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Chao K. Family farming in climate change: Strategies for resilient and sustainable food systems. Heliyon 2024; 10:e28599. [PMID: 38571580 PMCID: PMC10988049 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e28599] [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: 09/20/2023] [Revised: 03/15/2024] [Accepted: 03/21/2024] [Indexed: 04/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Family farming plays a pivotal role in ensuring household food security and bolstering the resilience of food systems against climate change. Traditional agricultural practices are evolving into context-specific, climate-resilient systems such as family farming, homestead gardening, and urban agriculture. This study examines the ways in which family farming can foster climate-resilient food systems amidst climate vulnerabilities. A systematic literature review spanning the past 22 years was undertaken to develop a conceptual framework. From this review, 37 pertinent documents were identified, leading to the creation of a context-specific, climate-resilient food system framework. The research posits that family farming facilitates easy access to food and nutrition by capitalizing on family-sourced land, labor, and capital, and by securing access to technology and markets. Each facet of family farming is intricately linked with sustainability principles. Local adaptation strategies employed by climate-vulnerable households can diminish their vulnerability and augment their adaptive, absorptive, and transformative capacities, enabling them to establish a climate-resilient food system. The research further reveals that farming families employ a myriad of strategies to fortify their food systems. These include crop diversification, adjusting planting times, cultivating high-value crops and fish, planting fruit trees, rearing poultry and livestock, and leveraging their land, labor, and resources-including their homesteads-to access food and nutrition. This study endorses the climate-resilient family farming framework and offers multiple metrics for assessing the resilience of family farming in developing countries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kang Chao
- School of Economics and Management, Neijiang Normal University, Neijiang, 641199, China
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Fouotsa Manfouo N, Von Fintel D. Investigating the effects of drought and lockdowns on smallholder and commercial agricultural production in KwaZulu-Natal using remotely sensed data. Heliyon 2022; 8:e11637. [PMID: 36439763 PMCID: PMC9681641 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2022.e11637] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2022] [Revised: 07/01/2022] [Accepted: 11/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Not many efforts have been made so far to understand the effects of both the 2015-2016 drought and the 2020 lockdown measures on the agricultural production of smallholder vis-a-vis commercial farmers in Kwazulu-Natal. Google Earth Engine, and random forest algorithm, are used to generate a dataset that help to investigate this question. A regression is performed on double differenced data to investigate the effects of interest. A k-mean cluster analysis, is also used to determine whether the distribution patterns of crop production changed with drought and disruption of agricultural production input. Results show that: (1) droughts affected the agricultural production of both areas similarly. Crop cover declined in both areas for one season after droughts were broken. Then recovery was driven by greener, more productive crops rather than the expansion of crop area. (2) The response of both areas to the COVID-19 lockdown was also similar. Both smallholder and commercial areas' Normalised Difference Vegetation Index - a proxy for crop vitality - improved in response to regulations favourable to the sector and improved rainfall. No significant adjustments in crop cover were observed. Production therefore changed primarily at the intensive margin (improved productivity of existing croplands) rather than the extensive (changing the extent of land under cultivation). (3) Cluster analysis allows for a more granular view, showing that the positive impact of lockdowns on agriculture were concentrated in areas with high rainfall and close proximity to metropolitan markets. Both smallholder and commercial farmers therefore are reliant on market access together with favourable environmental conditions for improved production.
