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Minimizing cadmium (Cd) contamination in rice grains is crucial for ensuring food security and promoting sustainable agriculture. Utilizing genetic modification to generate rice varieties with low Cd accumulation is a promising strategy due to its cost-effectiveness and operational simplicity. Our study demonstrated that the CRISPR-Cas9-mediated quadruple mutation of the multicopper oxidase genes OsLPR1/3/4/5 in the japonica rice cultivar Tongjing 981 had little effect on yields. However, a notable increase was observed in the cell wall functional groups that bind with Cd. As a result, the quadruple mutation of OsLPR1/3/4/5 enhanced Cd sequestration within the cell wall while reducing Cd concentrations in both xylem and phloem sap, thereby inhibiting Cd transport from roots to shoots. Consequently, Cd concentrations in brown rice and husk in oslpr1/3/4/5 quadruple mutants (qm) decreased by 52% and 55%, respectively, compared to the wild-type. These findings illustrate that the quadruple mutation of OsLPR1/3/4/5 is an effective method for minimizing Cd contamination in rice grains without compromising yields. Therefore, the quadruple mutation of OsLPR1/3/4/5 via biotechnological pathways may represent a valuable strategy for the generation of new rice varieties with low Cd accumulation., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: Food insecurity, a pervasive global issue exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, has been linked to adverse mental health outcomes. However, the role of social capital in mitigating this relationship remains understudied, particularly in the Chinese context., Aims: This study investigated the associations between food insecurity and psychological distress (depressive and anxiety symptoms) and examined the potential moderating effects of bonding and bridging social capital among Chinese adults in Shanghai., Methods: This cross-sectional study included 3,220 Chinese adults (mean age: 34.45; 51.5% male) in Shanghai. Food insecurity was assessed using the modified Household Food Insecurity Access Scale, psychological distress was measured using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 and the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7, and social capital was evaluated using the Revised Personal Social Capital Scale., Results: Multivariable linear regression analyses revealed that food insecurity was significantly positively associated with both depressive (β = 0.449, SE  = 0.024) and anxiety symptoms (β = 0.391, SE  = 0.022), after adjusting for sociodemographic characteristics, health status, and COVID-19-related factors. Higher levels of bonding and bridging social capital were significantly associated with fewer depressive and anxiety symptoms. Significant interactions ( p  < .001) between bonding social capital and food insecurity indicated that the associations between food insecurity and psychological distress were less pronounced among adults with higher bonding social capital., Conclusions: These findings highlight the critical role of food insecurity as a risk factor for psychological distress and the importance of bonding social capital in mitigating its impact on mental health. Policies and interventions targeting food insecurity prevention and bonding social capital enhancement may promote better mental health outcomes among Chinese adults.

Background: Food loss and waste estimates are highly inconsistent as a result of methodological and systemic differences. Additionally, the absence of in-depth evidence surrounding the biological drivers of food loss and waste precludes targeted mitigation action. To address this challenge, we undertook a metanalysis utilising a systematic literature review combined with industry stakeholder surveys to examine the incidence of food loss and waste in the UK fruit and vegetable supply chain between primary production and retail., Results: We estimated that 37% of fruit and vegetables, equivalent to 2.4 Mt of produce, is lost between production and sale. In the UK, primary production is the main stage responsible for these losses (58%), and is dominated by four crops (apple, onion, carrot and potato), which contribute 71% of total food loss and waste. Quality and supply/demand mismatch are the core drivers, combined with limited ability to control postharvest quality decline as a result of technical or economic barriers., Conclusions: Innate biological mechanisms contribute to, and detract from, marketable quality generating food loss risks where these cannot be adequately modified or controlled. Through climate change effects, reduced pesticide availability, changing consumer behaviour and increased pressure to reduce resource/energy inputs during pre- and postharvest handling, food loss and waste risk is likely to increase in the short term unless targeted, coordinated action is taken to actively promote its mitigation. © 2024 The Author(s). Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry., (© 2024 The Author(s). Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.)

