Comprehensive Environmental Assessment of Potato as Staple Food Policy in China

Plastic film mulching application improves potato yields, reduces ammonia emissions, but boosts the greenhouse gas emissions in China

With global population growth and climate change, food security and global warming have emerged as two major challenges to agricultural development. Plastic film mulching (PM) has long been used to improve yields in rain-fed agricultural systems, but few studies have focused on soil gas emissions from mulched rainfed potatoes on a long-term and regional scale. This study integrated field data with the Denitrification-Decomposition (DNDC) model to evaluate the impacts of PM on potato yields, greenhouse gas (GHG) and ammonia (NH3) emissions in rainfed agricultural systems in China. We found that PM increased potato yield by 39.7 % (1505 kg ha-1), carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions by 15.4 % (123 kg CO2 eq ha-1), nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions by 47.8 % (1016 kg CO2 eq ha-1), and global warming potential (GWP) by 38.9 % (1030 kg CO2 eq ha-1), while NH3 volatilization decreased by 33.9 % (8.4 kg NH3 ha-1), and methane (CH4) emissions were little changed compared to CK. Specifically, the yield after PM significantly increased in South China (SC), North China (NC), and Northwest China (NWC), with increases of 66.1 % (2429 kg ha-1), 44.1 % (1173 kg ha-1), and 43.6 % (956 kg ha-1) compared to CK, respectively. The increase in GWP and greenhouse gas emission intensity (GHGI) under PM was more pronounced in the Northeast China (NEC) and NWC regions, with respective increases of 57.1 % and 60.2 % in GWP, 16.9 % and 10.3 % in GHGI. While in the Middle and Lower reaches of the Yangtze River (MLYR) and SC, PM decreased GHGI with 10.2 % and 31.1 %, respectively. PM significantly reduced NH3 emissions in all regions and these reductions were most significant in Southwest China (SWC), SCand MLYR, which were 41 %, 38.0 %, and 38.0 % lower than CK, respectively. In addition, climatic and edaphic variables were the main contributors to GHG and NH3 emissions. In conclusion, it is appropriate to promote the use of PM in the MLYR and SC regions, because of the ability to increase yields while reducing environmental impacts (lower GHGI and NH3 emissions). The findings provide a theoretical basis for sustainable agricultural production of PM potatoes.

Climate-smart planting for potato to balance economic return and environmental impact across China

Potato production plays an important role in safeguarding food security in China since the central government implemented the 'Potato-as-Staple-Food' policy in 2015. However, a key challenge facing China's potato production is to realize a tradeoff between economic return and environmental impact. Effective strategies for reducing carbon emission without compromising potato yield remain to be developed. This study conducted a comprehensive assessment by integrating climate, soil, crop, and agricultural input data, crop model and life cycle impact assessment model to quantify potato yields, GHG emission amounts and intensities (GHGI), and economic benefits under the conventional planting pattern (CPP), the lowest GHG emission pattern (LEP), and the highest yield pattern (HYP) across China's potato planting regions including four sub-regions, i.e., North Single planting region (NS), Central Double planting region (CD), South Winter planting region (SW), and Southwest Mixed planting region (SWM). Averaged fresh potato yield, GHG emission amount, and GHGI under the CPP were 21.7 t ha^-1, 2815.1 kg CO₂eq ha^-1, and 137.3 kg CO₂eq t^-1, respectively, in China's potato planting region. Compared with the CPP, averaged GHG emission amount and GHGI under the LEP could be decreased by 48.2 % and 51.5 % respectively while the fresh potato yield and economic benefit could be enhanced by 8.1 % and 18.5 %, respectively. For the HYP, averaged GHG emission amount and GHGI could be decreased by 24.2 % and 39.8 % respectively while the fresh potato yield and economic benefit could be enhanced by 18.7 % and 39.6 %, respectively, compared with the CPP. Across the four potato planting regions, SW had the largest potential in reducing GHG emissions owing to a high reduction amount of nitrogen application rate. Our study demonstrates that optimizing agronomic management could reduce environmental impact without compromising economic benefit and provides a scientific method for assessing crop potential to realize the climate-smart planting.