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Affiliation(s)
- N.C. Fouotsa Manfouo
- Department of Economics, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1 Matieland, Stellenbosch, 7602, South Africa
| | - D. Von Fintel
- Department of Economics, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1 Matieland, Stellenbosch, 7602, South Africa
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Martey E, Etwire PM, Adzawla W, Atakora W, Bindraban PS. Perceptions of COVID-19 shocks and adoption of sustainable agricultural practices in Ghana. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2022; 320:115810. [PMID: 35947906 PMCID: PMC9353610 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2022.115810] [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: 03/08/2022] [Revised: 06/25/2022] [Accepted: 07/18/2022] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
Most studies on the novel COVID-19 pandemic have focused mainly on human health, food systems, and employment with limited studies on how farmers implement sustainable agricultural practices (SAPs) in response to the pandemic. This study examines how perceptions of COVID-19 shocks influence the adoption of SAPs among smallholder farmers in Ghana. We find that perceptions of COVID-19 shocks influence the probability and intensity of SAPs adoption. Secondly, households who anticipated COVID-19 shocks recorded heterogeneity effects in the combinations (complementarity and substitutability) of SAPs. Farmers who anticipated an increase in input prices and loss of income due to COVID-19 recorded the highest complementarity association between pesticide and zero tillage while farmers who expected limited market access reported the highest complementarity between mixed cropping and mulching. Farmers who projected a decrease in output prices complements pesticides with mixed cropping. The findings suggest that understanding the heterogeneity effects in the combinations of SAPs due to COVID-19 shocks is critical to effectively design, target and disseminate sustainable intensification programs in a post-pandemic period.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edward Martey
- Socio-economics Section, CSIR-Savanna Agricultural Research Institute (CSIR-SARI), P.O. Box TL 52, Tamale, Ghana.
| | - Prince M Etwire
- Socio-economics Section, CSIR-Savanna Agricultural Research Institute (CSIR-SARI), P.O. Box TL 52, Tamale, Ghana.
| | - William Adzawla
- International Fertilizer Development Center (IFDC), Muscle Shoals, AL, 35662, USA.
| | - Williams Atakora
- International Fertilizer Development Center (IFDC), Muscle Shoals, AL, 35662, USA.
| | - Prem S Bindraban
- International Fertilizer Development Center (IFDC), Muscle Shoals, AL, 35662, USA.
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Sharifi A. An overview and thematic analysis of research on cities and the COVID-19 pandemic: Toward just, resilient, and sustainable urban planning and design. iScience 2022; 25:105297. [PMID: 36246575 PMCID: PMC9540689 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2022.105297] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2022] [Revised: 07/11/2022] [Accepted: 09/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Since early 2020, researchers have made efforts to study various issues related to cities and the pandemic. Despite the wealth of research on this topic, there are only a few review articles that explore multiple issues related to it. This is partly because of the rapid pace of publications that makes systematic literature review challenging. To address this issue, in the present study, we rely on bibliometric analysis techniques to gain an overview of the knowledge structure and map key themes and trends of research on cities and the pandemic. Results of the analysis of 2,799 articles show that research mainly focuses on six broad themes: air quality, meteorological factors, built environment factors, transportation, socio-economic disparities, and smart cities, with the first three being dominant. Based on the findings, we discuss major lessons that can be learned from the pandemic and highlight key areas that need further research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ayyoob Sharifi
- Hiroshima University, Graduate School of Humanities and Social Science, Higashi-Hiroshima, Hiroshima, Japan,Network for Education and Research on Peace and Sustainability (NERPS),Center for Peaceful and Sustainable Futures (CEPEAS), The IDEC Institute, Hiroshima University,Corresponding author
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Anyanwu OA, Naumova EN, Chomitz VR, Zhang FF, Chui K, Kartasurya MI, Folta SC. The Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Nutrition, Health and Environment in Indonesia: A Qualitative Investigation of Perspectives from Multi-Disciplinary Experts. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:ijerph191811575. [PMID: 36141848 PMCID: PMC9517566 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph191811575] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2022] [Revised: 09/01/2022] [Accepted: 09/07/2022] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The COVID-19 pandemic impacted food systems, health systems and the environment globally, with potentially greater negative effects in many lower-middle income countries (LMICs) including Indonesia. The purpose of this qualitative study was to investigate the potential impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on diets, health and the marine environment in Indonesia, based on the perspectives of a multidisciplinary group of informants. METHODS We conducted remote in-depth interviews with 27 key informants from many regions of Indonesia, who are either healthcare providers, nutrition researchers or environmental researchers. Interview question guides were developed based on a socio-ecological framework. We analyzed the data using a qualitative content analysis approach. RESULTS Informants suggested that while the COVID-19 brought increased awareness about and adherence to good nutrition and health behaviors, the impact was transitory. Informants indicated that healthy food options became less affordable, due to job losses and reduced income, suggesting a likely increase in food insecurity and obesity. Environmental researchers described higher levels of marine pollution from increase in hygienic wastes as well as from plastic packaging from food orders. CONCLUSIONS Our findings reveal perceptions by informants that the increased awareness and adherence to health behaviors observed during the pandemic was not sustained. Our results also suggest that the pandemic may have exacerbated the double-burden paradox and marine pollution in Indonesia. This study offers information for generating hypotheses for quantitative studies to corroborate our findings and inform policies and programs to mitigate the long-term impacts of the COVID-19 on diets, health, and the marine environment in Indonesia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oyedolapo A. Anyanwu
- Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, Tufts University, 150 Harrison Ave, Boston, MA 20111, USA
| | - Elena N. Naumova
- Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, Tufts University, 150 Harrison Ave, Boston, MA 20111, USA
| | - Virginia R. Chomitz
- Public Health & Community Medicine, School of Medicine, Tufts University, 136 Harrison Ave, Boston, MA 20111, USA
| | - Fang Fang Zhang
- Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, Tufts University, 150 Harrison Ave, Boston, MA 20111, USA
| | - Kenneth Chui
- Public Health & Community Medicine, School of Medicine, Tufts University, 136 Harrison Ave, Boston, MA 20111, USA
| | - Martha I. Kartasurya
- Department of Public Health Nutrition, Faculty of Public Health, Universitas Diponegoro, Semarang 50275, Jawa Tengah, Indonesia
| | - Sara C. Folta
- Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, Tufts University, 150 Harrison Ave, Boston, MA 20111, USA
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Frank M, Kaufmann B, Ejarque M, Lamaison MG, Nessi MV, Amoroso MM. Changing Conditions for Local Food Actors to Operate Towards Agroecology During the COVID-19 Pandemic. FRONTIERS IN SUSTAINABLE FOOD SYSTEMS 2022. [DOI: 10.3389/fsufs.2022.866004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Given the novel character of disturbances caused by the pandemic in food systems, initial studies have been conducted to stress the reinforced urgent need for food systems' transformation toward sustainability. First assessments, conducted in the early months of the pandemic, found that local food actors responded to changing production and marketing conditions by implementing alternative practices under the umbrella of agroecology. However, given the unprecedented and dynamic character of the pandemic in regional situations, and related context-specific changes caused in food system actors' operations, case studies are needed to assess in more detail under which changing conditions food actors implemented alternative practices. Moreover, the maintenance of practices as conditions normalize, and food actors' transformative potential in relation to the principles of agroecology, need further assessment. In response to these emerging issues, we provide insights into our case study research conducted during 2021 in a local food system in Argentina. The aim of this research was to study how changing conditions triggered local food actors to (re-)frame their objectives and activities regarding marketing, and to assess the relevance of agroecological principles as a means of responding to changing conditions and to unfold longer-term transitions. We identified local producer shops (n = 5) and markets (n = 4) that were established or consolidated by self-organized producer groups (SOPGs) during the first months of the pandemic. Using semi-structured interviews with SOPG members (n = 12) and qualitative content analysis, we found that alternative practices were adopted in response to different changing conditions, and new needs and opportunities for producers and consumers brought about by the pandemic. Objectives pursued, and activities undertaken by the groups revealed reactive short-term mitigation strategies, and proactive longer-term transformative objectives. The relational analysis between practices and agroecological principles showed that the principles became important means of responding to changing conditions and to unfold longer-term transitions. The cases illustrate how local food actors operationalized agroecological principles, and in turn how principles can be used to investigate the nature and potentials of food actors' alternative practices, highlighting the relevance of agroecology to co-design sustainability transitions in local food systems and to mitigate possible future crisis.