Crop losses to pests were the main obstacle to food security globally. Pest control was a laudable exercise, but the exercise could be hindered by the inevitable adjustment between pest reductions, operation costs as well as impacts on the environment and human health. The pest could be controlled by many methods, but biological control was the most popular technique because it addressed inevitable trade-offs between costs and side effects. In this paper, a mathematical model was developed to quantify intricate biological procedures in the context of biological control using prey-predator mechanisms. Three equilibrium points (one trivial and two non-trivial) were derived, and the stability of each equilibrium point was examined. The stability results indicated that the adoption of biological control might neutralize pest infestation but the situation might not persist (unstable trivial equilibrium). It was also discovered that pest control through biological means might fail if the predator was wrongly selected or if the population of the predator vanished while the pest remained in existence (unstable non-trivial equilibrium). The analytical results were finally justified by a means of simulation via a computer-in-built maple program., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Background: Household food waste significantly contributes to overall food waste. While the relationship between food security and food waste has been extensively studied at the macro level, there is a need for research focusing on the quantitative association between food security and food waste at the household level in developing countries, particularly in Southeast Asia. This study aims to estimate the prevalence of household food insecurity and household food waste and to examine the association between household food security and food waste using direct measurements., Subjects and Methods: A total of 215 households in Bogor Regency, Indonesia, participated in this cross-sectional study. Food waste was measured using waste composition analysis and a 7-day diary. The Food Insecurity Experience Scale (FIES) questionnaire was used to assess household food security, while household income and the proportion of food expenditure were considered confounding factors. The association between food security and food waste was examined using Kendall tau-b and ordinal logistic regression., Results: The prevalence of household food insecurity was 18.6%, and the average household food waste was 77 kg/cap/year. Cereals, tubers, and their derivatives (especially rice) and vegetables were major contributors to edible waste, while fruits dominated inedible waste. A negative association was observed between food waste and household food security (edible FW: p = 0.044, r = -0.110; total FW: p = 0.038, r = -0.114), suggesting that household food waste decreases as the severity of food insecurity increases. However, after adjusting for household income, the proportion of food expenditure, and the education levels of spouses, this association became statistically insignificant (p > 0.05)., Conclusion: There was no significant association between household food security status and food waste. Household income plays a significant role in determining the quantity of household food waste, as higher income is associated with increased food waste. Strategies to prevent and reduce food waste should focus on major contributors such as rice and vegetables, especially among families with higher food accessibility., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

An abundance of data, including decades of greenhouse gas (GHG) emission rates, atmospheric concentrations, and global average temperatures, is sufficient to allow a strictly empirical evaluation of the U.S. plan for controlling GHGs. This article presents an analysis, based solely on such data, that shows that the difference between atmospheric GHG levels that will be reached if current trends continue, and levels that would be achieved if the goals of the plan are met-even with worldwide implementation-is inconsequential. Further, the expected globally averaged temperature differences are well within measurement error. The results lend additional support to the argument that any mitigation strategy must include drawdown of atmospheric GHGs. Equally important, a particular drawdown strategy, agrigenomics, offers the opportunity for a revolutionary trifecta: climate change mitigation, food security, and medical advances., (Copyright © 2024 Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press; all rights reserved.)