The effect of steamed potato-wheat bread intake on weight, lipids, glucose, and urinary Na+/K+: A randomized controlled trial in Chinese adults

Steamed potato bread has received much attention from nutritionists and agriculturalists since it became a staple food of China in 2015. Epidemiological studies have indicated that potatoes may cause diabetes and hypertension, but few trials have evaluated this effect. Through a clinical trial, we evaluated the effect of steamed potato bread intake on adults. In total, 49 and 30 individuals were assigned to the intervention and control groups, respectively. Potato-wheat bread (raw wheat flour and cooked potato flour in the ratio 3:7) and steamed wheat bread (100% raw wheat flour) were provided to the intervention and control groups, respectively, once a day for 4 weeks. Compared with the control group, the intervention group showed significant net changes in weight (−0.6 kg; 95% confidence interval [CI]: −1.2, −0.1; p = 0.016), body mass index (BMI, −0.2 kg/m²; 95% CI: −0.4, −0.1; p = 0.020), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c, −0.22 mmol/L; 95% CI: −0.49, −0.01; p = 0.035), and the urinary level of Na⁺/K⁺ (−2.4; 95% CI: −4.1, −0.7; p = 0.007). In conclusion, the steamed potato-wheat bread intake for 4 weeks resulted in decreases in weight, BMI, LDL-c, and the urinary Na⁺/K⁺ level among Chinese adults.

Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice of Weaning among Mothers in Najran Region, Saudi Arabia, 2021

Background

Weaning is a complex process of a gradual introduction of complementary foods to the infant's diet. It is recommended that solid food is introduced between 6 and 12 months of age. Weaning is difficult and potentially dangerous time for infants' growth and mother's education is an established determinant of its success. Little is known about weaning attitudes or practice among mothers in Najran Region of Saudi Arabia.

Method

The study is a cross-sectional questionnaire-based observational investigation using random sampling scheme. We utilized ordinal logistic regression modelling to evaluate the relationship between demographic variables and knowledge level among mothers.

Results

The total number included was n = 385 mothers who agreed to take part in the study. Good satisfactory knowledge rate was n = 135, 35.1%. Knowledge was mostly sought from other mothers (n = 102, 26.5%), followed by reliance on their own experience (n = 82, 21.3%). Seeking doctors' advice was associated with better knowledge levels. Worse adjusted knowledge scores were associated with bottle feeding (OR = 0.5383, p=0.0137), using cerelac preparations (OR = 0.0316, p=0.0092), development of weaning symptoms (OR = 0.5869, p=0.0260), seeking other mothers' advice (OR = 0.4750, p=0.0226), and feeding babies under 4 times daily (OR = 0.2742, p=0.0008). Mother education did not have significant impact on knowledge scores. Discussion. We confirmed, in this work, that knowledge levels were alarmingly unsatisfactory about weaning among our participants. Women were likely following local customs in terms of their choice of weaning methods even among the well-educated. The association between seeking doctors' advice and better knowledge should be utilized in future educational interventions. Underfeeding babies of below 4 times daily was correlated substantially with poorer knowledge score. This could be viewed as reverse causality, as clearly more knowledgeable mothers are expected to stick to optimum feeding frequency. Recommendations. Communication channels between physicians and mothers need to be opened and widened through focused educational programmes. Poor knowledge is clearly associated with infant underfeeding and difficulties in recognizing weaning symptoms. Such points need to be emphasized in design of health education packages to nursing mothers. Research on knowledge about weaning should focus on its association with traditional weaning methods and bottle feeding.