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The Household Food Security Implications of Disrupted Access to Basic Services in Five Cities in the Global South. LAND 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/land11050654] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
COVID-19 has caused significant disruptions regarding the extent to which households can access basic services and resources in cities around the world. Previous studies have indicated a predictive relationship between the consistency of resource access and food access among urban households. These investigations, however, have predominantly been isolated to Southern Africa and have not accounted for other dimensions of food security. To test whether these results are observable outside Southern Africa, and with a more multidimensional measure of food security, this investigation proposes a method for building an index of urban household food access, utilization and stability. The scores for the constructed index are then compared across household survey samples collected from five cities in the Global South. The investigation then assesses the predictive relationship between the consistency of household resource access and this more multidimensional index of food insecurity. While the general trend of inconsistent resource access predicting food insecurity is confirmed, there are geographic differences in the strength and quality of this relationship. These findings suggest that the resource access disruptions inflicted by COVID-19 will likely have a heterogeneous impact on urban food security dependent upon the affected resource and the city in which a given household resides.
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Hart TG, Davids YD, Rule S, Tirivanhu P, Mtyingizane S. The COVID-19 pandemic reveals an unprecedented rise in hunger: The South African Government was ill-prepared to meet the challenge. SCIENTIFIC AFRICAN 2022; 16:e01169. [PMID: 35340715 PMCID: PMC8938300 DOI: 10.1016/j.sciaf.2022.e01169] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2020] [Revised: 02/07/2022] [Accepted: 03/20/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent research has shown increasing household food and nutrition insecurity in South Africa, indicating weaknesses in the national food system due to historical and current socioeconomic inequalities. The lack of inclusive governance and collaboration among actors and institutions to develop long-term strategies increase the problem. Such weaknesses intensify the government's ill-preparedness to provide food relief during disasters. We drew upon two rounds of the longitudinal University of Johannesburg and the Human Sciences Research Council's COVID-19 Democracy Survey to illustrate how ill-preparedness has resulted in increased hunger. The rollout of food relief was slow because the state ignored established non-governmental food relief structures. Delayed tender processes and corruption have worsened local distribution and access to food relief, increasing households' hunger. Individuals reported higher experiences of hunger above pre-COVID-19 figures of 11% attaining highs of 42% in 2020. We argue that COVID-19 has emphasised the South African food system's inequalities, particularly the state's inability to ensure integration, inclusiveness and rapidly provide emergency food relief. We focused on individual and households’ experiences of hunger and economic circumstances. Challenges were evident where access to food was provided in-kind or through financial aid. The pandemic food relief interventions and the lack of food price controls were serious challenges. The state and stakeholders must prevent high transitory food insecurity levels from resulting in chronic food insecurity. The state's practices and challenges during lockdown must be examined to ensure this situation does not reoccur. Some essential foods require subsidisation and price regulation to ensure long-term access for the poor. To ensure zero hunger and increased food security, these elements of the NDP must be re-examined. Research is required on vulnerabilities in the system, ways to overcome these and the understanding of factors contributing to system-wide resilience, including at individual and household levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tim Gb Hart
- Developmental, Capable and Ethical State, Human Sciences Research Council, 134 Pretorius Street, Pretoria 2001, South Africa.,Department of Sociology and Social Anthropology, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, Matieland 7602, South Africa
| | - Yul Derek Davids
- Developmental, Capable and Ethical State, Human Sciences Research Council, 116-118 Buitengracht Street, Cape Town 8001, South Africa
| | - Stephen Rule
- Department of Geography and Environmental Studies, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, Matieland 7602, South Africa
| | - Precious Tirivanhu
- Developmental, Capable and Ethical State, Human Sciences Research Council, 134 Pretorius Street, Pretoria 2001, South Africa
| | - Samela Mtyingizane
- Developmental, Capable and Ethical State, Human Sciences Research Council, 430 Peter Mokaba Ridge, Durban 4001, South Africa