Precipitation extremes have surged in frequency and duration in recent decades, significantly impacting various sectors, including agriculture, water resources, energy, and public health worldwide. Pakistan, being highly susceptible to climate change and extremes, has experienced adverse events in recent times, emphasizing the need for a comprehensive investigation into the relationship between precipitation extremes and crops production. This study focuses on assessing the association between precipitation extremes on crops production, with a particular emphasis on the Punjab province, a crucial region for the country's food production. The initial phase of the study involved exploring the associations between precipitation extremes and crops production for the duration of 1980-2014. Notably, certain precipitation extremes, such as maximum CDDs (consecutive dry days), R99p (extreme precipitation events), PRCPTOT (precipitation total) and SDII (simple daily intensity index) exhibited strong correlations with the production of key crops like wheat, rice, garlic, dates, moong, and masoor. In the subsequent step, four machine learning (ML) algorithms were trained and tested using observed daily climate data (including maximum and minimum temperatures and precipitation) alongside model reference data (1985-2014) as predictors. Gradient boosting machine (GBM) was selected for its superior performance and employed to project precipitation extremes for three distinct future periods (F1: 2025-2049, F2: 2050-2074, F3: 2075-2099) under the SSP2-4.5 and SSP5-8.5 derived from the CMIP6 (Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 6) archive. The projection results indicated an increasing and decreasing trend in CWDs (maximum consecutive wet days) and CDDs, respectively, at various meteorological stations. Furthermore, R10mm (the number of days with precipitation equal to or exceeding 10 mm) and R25mm displayed an overall increasing trend at most of the stations, though some exhibited a decreasing trend. These trends in precipitation extremes have potential consequences, including the risk of flash floods and damage to agriculture and infrastructure. However, the study emphasizes that with proper planning, adaptation measures, and mitigation strategies, the potential losses and damages can be significantly minimized in the future., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Human activities led to elevation in carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) concentrations in atmosphere. While such increase per se may be beneficial for the growth of some crops, it comes with a caveat of affecting crop nutritional status. Here, we present a comprehensive analysis of changes in concentration of essential (Cu, Fe, Mn, Zn, Mo, Ni) and non-essential (Ba, Cd, Cr, Hg, Pb, and Sr) heavy metals in response to elevated CO 2 , drawing on a meta-analysis of 1216 paired observations. The major findings are as follows: (1) Elevated CO 2 leads to reduced concentrations of Cu, Fe, Mn, and Zn in crops; (2) the extent of above reduction varies among plants species and is most pronounced in cereals and then in legumes and vegetables; (3) reduction in accumulation of non-essential (toxic) metals is less pronounced, potentially leading to an unfavorable essential/non-essential metal ratio in plants; (4) the above effects will come with significant implication to human health, exacerbating effects of the "hidden hunger" caused by the lack of Fe and Zn in the human diets. The paper also analyses the mechanistic basis of nutrient acquisition (both at physiological and molecular levels) and calls for the changes in the governmental policies to increase efforts of plant breeders to create genotypes with improved nutrient use efficiency for essential micronutrients while uncoupling their transport from non-essential (toxic) heavy metals., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Food security among rural veteran populations is an understudied subject. This study uses qualitative data from 106 semi-structured interviews conducted with staff from programs at the United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and other federal agencies, staff from non-governmental organizations (NGOs), food security researchers, and food insecure veterans to identify the barriers to and facilitators for rural veteran food security. Barriers identified included external, structural barriers that exist in rural areas; internal barriers to using food assistance, such as feeling stigmatized; and barriers related to other social determinants of health, including a lack of education, employment, or housing stability.

The main route of human exposure to toxic contaminants is through the consumption of contaminated food. To protect against potential negative health effects of rice consumption, the concentration of total mercury (THg) in rice and rice products sold in Poland was determined, and a consumer risk assessment was carried out. In this study, the concentration of THg in selected types of rice and rice products was determined and assessed. The determinations were carried out using atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS) in a DMA-1 mercury analyzer. Based on the estimated daily intake (EDI), target hazard quotient values (THQ), and tolerable weekly intake (TWI), the toxicological risk associated with the intake of total mercury and methylmercury (MeHg) from the products tested was also estimated. The analysis indicated that the highest Hg content was in rice cakes and the lowest in white rice and rice noodles. Total mercury content was found to be below the maximum permitted level. The estimated daily intake (EDI) and target hazard quotient (THQ) values for THg and MeHg in rice and rice products were lower than 1. These findings suggest that the food items examined pose no health risk., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Food preparation involves the blending of various food ingredients to make more convenient processed food products. It is a long chain process, where each stage posing a risk of accumulating hazardous contaminants in these food systems. Protecting the public health from contaminated foods has become a demanding task in ensuring food safety. This review focused on the causes, types, and health risks of contaminants or hazardous chemicals during food processing. The impact of cooking such as frying, grilling, roasting, and