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Tulloch AIT, Borthwick F, Bogueva D, Eltholth M, Grech A, Edgar D, Boylan S, McNeill G. How the EAT-Lancet Commission on food in the Anthropocene influenced discourse and research on food systems: a systematic review covering the first 2 years post-publication. Lancet Glob Health 2023; 11:e1125-e1136. [PMID: 37349038 DOI: 10.1016/s2214-109x(23)00212-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2022] [Revised: 03/29/2023] [Accepted: 04/20/2023] [Indexed: 06/24/2023]
Abstract
In 2019, the EAT-Lancet Commission's report on food in the Anthropocene presented a planetary heath diet to improve health while reducing the environmental effect of food systems globally. We assessed EAT-Lancet's immediate influence on academic research and debate by conducting a systematic review of articles citing the Commission and others published from January, 2019, to April, 2021. The Commission influenced methods, results, or discourse for 192 (7·5%) of 2560 citing articles, stimulating cross-disciplinary research and debate across life sciences (47%), health and medical sciences (42%), and social sciences (11%). Sentiment analysis of 76 critiquing articles indicated that opinions were, on average, more positive than negative. Positive sentiments centred on benefits for informing policy, public health, and raising public awareness. Negative sentiments included insufficient attention to socioeconomic dimensions, feasibility, and environmental effects other than emissions. Empirical articles predominantly evaluated the effects of changed diets or food production on the environment and wellbeing (29%), compared current diets with EAT-Lancet recommendations (12%), or informed future policy and research agendas (20%). Despite limitations in EAT-Lancet's method, scope, and implementation feasibility, the academic community supported these recommendations. A broad suite of research needs was identified focusing on the effects of food processing, socioeconomic and political drivers of diet and health, and optimising consumption or production for environment and health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ayesha I T Tulloch
- School of Biology and Environmental Science and Centre for Agriculture and the Bioeconomy, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia; School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, Australia.
| | - Fiona Borthwick
- Global Academy of Agriculture and Food Systems, The Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Diana Bogueva
- Centre for Advanced Food Engineering, University of Sydney, NSW, Australia; Curtin University Sustainability Policy Institute, Curtin University, Bentley, WA, Australia
| | - Mahmoud Eltholth
- Global Academy of Agriculture and Food Systems, The Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK; Hygiene and Preventive Medicine Department, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kafrelsheikh University, Kafr El- Sheikh, Egypt; Department of Health Studies, Royal Holloway University of London, London, UK
| | - Amanda Grech
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, Australia; Charles Perkins Centre, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, Australia
| | - Dylan Edgar
- Global Academy of Agriculture and Food Systems, The Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Sinead Boylan
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, Australia; Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Geraldine McNeill
- Global Academy of Agriculture and Food Systems, The Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
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Shembe P, Ngobese N, Siwela M, Kolanisi U. The potential repositioning of South African underutilised plants for food and nutrition security: A scoping review. Heliyon 2023; 9:e17232. [PMID: 37360088 PMCID: PMC10285247 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e17232] [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: 05/17/2022] [Revised: 06/01/2023] [Accepted: 06/12/2023] [Indexed: 06/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Background In South Africa (SA), there is a reported shift from the consumption of grains, pulses, fruits and vegetables by most households to the consumption of easily accessible, high-energy, ultra-processed foods. Despite their high nutritional value and affordability, indigenous, local, traditional wild and domesticated plant foods abundant in SA are still neglected and less consumed than conventional and exotic foods. Objectives The purpose of this study is to undertake a scoping/mapping review to evaluate the potential role of underutilised local, indigenous and traditional plant species in addressing (through improving food and nutrition security) the adverse effects of the nutrition transition, which involves increased use of ultra-processed foods, on the health and nutritional status of current households in SA as well as preventing the same adverse affecting future generations. Design Online databases were used to identify literature published between 2000 and 2022.A total of 88 articles, books, book chapters and literature materials were selected using the Google Scholar search engine, where literature from Sub-Saharan Africa and global that used food and nutrition security, as well as underutilised and indigenous plant species. Results and conclusion Evaluation of the gathered literature revealed that the "food security" concept had been measured based on the available quantity of food. In contrast, the quality of food is severely neglected. The literature indicated a strong link between the "food environment" concept, ultra-processed foods and nutrition transition. The shift, especially by the youth, from consuming underutilised plant foods to ultra-processed foods has left older people to be the only consumers of underutilised plant foods. Monotonous preparation, the unavailability of nutritive local traditional and indigenous plant foods at supermarkets and the unappealing packaging methods of such foods were some contributors to the limited or no consumption-these challenges need to be addressed.