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Abdullah MM, Assi A, Zubari WK, Mohtar R, Eidan H, Al Ali Z, Al Anzi B, Sharma VK, Ma X. Revegetation of native desert plants enhances food security and water sustainability in arid regions: Integrated modeling assessment. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 806:151295. [PMID: 34736754 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.151295] [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: 07/20/2021] [Revised: 10/03/2021] [Accepted: 10/24/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Food security and water sustainability in arid and semiarid regions are threatened by rapid population growth, declining natural resources, and global climate change. Countries in the arid regions compensate meat import by raising domestic livestock with cultivated green fodder, which diminishes lands for other crops and depletes precious water resources. This study presents for the first time an in-depth integrated food water ecosystem (FWEco) nexus modeling on the feasibility of restoring 10% of Kuwait's desert as grazing rangeland to alleviate water consumption from fodder production. Our results showed that revegetating 10% of the country's land with native species could support up to 23% of domestic livestock through natural grazing at optimal coverage (70%) and high productivity, and decrease water consumption by up to 90%. However, depending solely on natural rainfall is unlikely to achieve the optimal coverage. Strategic supplemental irrigation in the fall season (e.g., October and November) is required to maximize vegetation coverage and enhance food security and water sustainability. Significantly, strategic irrigation results in much lower net water consumption because irrigating native species requires much less water than green fodder cultivation. Therefore, revegetating desert lands with native species to restore their natural grazing service can be a sustainable approach to simultaneously improve food security and water sustainability in arid landscapes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meshal M Abdullah
- Geography Department, College of Arts and Social Sciences, Sultan Qaboos University, Muscat, P.O. Box 50, Oman; Department of Ecology and Conservation Biology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA.
| | - Amjad Assi
- Natural Environmental Systems and Technologies (NEST) Research Group, Ecolife Sciences Research and Consultation, Kuwait; Biological and Agricultural Engineering Department, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA
| | - Waleed K Zubari
- Arabian Gulf University, College of Graduate Studies, Department of Natural Resources and Environment, Manama, Bahrain
| | - Rabi Mohtar
- Biological and Agricultural Engineering Department, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA; Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA
| | - Hamed Eidan
- Natural Environmental Systems and Technologies (NEST) Research Group, Ecolife Sciences Research and Consultation, Kuwait
| | - Zahraa Al Ali
- Natural Environmental Systems and Technologies (NEST) Research Group, Ecolife Sciences Research and Consultation, Kuwait
| | - Bader Al Anzi
- Department of Environmental Technologies and Management, College of Life Sciences, Kuwait University, Kuwait City 13060, Kuwait
| | - Virender K Sharma
- School of Public Health, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA.
| | - Xingmao Ma
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA.
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Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Farmers and Their Responses: A Study of Three Farming Systems in Kerala, South India. LAND 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/land11010144] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Particularly in countries with an agrarian economy, the COVID-19 pandemic has brought hardships faced by farmers into sharp focus. One of the most badly hit countries was India. This study aims to bring to light the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the livelihoods of farmers in three farming systems (coffee farming, Kole wetland paddy farming, and homestead farming) in the southern Indian state of Kerala. We collected the data using telephone interviews and studied the impacts (economic, social, institutional) of the pandemic on the selected farming systems, the responses of farmers (short and long term) to these impacts, and the ability of farmers to secure their livelihoods (by analyzing resilience capacities and transforming structures and processes of the farming systems). The methodological framework used was developed based on the Sustainable Livelihoods Approach and the Resilience Framework. We found significant impacts on the three studied farming systems due to COVID-19. As the impacts, responses, and ability to secure livelihoods varied across the three farming systems, we concluded that there is not a single solution that could be prescribed for all farming systems and that each land use system must be treated individually.