baking, which may lead to the formation of hazardous by-products, including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), heterocyclic amines (HCAs), acrylamide, advanced glycation end products (AGEs), furan, acrolein, nitrosamines, 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) and trans-fatty acids (TFAs). Potential health risks such as carcinogenicity, genotoxicity, neurotoxicity, and cardiovascular effects are emerging as a major problem in the modern lifestyle era due to the increased uptakes of contaminants. Effects of curing, smoking, and fermentation of the meat products led to affect the sensory and nutritional characteristics of meat products. Selecting appropriate cooking methods include temperature, time and the consumption of the food are major key factors that should be considered to avoid the excess level intake of hazardous contaminants. Overall, this study underscores the importance of understanding the risks associated with food preparation methods, strategies for minimizing the formation of harmful compounds during food processing and highlights the need for healthy dietary choices to mitigate potential health hazards., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The system-forming element of national security is food security, which guarantees effective management of the food system, ensuring the food needs of the appropriate quantity and quality of each country's citizen. Despite the significant potential of the agricultural sector, which forms the basis of food security, the need to analyse the state of food security in the current situation is due to military operations on the territory of Ukraine, which led to its negative global results. In this regard, the need to develop effective strategies and legal regulation is essential to ensure national and global food security, which in turn requires coordination of efforts of all countries and international organisations through international cooperation. The study aims to establish a pattern regarding the current state of food security by analysing the impact of availability, access, usefulness and stability of food supply on food security. Research methods: comparative analysis; taxonomic analysis; systematisation, generalisation. The survey found that Ukraine's position in the Global Food Security Index (FSI) among 113 countries in 2022 worsened by 13 points, where the worst indicators for domestic food security are sustainability and adaptability (43.5 points out of 100 and 94th place globally) and economic affordability of food (48.1 points out of 100 and 93rd place in the world). It was found that the actual consumption of vegetables, melons, potatoes, and oil in 2021 was slightly higher than the rational norm, indicating sufficient consumption of these products, while the actual consumption of products that are lower than the rational norm includes meat and meat products, milk and dairy products, fish and fish products, and fruits, berries, and grapes. It has been determined that since 2016, the number of kilocalories in the daily diet of the population of Ukraine has not reached the minimum norm of consumption of basic foodstuffs for the working population. It has been established that in 2020 and 2021, the value of the taxonomic indicator for assessing the level of food security (I) has been decreasing, i.e. the distance to the reference vector has been increasing, which indicates a decrease in the level of food security. The forecasting results suggest a downward trend in the food security index for the period 2022-2027, and there is an urgent need to take measures to eliminate this trend and improve the value of the index, which is extremely important for the security of the state, especially in times of war.

This study aimed to compare the change in consumer behaviour in the face of high inflation with respect to food security in the Turkish population by developing a 3-factor The Impact of Food Inflation on Consumer Behaviour (IFI-ConB) scale. Item generation and expert evaluation, item purification by preliminary application, and final administration were conducted. The moderate to severe food insecure individuals exhibited a higher inflation impact score on food consumption patterns, food shopping behaviours, and food purchasing motives factors compared to secure to mild insecure individuals. A positive correlation was found between the inflation impact score by IFI-ConB and the price motive for food choice. The primary food choice motive was health among the secure to mild insecure individuals, while for the moderate to severe food insecure individuals, it was price. The findings indicate that food insecure individuals are more affected by high food inflation compared to food secure individuals.

Background: This study aimed to describe the nutrition knowledge, food security risk and eating disorder risk of development male rugby league players., Methods: Sixty athletes from one Australian professional rugby league club volunteered. A cross sectional online survey questionnaire consisted of three sections (Eating Disorders Inventory (EDI-3), Nutrition Knowledge and Food Security). All athletes completed the online survey without assistance using a personal electronic device., Results: The mean total knowledge score was 65.7±13.1%. There was a positive relationship between age and knowledge score, P=0.050, r 2 =0.06. The majority of players had breakfast everyday (N.=45, 73.8%), took pack lunches (N.=33, 55.0%), and had homemade evening meals (N.=55, 91.7%). The majority of players ate more than 1 hour before training (N.=45, 75%) and all players (n=60, 100%) ate within half an hour of training finishing. The majority of participants agreed that nutrition could influence physical and cognitive aspects of nutrition however, skill-based activities were perceived by fewer participants to be influenced by nutrition. The majority (N.=38, 63.3%) had high food security, six (10.0%) had marginal food security, whereas 10 (16.7%) and six (10.0%) had low and very low security respectively., Conclusions: These results show a concerning levels of eating disorder risk, food insecurity and poor nutrition knowledge amongst male development rugby league players. However, it does show that they believe nutrition can impact their health and performance, and they do mostly appear to adhere to the nutrition principals for optimising health and performance.