A policy construction for sustainable rice food sovereignty in Indonesia

As an agricultural country with large natural resources, Indonesia still has considerable problems in managing food security. This is evidenced by the lack of agricultural land and human resources that can support people's food needs so that the government still imports food from other countries. These issues as; it are feared that population growth and high food consumption power, social exclusion (marginalization of agricultural laborers and agricultural land) will cause food security vulnerability in the future. This Mixed method quantitative and qualitative method by statistical and in-depth interview study involving 169 respondents from many stakeholders such as politicians, academicians, farmers, and students to determine policy construction for sustainable rice food sovereignty in Indonesia. The statistical study shows the rice consumption in Indonesia is correlated to education than the age and gender of the respondents. The study indicating problems such as; the welfare of farmers, the application of price limits for staple goods, and improving the quality of agriculture both natural resources, human resources and the provision of agricultural equipment assistance have not been resolved properly. To build food security, it should be balanced with the application of the concept of food sovereignty which is realized by aligning and maximizing competence between political resources, environmental resources capacity, and environmental diplomacy.

Spatio-temporal dynamics of nitrogen use efficiencies in the Chinese food system, 1990-2017

Understanding the influence factors of nitrogen (N) use efficiencies (NUEs) in different stages of the food system at the provincial scale is critical to achieving cleaner food production while ensuring food security. Nevertheless, they are not well understood. Here we comprehensively analyzed NUE and its influence factors at different stages of the provincial food system. The results showed that per unit agricultural land N input increased by 5-92% in 27 provinces, during 1990-2010, resulting in a low NUE for the crop system when N input per unit agricultural land exceeded about 400 kg N ha^-1. This situation has brought some positive changes, as N input decreased by 3-271 kg N ha^-1 in 77% of the provinces in 2017, relative to that of 2010, but 10 provinces were still over 450 kg N ha^-1 in 2017. Animal food production is expected to continue to expand because 35% and 68% of provinces' urban and rural households, respectively, were still below the recommended minimum animal food N consumption recommendation in 2017, posing great challenges for reducing environmental N pollution. An exciting result is that the NUE of the animal system can be improved by increasing the share of animal food contributed by poultry, eggs, milk and fish, to align with the diets recommended by the Chinese Nutrition Society. NUEs of the provincial food systems excluding Inner Mongolia, Xinjiang, Qinghai and Tibet, would increase by 13% if the net imported food N increased by 1 kg capita^-1. Nevertheless, virtual NUE-including N input for imported food in the calculation of NUE-should be considered for accurate comparison of the NUEs of the provincial food systems, especially in highly urbanized areas, while N input for non-food animals should be excluded for accurate evaluation of the NUE in pastoral areas, considering their special production systems and feeding structures.

Effect of Steamed Potato Bread Intake on Glucose, Lipids, and Urinary Na+ and K+: A Randomized Controlled Trial with Adolescents

Although potatoes are highly nutritious, many epidemiological studies have connected their consumption with abnormal lipids, diabetes, and hypertension. Steamed potato bread has recently become one of China's staple foods. A randomized controlled trial was designed to evaluate the effect of steamed potato bread consumption on Chinese adolescents. Four classes from a high school were randomly selected and assigned to the intervention group (two classes) or control group (two classes). The steamed wheat bread (100% raw wheat flour) and potato bread (raw wheat flour to cooked potato flour ratio of 3:7) were provided to the control group and intervention group as staple food once a school day for 8 weeks, respectively. Compared with the control group, the intervention group had significant net changes in systolic blood pressure (4.6 mmHg, p = 0.010), insulin (-4.35 mIU/L, p < 0.001), total cholesterol (-0.13 mmol/L, p = 0.032), and high-density lipoproteins cholesterol (-0.07 mmol/L, p = 0.010). The urinary level of Na⁺/K⁺ did not differ between the groups. In conclusion, the intake of steamed potato bread for 8 weeks resulted in positive effects on the total cholesterol and insulin profiles but a negative effect on the systolic blood pressure and high-density lipoproteins cholesterol of adolescents.