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Is Buying Local Food a Sustainable Practice? A Scoping Review of Consumers’ Preference for Local Food. SUSTAINABILITY 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/su14020772] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Access to healthy food and the introduction of sustainable nutrition practices are two important issues today. The COVID-19 pandemic has brought new challenges to food security but it has also provided opportunities for local food production. The discussion on local food has been gaining attention in recent years, but there is still a lack of clear understanding of the term ‘local food’ in the literature. The relationship between local food and sustainability issues is still unclear and has various connotations. This discordance leads to further discussions on whether buying local food should be considered a sustainable behavior and whether consumer preference for local food can be perceived as a sustainable practice. A scoping literature review was conducted in order to fill this gap and to shed light on the main tendencies of the scientific literature regarding this topic. The outcomes of the research revealed three dimensions of ‘local food’ definitions in the literature: geographical, geopolitical, and organic; while the problem of a unified local food definition remains open. The studied literature did not show any sound evidence for sustainability attributes in the definition of local food and consumer perception of local food.
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Benedek Z, Baráth L, Fertő I, Merino‐Gaibor E, Molnár A, Orbán É, Nemes G. Survival strategies of producers involved in short food supply chains following the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic: A Hungarian case-study. SOCIOLOGIA RURALIS 2022; 62:68-90. [PMID: 34908599 PMCID: PMC8662080 DOI: 10.1111/soru.12358] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2020] [Accepted: 09/28/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Zsófia Benedek
- Agricultural Economics and Rural Development Reserach Unit, Institute of EconomicsCentre for Economic and Regional StudiesBudapestHungary
| | - Lajos Baráth
- Agricultural Economics and Rural Development Reserach Unit, Institute of EconomicsCentre for Economic and Regional StudiesBudapestHungary
| | - Imre Fertő
- Agricultural Economics and Rural Development Reserach Unit, Institute of EconomicsCentre for Economic and Regional StudiesBudapestHungary
- Institute of Regional and Agricultural EconomicsHungarian University of Agricultural and Life SciencesKaposvárHungary
| | | | - Adrienn Molnár
- Agricultural Economics and Rural Development Reserach Unit, Institute of EconomicsCentre for Economic and Regional StudiesBudapestHungary
- Department of Agricultural EconomicsGhent UniversityGhentBelgium
| | - Éva Orbán
- Agricultural Economics and Rural Development Reserach Unit, Institute of EconomicsCentre for Economic and Regional StudiesBudapestHungary
- Department of Agricultural Economics and Rural DevelopmentCorvinus University of BudapestBudapestHungary
| | - Gusztáv Nemes
- Agricultural Economics and Rural Development Reserach Unit, Institute of EconomicsCentre for Economic and Regional StudiesBudapestHungary
- Department of Agricultural Economics and Rural DevelopmentCorvinus University of BudapestBudapestHungary
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Harnessing Public Food Procurement for Sustainable Rural Livelihoods in South Africa through the National School Nutrition Programme: A Qualitative Assessment of Contributions and Challenges. SUSTAINABILITY 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/su132413838] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
This paper examines how public food procurements contributes to sustainable rural livelihoods through local sourcing of school food, what has become known as ‘home-grown’ school feeding. Specifically, it draws on in-depth interviews to explore the contributions and challenges of using local farmers as suppliers for South Africa’s National School Nutrition Programme (NSNP) using the case of the Eastern Cape Province, the country’s poorest province. The study found that participating schools in rural areas benefit from local sourcing by way of using fresh vegetables in preparing meals thanks to the utilisation of a decentralised catering model in the Eastern Cape Province. Consequently, there is evidence of farmers participating in NSNP food market earning additional income and growing more vegetables on more land in some cases. However, even though the Eastern Cape Province uses a decentralised procurement model, it has no clear-cut programme to optimise the benefits of local sourcing for NSNP. It only ‘encourages’ schools to buy vegetables grown locally. This calls for pragmatism on the side of government to, through creative procurement and initiatives such as the Agri-Parks, use NSNP as a tool for making the South African food system more inclusive, drive down rural poverty and realise sustainable rural development.