There is a growing consensus on expanding protected and conserved areas for biodiversity conservation. Nevertheless, it remains uncertain where to expand conserved areas as well as what appropriate management modalities to choose. Moreover, conserved areas expansion should be balanced with crop-related food security challenges. We developed a framework to identify cost-effective areas for expanding protected areas and other effective area-based conservation measures (OECMs), and applied it to China. By combining templates for biodiversity conservation priorities at global scale and the priority conservation areas based on 2413 vertebrates' extinction risk in China, we identified areas with high biodiversity conservation value. We then categorized the priority areas according to human impact, indicating the potential cost of management. As a result of combining the two aspects above, we identified the most cost-effective areas for expanding protected areas and OECMs while excluding both the current and predicted croplands that can be used for food security. The results show that China could expand its protected areas to 22.81 % of the country's land area and establish OECMs in areas accounting for 9.82 % and 17.37 % of the country's land area in a cost-effective approach in two scenarios. In the ambitious scenario, protected and conserved areas would account for a maximum of 40.18 % of terrestrial area, with an average 62.67 % coverage of the 2413 species' suitable habitat. To achieve the goals of protected and conserved areas in Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, countries could apply this framework to identify their protected areas and OECM expansion priorities., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Purpose of Review: Because nutrition plays a crucial role in the development of chronic diseases, ensuring nutrition security is important for promoting population health. Nutrition security is defined as having consistent and equitable access to healthy, safe, affordable foods essential to optimal health and well-being. Distinguished from food security, nutrition security consists of two constructs: healthy diets and nutritional status. The study aimed to identify population measures that reflect the important constructs of nutrition security (i.e., healthy diets and nutritional status) to inform U.S. nutrition security assessment and monitoring., Recent Findings: Through a narrative review conducted across multiple databases, associations between subconstructs of healthy diets and nutritional status were identified. Of the six subconstructs that constitute healthy diets, nutrient adequacy and moderation were most often used to assess and monitor healthfulness of U.S. population diets and were associated with health outcomes. There is little evidence of an association between health outcomes and macronutrient balance or diversity in the U.S. Thirteen instruments were identified as potentially suitable for measuring at least one subconstruct of healthy diet in the population. This review highlights the importance of nutrition security in addressing population health challenges. It emphasizes the potential use of multiple instruments and measures to comprehensively monitor population nutrition security and inform intervention strategies. Identifying feasible and practical measures for assessing and monitoring nutrition security is imperative for advancing population health and mitigating the burden of chronic diseases., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Objective: Outcomes from produce prescription (PPR) programs, an exemplar of a Food is Medicine intervention, have not been synthesized. The objective of this study was to conduct a systematic review to examine the impact of PPR programs on food security, fruit and vegetable (FV) intake, and/or cardiovascular risk factors (HbA1c, blood pressure, and blood lipids)., Design: Searches were conducted across three databases (PubMed, CINAHL, and Web of Science). Eligible studies were published between August 2012 and April 2023, conducted in the US in child/family, or adult populations, written in English and had a PPR program as an exposure., Outcomes Variables Measured: Food security, FV intake, and/or cardiovascular risk factors., Results: Twenty studies ranging from a duration of between 6 weeks to 24 months were included. Of the 5 studies (3 in child/family and 4 in adult populations) that analyzed changes in food security status, all reported significant (P < 0.05) improvements after the PPR program. Approximately half of the included studies found significant (P < 0.05) increases in fruit, vegetable, and/or FV intake. Only studies in adult populations included cardiovascular risk factor outcomes. In these studies, mixed findings were reported; however, there were significant (P < 0.05) improvements in HbA1c when PPR programs enrolled individuals with type 2 diabetes., Conclusions and Implications: PPR programs provide an opportunity to improve food security in child/family, and adult populations. Evidence to support whether PPR programs increase FV intake and improve cardiovascular disease risk factors outside of HbA1c in adult populations with high HbA1c upon enrollment is less known., (Copyright © 2024 Society for Nutrition Education and Behavior. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: During the COVID-19 pandemic, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) emergency allotments and emergency rent assistance provided support to low-income households. Rent burden, a form of housing insecurity, can severely limit household resources, which, in turn, affects health equity. We explored whether these policy interventions equitably supported households that were or were not experiencing rent burden., Methods: We used data from the US Household Pulse Survey (June 2022-May 2023) to examine whether associations between emergency support policies and indicators of food and housing security differed according to household rent burden status. We modeled each outcome (food sufficiency or being current on rent) as a function of policy exposure (SNAP emergency allotments or emergency rent assistance), rent burden, and their interaction. We included demographic characteristics, state of residence, and survey cycle as covariates. We modeled each outcome and policy exposure combination separately., Results: Receiving emergency allotments (72.4% vs 67.2% for SNAP participants in states with and without emergency allotments, respectively) and emergency rent assistance (64.5% vs 57.6% for households that received and were waitlisted/denied assistance, respectively) were associated with greater food sufficiency. The relationship between emergency allotments and food sufficiency was stronger in rent-burdened households; however, emergency rent assistance supported food sufficiency to a greater extent in non-rent-burdened households. Emergency rent assistance supported households in being current on rent (78.7% vs 56.4% for households that received and were waitlisted/denied assistance, respectively) and supported being current on rent to a greater extent in non-rent-burdened households than in rent-burdened households., Conclusion: The relationship between emergency support policies and food or housing security differed according to whether households were experiencing rent burden. Associations were sometimes stronger in less economically constrained conditions. These results indicate an opportunity to better design policies to support low-income households, address food and housing security, and ultimately decrease the prevalence of chronic disease.

Background: Traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) and practice associated with wild edible plants (WEPs) is an important part of local culture of the Yao people in Jianghua Yao Autonomous County, which possesses the biggest population of Yao ethnic group in China. Economic development, urbanization, and transition of lifestyle and changing interests of the younger generations risk loss of such valuable knowledge. However, no record had been reported about WEPs from the Yao communities of Jianghua County. It is urgent to assemble data on the major WEPs and their uses in Jianghua. This can be used to educate and stimulate new interest in these WEPs, to aid inheritance and improvement of cultural identity and confidence, to enhance local resilience to various changes and to suggest pathways for novel and value-added applications to create new local business opportunities., Methods: To record WEPs associated with TEK and practice, we conducted field surveys in 2018, 2019 and 2023. The ethnobotanical methods such as free-listing, participatory observation, semi-structured interview, and market survey were adopted in the field investigations. Information about WEPs including vernacular names, parts used, ways of use, and collection time were recorded. Voucher specimens were collected, identified, and deposited in the herbarium at Minzu University of China, in Beijing., Results: Totally, 81 Yao people from 12 villages were interviewed. WEPs traditionally play a crucial role in Yao peoples' daily lives. A total of 130 plant species from 89 genera and 49 families were recorded. The plants collected showed great diversity and reflected unique local culture. Most (54.5%) WEPs were also used as medicines. Baba can be defined as a cultural identity food, and WEPs are commonly used as tea substitutes for their health benefits., Conclusions: We conclude that WEPs use is facing great challenges in a rapidly changing era. Preservation of WEPs related practice and knowledge is not only important for conserving local biocultural diversity, but also valuable in providing potential functional and healthy materials for food security and future economic development. Cultivation of young generations' interest in nature and biodiversity, combined with local policy to enhance public awareness are recommended., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Innovative agricultural strategies are essential for addressing the urgent challenge of food security in light of climate change, population growth, and various environmental stressors. Cytokinins (CKs) play a pivotal role in enhancing plant resilience and productivity. These compounds, which include isoprenoid and aromatic types, are synthesized through pathways involving key enzymes such as isopentenyl transferase and cytokinin oxidase. Under abiotic stress conditions, CKs regulate critical physiological processes