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Affiliation(s)
- P.S. Shembe
- School of Agricultural, Earth & Environmental Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Scottsville, Pietermaritzburg, 3201, South Africa
| | - N.Z. Ngobese
- School of Geo and Spatial Sciences, Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa
| | - M. Siwela
- School of Agricultural, Earth & Environmental Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Scottsville, Pietermaritzburg, 3201, South Africa
| | - U. Kolanisi
- Department of Consumer Sciences, University of Zululand, P/Bag X1001, KwaDlangezwa, South Africa
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Gall B, Wang H, Dira SJ, Helfrecht C. Effects of Family Demographics and Household Economics on Sidama Children's Nutritional Status. HUMAN NATURE (HAWTHORNE, N.Y.) 2022; 33:304-328. [PMID: 36370328 DOI: 10.1007/s12110-022-09432-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/14/2022]
Abstract
Weight- (WAZ), height- (HAZ), and BMI-for-age (BMIZ) are frequently used to assess malnutrition among children. These measures represent different categories of risk and are usually hypothesized to be affected by distinct factors, despite their inherent relatedness. Life history theory suggests weight should be sacrificed before height, indicating a demonstrable relationship among them. Here we evaluate impact of family composition and household economics on these measures of nutritional status and explore the role of WAZ as a factor in HAZ. Anthropometrics, family demographics, and measures of household economy were collected from Sidama agropastoralist children in a peri-urban village in southwestern Ethiopia (n = 157; 79 girls). Just over half of the sample (50.9%) had z-scores of - 2SD or below on at least one measure, indicating an elevated risk of morbidity/mortality; 30% were at or below - 2SD on two or more measures. We used hierarchical linear regression with random intercept analysis to model WAZ and HAZ. Siblings and crop sales significantly decrease WAZ while electricity, agriculture, and polygyny improve z-scores; however, an interaction between polygyny and siblings indicates negative effects of siblings in polygynous families and positive effects in nonpolygynous ones (adj. R2 = 66.5%). For HAZ, agriculture and electricity are positively associated with z-scores whereas siblings have a negative effect; the interaction term again indicates that effects of siblings vary in polygynous and nonpolygynous families (adj. R2 = 74.2%). A mediation model exploring the role of weight in height outcomes suggests not only that WAZ has direct effects on HAZ but also that effects of electricity and agriculture on HAZ are partially mediated by WAZ. Our findings indicate that WAZ and HAZ are primarily affected by shared variables, but effects of siblings vary by polygyny status. Long-term outcomes (HAZ) among Sidama children would likely benefit from interventions focused on stabilizing WAZ across family members.
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Affiliation(s)
- Baili Gall
- Department of Anthropology, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL, USA
| | - Hui Wang
- University of Alabama, Institute for Rural Health Research, Tuscaloosa, AL, USA
| | - Samuel J Dira
- Department of Anthropology, Hawassa University, Hawassa, Ethiopia
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Vansant EC, Mausch K, Ickowitz A, McMullin S, Karanja A, Rasmussen LV. What are the links between tree‐based farming and dietary quality for rural households? A review of emerging evidence in low‐ and middle‐income countries. PEOPLE AND NATURE 2022. [DOI: 10.1002/pan3.10306] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Emilie C. Vansant
- Department of Geosciences and Natural Resource Management University of Copenhagen Copenhagen Denmark
| | - Kai Mausch
- World Agroforestry (ICRAF) Nairobi Kenya
| | - Amy Ickowitz
- Center for International Forestry Research Bogor Indonesia
| | | | | | - Laura Vang Rasmussen
- Department of Geosciences and Natural Resource Management University of Copenhagen Copenhagen Denmark
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What Determines Indigenous Chepang Farmers’ Swidden Land-Use Decisions in the Central Hill Districts of Nepal? SUSTAINABILITY 2020. [DOI: 10.3390/su12135326] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Swidden or shifting cultivation is a widespread yet controversial land-use in the tropical forest–agriculture frontier. In recent years, the extent of land under swidden and the people who rely on it for subsistence and income have declined. We report swidden land-use changes in two central hill districts of Nepal by indigenous Chepang communities—a stronghold of swidden cultivation in mountainous Nepal. Despite a common trend of swidden decline, as in other parts of South and Southeast Asia, we found that swidden is important in the life and livelihoods of smallholder rural Chepang farmers in the area. Swidden cultivation was found to be more important to farmers with limited off-farm opportunities and in areas where alternative land-uses were scarce. We discuss biophysical, socio-economic, institutional, and other key drivers affecting farmers’ decision to shift away from or continue with swidden in the area. Using linear mixed effect models, we also examined households’ attributes that may expedite swidden decisions in the area. Our study recommends greater access to alternative land-use(s) and other income-generating options for the wellbeing of smallholder indigenous Chepang farmers, as well as the sustainability of this age-old land-use practice.
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