal, reproductive, and respiratory infections ailments. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION Multiple uses as well as the related knowledge of wild fruits have been documented. Friesodielsia obovata, Grewia flavescens Juss and Thespesia garckeana F.Hoffm. are the medicinal fruit species reported for the first time. Harvesting of wood plants, charcoal activities, crop cultivation, grazing expansion, and environmental change, have had an impact on the diversity of wild edible fruit plants. Over the past three decades, the use of wild fruits has been impacted by the loss of plant diversity due to decline of cultural norms on the forests management. Given the variety of uses for wild fruits, promoting markets for native fruits, sensitising the locals about the cultural importance and innovation on processing techniques are necessary to spur conservation efforts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Elias Mgalula
- Mkwawa University College of Education, University of Dar es Salaam, Post Office Box 2513, Iringa, Tanzania.
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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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Rodrigues LDAP, Nunes DDG, Hodel KVS, Viana JD, Silva EP, Soares MBP. Exotic fruits patents trends: An overview based on technological prospection with a focus on Amazonian. Heliyon 2023; 9:e22060. [PMID: 38046170 PMCID: PMC10686867 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e22060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2023] [Revised: 11/01/2023] [Accepted: 11/03/2023] [Indexed: 12/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The Amazon rainforest encompasses one of the largest biodiversities of the world and is home to a wide variety of food and therapeutic plants. Due to the diversity of components, the fruits of the Amazon biome possess essential physicochemical, nutritional, and pharmacological properties, strengthening the idea that fruit consumption may provide benefits to human health. Thus, the objective of this study was to investigate the current scenario of the use of Amazonian fruits on the development of food, pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, or cosmetic products through the study of filed patents. A prospecting strategy conducted focusing on patents was used to investigate the application of the following fruits: Euterpe oleracea, Oenocarpus bacaba, Caryocar brasiliense, Garcinia gardneriana, Nephelium lappaceum, and Astrocaryum vulgare. A total of 264 patent documents were found. In 2016, a peak of 33 applications was reached, followed by a peak in 2019 with 32 applications. The study is distributed in three main application areas: cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and food. The Asian continent was the region with the world leadership in this theme, followed by Brazil. Thus, technological prospection studies can foster investments in translational research to elucidate the effects and properties of Amazonian fruits, which can generate sustainable development of new products with industrial potential.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Danielle Devequi Gomes Nunes
- SENAI Institute of Innovation (ISI) in Health Advanced Systems (CIMATEC ISI SAS), SENAI CIMATEC University Center, Salvador 41650-010, Brazil
- Gonçalo Moniz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (FIOCRUZ), Salvador 40296-710, Brazil
| | - Katharine Valéria Saraiva Hodel
- SENAI Institute of Innovation (ISI) in Health Advanced Systems (CIMATEC ISI SAS), SENAI CIMATEC University Center, Salvador 41650-010, Brazil
| | - Josiane Dantas Viana
- SENAI Institute of Innovation (ISI) in Health Advanced Systems (CIMATEC ISI SAS), SENAI CIMATEC University Center, Salvador 41650-010, Brazil
| | - Edson Pablo Silva
- Centro de Biotecnologia da Amazônia – CBA/SUFRAMA – Avenida Governador Danilo de Matos Aerosa, Distrito Industrial, Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil
| | - Milena Botelho Pereira Soares
- SENAI Institute of Innovation (ISI) in Health Advanced Systems (CIMATEC ISI SAS), SENAI CIMATEC University Center, Salvador 41650-010, Brazil
- Gonçalo Moniz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (FIOCRUZ), Salvador 40296-710, Brazil
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Wild foods contribute to dietary diversity among women in India. NATURE FOOD 2023:10.1038/s43016-023-00767-0. [PMID: 37349565 DOI: 10.1038/s43016-023-00767-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/24/2023]
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Cheek JZ, Lambrecht NJ, den Braber B, Akanchha N, Govindarajulu D, Jones AD, Chhatre A, Rasmussen LV. Wild foods contribute to women's higher dietary diversity in India. NATURE FOOD 2023:10.1038/s43016-023-00766-1. [PMID: 37349564 DOI: 10.1038/s43016-023-00766-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2022] [Accepted: 05/09/2023] [Indexed: 06/24/2023]
Abstract
Wild foods, from forests and common lands, can contribute to food and nutrition security. Most previous studies have established correlations between wild food consumption and children's dietary diversity in Africa, but other groups and geographic contexts remain understudied. Here a rigorous quasi-experimental method was combined with monthly interval data to assess the contribution of wild foods to women's diets. We collected 24 h diet recall data monthly, from November 2016 to November 2017, from 570 households in East India. We found that wild foods contributed positively to diets, especially in June and July (when consumption of wild foods was highest). Women who consumed wild foods had higher average dietary diversity scores (13% and 9% higher in June and July, respectively) and were more likely to consume nutrient-dense, dark-green leafy vegetables than those who did not. Our results underscore the importance of policies that increase knowledge of wild foods and protect people's rights to access forests and other common lands for improved nutrition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer Zavaleta Cheek
- South Dakota State University, Department of Natural Resources, Brookings, SD, USA.
- University of Michigan, School for Environment and Sustainability, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
| | - Nathalie J Lambrecht
- Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Institute of Public Health, Berlin, Germany
- Research Department 2, Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK), Member of the Leibniz Association, Potsdam, Germany
| | - Bowy den Braber
- Department of Geosciences and Natural Resource Management, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | | | | | - Andrew D Jones
- Department of Nutritional Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | | | - Laura Vang Rasmussen
- Department of Geosciences and Natural Resource Management, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
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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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Ortiz AMD, Chua PLC, Salvador D, Dyngeland C, Albao JDG, Abesamis RA. Impacts of tropical cyclones on food security, health and biodiversity. Bull World Health Organ 2023; 101:152-154. [PMID: 36733624 PMCID: PMC9874376 DOI: 10.2471/blt.22.288838] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2022] [Revised: 10/24/2022] [Accepted: 11/01/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Monica D Ortiz
- Instituto de Ecología y Biodiversidad, Universidad de Concepción, Victoria 631, Barrio Universitario, Concepción4070374, Chile
| | - Paul L C Chua
- Department of Global Health Policy, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Dante Salvador
- Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Cecilie Dyngeland
- Department of Agricultural Sciences, Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences, Blæstad, Norway
| | - Jose Dante G Albao
- Philippine Reef and Rainforest Conservation Foundation Inc., Cauayan, Philippines
| | - Rene A Abesamis
- Silliman University-Angelo King Center for Research and Environmental Management, Dumaguete City, Philippines
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