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Paganini N, Ben-Zeev K, Bokolo K, Buthelezi N, Nyaba S, Swanby H. Dialing up Critical Feminist Research as Lockdown Dialed us Down: How a Pandemic Sparked Community Food Dialogs in Cape Town, South Africa. FRONTIERS IN SUSTAINABLE FOOD SYSTEMS 2021. [DOI: 10.3389/fsufs.2021.750331] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic and its control measures had a devastating impact on household food security in South Africa. The pandemic brought existing food injustice patterns, such as spatial inequality, intersectionality, and the causes of food poverty to the forefront, especially for women. It also galvanized momentum in the people's agenda for solidarity and stimulated community members' calls for an overhaul of the existing commercialized food system toward hyper-localized, community-led solutions such as food dialogs and community kitchens. First and foremost, that meant talking about hunger and addressing its root causes. This paper reports on a co-research process on household food security during the pandemic in four neighborhoods of the Cape Flats. This study found that household food insecurity and the roles women play in food systems are significantly shaped by intersectionality: the consequences of being women, Black or Persons of Color, residents of geographies of social and economic marginalization within the city, and historically excluded from higher education. In this paper, we provide reflections on the co-research process from the perspectives of co-researchers, the project coordinator, and the project funder by applying a critical feminist framework and by answering the question: How can critical feminist research steer community-led action? Community members from the Cape Flats and five post-graduate students from a Berlin-based institute conceptualized this study and it was implemented by community researchers and projects partners in 2020. The paper highlights important aspects of the methodology, particularly the joint contextualization and sense making of findings by community researchers who placed food insecurity results in the context of their lived experiences. Based on their discussions, the co-researchers created visions for post-COVID-19 food environments, one of which is discussed in this paper: destigmatization of hunger. Hunger was described by co-researchers as a problem hidden by individuals and silenced by communities.
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Causal Impacts of Epidemics and Pandemics on Food Supply Chains: A Systematic Review. SUSTAINABILITY 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/su13179799] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
The epidemics and pandemics can severely affect food supply chains, including producers, retailers, wholesalers, and customers. To minimize their impacts, it is fundamental to implement effective policies that ensure continuity in the provision, affordability, and distribution of basic food items. This research identifies the main impacts of pandemics and epidemics on food supply chains and policies that can minimize these impacts. Based on a systematic literature review (SLR), 173 documents are analysed to propose a taxonomy of impacts on four supply chain links: demand-side, supply-side, logistics and infrastructure, and management and operation. The taxonomy presents the main impacts and respective mitigation policies. In addition, the literature review leads to the development of a comprehensive causal loop diagram (CLD) with the identification of main variables and their relationship with food supply chains. Finally, a specific research agenda is proposed by identifying the main research gaps. These findings provide a structured method for evaluating policies that ensure the functioning of food supply chains, particularly in disruptions such as epidemics and pandemics.
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Abu Hatab A, Krautscheid L, Boqvist S. COVID-19, Livestock Systems and Food Security in Developing Countries: A Systematic Review of an Emerging Literature. Pathogens 2021; 10:586. [PMID: 34064749 PMCID: PMC8151861 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens10050586] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2021] [Revised: 05/05/2021] [Accepted: 05/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
In this paper, we carried out a systematic literature review to document the emerging scientific knowledge about COVID-19 impact on livestock systems and food security in developing countries to identify gaps and possible avenues for future research undertakings. Specifically, we systematically reviewed 68 peer-reviewed articles extracted based on rigorous selection criteria from Scopus, PubMed and ISI Web of Science databases and published between December 2019 and February 2021. Our results reveal that livestock supply chains presented an important 'intermediary' pathway through which the pandemic affected various dimensions of food security in developing countries. Although the research response has been rapid in terms of both quantity and temporal succession, we find a highly suggestive disjunction in studies analyzing the interconnections between COVID-19 pandemic, livestock systems and food security in developing countries. With respect to the livestock supply chain, the bulk of the reviewed evidence focuses on production and consumption, whereas considerably less focus is given to the pandemic's impact on intermediaries within livestock chains, including traders, intermediaries and processors. The analysis of livestock supply chain resilience revolves predominantly around the 'absorbance' and 'recovery' phases of resilience, whereas only a small subset of the literature investigates actions taken by supply chain actors to 'plan' or to 'adapt' livestock systems in order to reduce their vulnerability and enhance their overall resilience. Furthermore, food security has often been narrowly defined, with the majority of articles focusing on 'availability' and 'accessibility' to food due to the pandemic, and other dimensions of food security, including utilization, stability and sustainability, have been widely neglected. Based on our findings, we recommend future research to examine the dynamics of propagation of COVID-19 impact through livestock supply chains in order to develop more targeted interventions that enhance the capacity of developing countries to cope with this and future disruptions and mitigate their food insecurity outcomes. To this end, more holistic, integrated and resilience-based approaches are much recommended to recognize the complex nature of livestock systems in developing countries and to address the multifaceted and widespread effects of COVID-19 on food security channeled through livestock chains.