by improving photosynthetic efficiency, enhancing antioxidant enzyme activity, and optimizing root architecture. They also reduce the levels of reactive oxygen species and malondialdehyde, resulting in improved plant performance and yield. CKs interact intricately with other phytohormones, including abscisic acid, ethylene, salicylic acid, and jasmonic acid, to modulate stress-responsive pathways. This hormonal cross-talk is vital for finely tuning plant responses to stress. Additionally, CKs influence nutrient uptake and enhance responses to heavy metal stress, thereby bolstering overall plant resilience. The application of CKs helps plants maintain higher chlorophyll levels, boost antioxidant systems, and promote root and shoot growth. The strategic utilization of CKs presents an adaptive approach for developing robust crops capable of withstanding diverse environmental stressors, thus contributing to sustainable agricultural practices and global food security. Ongoing research into the mechanisms of CK action and their interactions with other hormones is essential for maximizing their agricultural potential. This underscores the necessity for continued innovation and research in agricultural practices, in alignment with global goals of sustainable productivity and food security., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Ensuring food security is not only vital to the adequate supply of food in the world, but also the key to the economic development and social stability of various countries. Based on the panel data of 29 provinces in China from 2016 to 2020, this paper selects the number of foodborne diseases patients and iodine deficiency disease patients as reference objects, uses stunting rate of children under 5 years old, malnutrition rate of children under 5 years old, obesity rate of children under 5 years old, and newborn visit rate to measure improving nutrition, proposes Meta Entropy Two-Stage Dynamic Direction Distance Function (DDF) Under an exogenous Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) model to measure the efficiency of hunger eradication, food security, and improving nutrition under the influence of exogenous variable rainfall. The research results indicate that the sustainability of China's agricultural economy is insufficient, and the focus of attention should be different in different stages. In addition, the average efficiency of the three regions generally shows a decreasing level in the eastern, western, and central regions. In order to improve China's ability to guarantee food security, we must continue to strengthen the construction of agricultural infrastructure, increase policy support for green agricultural production, promote the diversification of agricultural production, and enrich people's agricultural product consumption varieties., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Objective: To assess whether child food allergy is associated with family food insecurity, overall, and across different income levels., Methods: We used the 2011-2018 National Health Interview Survey, a nationally representative cross-sectional survey. The exposure was child food allergy, and our main outcome was odds of family food insecurity, which was calculated using multivariable logistic regression models adjusted for child demographics, family characteristics and survey year. We examined for effect modification by the ratio of family income to the poverty threshold using stratification and tests for statistical interaction., Results: Among 83,287 children 6% had food allergy and 22% experienced family food insecurity. Child food allergy was associated with a 1.39-fold (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.26, 1.53) increased odds of family food insecurity overall. Child food allergy was associated with a 1.46-fold (95% CI: 1.29, 1.66) increased odds of family food insecurity among children whose families lived below 200% of the federal poverty level, and a 1.26-fold (95% CI: 1.05, 1.51) increased odds of family food insecurity among children whose families lived at 200 to 399% of the federal poverty level, with no association among children whose families lived at or above 400% of the federal poverty level (P =.04 for interaction)., Conclusion: There is an association between child food allergy and family food insecurity, and this association is modified by the ratio of family income to the poverty threshold. Improved availability and subsidy of allergen-free foods in nutrition assistance programs and food pantries are urgently needed., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest SJC has a close family member employed by a Johnson & Johnson company and has served on advisory boards for Alexion Pharmaceuticals. KAK and a close family member owns stocks in pharmaceutical and health care companies. LCS has been an investigator for DBV Technologies, has received grants from Genentech, and has served on advisory boards for DBV Technologies, Alladapt Immunotherapeutics, and Ukko. KEW within the past 36 months has served as a consultant for Sanofi and Research Triangle Institute. As this publication is not related to medications, these may not be COIs. All other authors declare no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier Inc.)