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Affiliation(s)
- Assem Abu Hatab
- Department of Economics, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, 750 07 Uppsala, Sweden;
- Department of Economics & Rural Development, Arish University, 455 11 Arish, Egypt
| | - Lena Krautscheid
- Department of Economics, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, 750 07 Uppsala, Sweden;
| | - Sofia Boqvist
- Department of Biomedical Science and Veterinary Public Health, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, 750 07 Uppsala, Sweden;
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Panneer S, Kantamaneni K, Pushparaj RRB, Shekhar S, Bhat L, Rice L. Multistakeholder Participation in Disaster Management-The Case of the COVID-19 Pandemic. Healthcare (Basel) 2021; 9:203. [PMID: 33668669 PMCID: PMC7918841 DOI: 10.3390/healthcare9020203] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2020] [Revised: 01/12/2021] [Accepted: 02/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is affecting society's health, economy, environment and development. COVID-19 has claimed many lives across the globe and severely impacted the livelihood of a considerable section of the world's population. We are still in the process of finding optimal and effective solutions to control the pandemic and minimise its negative impacts. In the process of developing effective strategies to combat COVID-19, different countries have adapted diverse policies, strategies and activities and yet there are no universal or comprehensive solutions to the problem. In this context, this paper brings out a conceptual model of multistakeholder participation governance as an effective model to fight against COVID-19. Accordingly, the current study conducted a scientific review by examining multi-stakeholder disaster response strategies, particularly in relation to COVID-19. The study then presents a conceptual framework for multistakeholder participation governance as one of the effective models to fight against COVID-19. Subsequently, the article offers strategies for rebuilding the economy and healthcare system through multi-stakeholder participation, and gives policy directions/decisions based on evidence to save lives and protect livelihoods. The current study also provides evidence about multidimensional approaches and multi-diplomatic mechanisms during the COVID-19 crisis, in order to examine dimensions of multi-stakeholder participation in disaster management and to document innovative, collaborative strategic directions across the globe. The current research findings highlight the need for global collaboration by working together to put an end to this pandemic situation through the application of a Multi-Stakeholder Spatial Decision Support System (MS-SDSS).
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Affiliation(s)
- Sigamani Panneer
- Department of Social Work, School of Social Sciences and Humanities and Centre for Happiness, Central University of Tamil Nadu, Thiruvarur, Tamilnadu 610005, India;
| | - Komali Kantamaneni
- Faculty of Creative Industries, Architecture and Engineering, Solent University, Southampton SO14 0YN, UK
- Department of Civil, Environmental & Geomatic Engineering, Chadwick Building, University College London (UCL), Gower St, London WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Robert Ramesh Babu Pushparaj
- Research Scholar, Department of Social Work, Central University of Tamil Nadu, Thiruvarur, Tamilnadu 610005, India;
| | - Sulochana Shekhar
- Department of Geography, School of Earth Sciences, Central University of Tamil Nadu, Thiruvarur, Tamilnadu 610005, India;
| | - Lekha Bhat
- Department of Epidemiology & Public Health, School of Life Sciences, Central University of Tamil Nadu, Thiruvarur, Tamilnadu 610005, India;
| | - Louis Rice
- Centre for Architecture and Built Environment Research, University of the West of England, Bristol BS16 1QY, UK;
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