Background: Food insecurity has been linked to higher rates of obesity. It has also been shown to diminish the effectiveness of weight loss strategies, including intensive lifestyle interventions. One essential component of food insecurity is having a geospatial disadvantage in access to healthy, affordable food, such as living within a food desert. This study aims to determine if food insecurity also impacts weight loss and nutritional outcomes in patients who underwent Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) or sleeve gastrectomy (SG)., Methods: Clinical outcomes of patients who underwent RYGB or SG at Cleveland Clinic or affiliate regional hospitals in the United States from 2010 to 2018 were collected. Modified Retail Food Environmental Index (mRFEI) data was collected from the Center for Disease Control and merged with patient census tract data, allowing the patient cohort to be divided into those living in areas identified as food secure (mRFEI > 10%), food swamps (mRFEI = 1-10%), or food deserts (mRFEI = 0). Postoperative weight change was evaluated with quadratic growth mixture models and stratified by surgery type., Results: A total of 5097 patients were included in this study cohort, including 3424 patients who underwent RYGB and 1673 who underwent SG. The median duration of follow-up was 2.3 years (IQR 0.89-3.6 years). Food security status was not associated with postoperative weight change (RYGB p = 0.73, SG p = 0.60), weight loss nadir (RYGB p = 0.60, SG p = 0.79), or weight regain (RYGB p = 0.93, SG p = 0.85). Deficiencies in nutritional markers at 1-2 years after surgery were also not significantly different between food security groups., Conclusion: Despite the established relationship between food insecurity and obesity, food insecurity does not negatively impact weight loss or nutritional outcomes following RYGB or SG, demonstrating metabolic surgery as a powerful and equitable tool for treating obesity., Level of Evidence: IV., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Background: Higher education is widely recognized as a strategy to mitigate food insecurity. However, marginalized and racialized groups, especially Latinos, often do not experience the same economic and health benefits from their educational achievements as non-Latino Whites, highlighting a pattern of diminished returns within these communities., Aims: This study aims to explore the disparities in how educational attainment influences marital status and employment, and subsequently, food insecurity among Latino and non-Latino adults., Methods: Utilizing data from the 2022 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS), which encompassed 27,648 adults from both Latino and non-Latino backgrounds, this research applied a structural equation model to examine the relationship between educational attainment, ethnicity, and food insecurity. The study specifically focused on the mediating roles of marital status and employment., Results: Findings reveal significant interactions between education and ethnicity affecting marital status and employment, both of which serve as protective factors against food insecurity. These results indicate that higher levels of unemployment and lower marriage rates may disproportionately escalate food insecurity among Latinos, irrespective of educational attainment., Conclusion: The study highlights profound societal and environmental obstacles that prevent Latinos from leveraging educational achievements to improve their marital and employment statuses, and thereby, their food security. Addressing these disparities demands targeted interventions directed at Latino communities to bridge gaps in employment and marriage rates stemming from educational disparities. A holistic strategy that transcends mere access to education is essential to dismantle the societal barriers that undermine the educational dividends for Latino communities., Competing Interests: The author declares that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Assari.)

Background: Wild food plants (WFPs) play an important role in the traditional dietary habits of various indigenous communities worldwide, particularly in mountainous regions. To understand the dynamics of food preferences, cross-cultural studies on food plants should be conducted across diverse ethnic groups in a given area. In this context, the current study investigated the use of WFPs by seven different cultural groups in the Kashmir Himalayan Region. In this area, people gather wild plants and their parts for direct consumption, traditional foods, or sale in local markets. Despite this reliance, documentation of the food system, especially concerning WFPs, is notably lacking. Hence, our research aimed to document WFPs, along with associated traditional ecological knowledge, and identify major threats to their long-term sustainability in Division Muzaffarabad., Methods: Through a comprehensive approach involving questionnaires, interviews, focus groups, and market surveys, we gathered data from 321 respondents. PCA was performed to analyze threats and plant use using "factoextra" in R software. Origin Pro was used to create a chord diagram, while R software was used to generate a Polar heat map. Additionally, a Venn diagram was created using Bioinformatics software., Results: The study included 321 informants, of whom 75.38% were men and 24.61% were women. In total, 113 plant taxa from 74 genera and 41 botanical families were reported. Polygonaceae and Rosaceae accounted for the majority (17 species each), followed by Lamiaceae (7 species). Leaves were the most used part as food sources (41.04%), followed by fruits (33.33%). Most of the species are consumed as cooked (46.46%) and as raw snacks (37.80%). A total of 47 plant species were collected and cooked as wild vegetables, followed by 40 species used as fruits. This study is the first to describe the market potential and ecological distribution of WFPs in the study area. Cross-comparison showed that utilization of WFPs varies significantly across the region and communities, including their edible parts and mode of consumption. Jaccard index (JI) value ranged from 5.81 to 25. Furthermore, the current study describes 29 WFPs and 10 traditional food dishes that have rarely been documented in Pakistan's ethnobotanical literature. Climate change, invasive species, expansion of agriculture, and plant diseases are some of the most significant threats to WFPs in the study area., Conclusions: The older age group has more knowledge about WFPs compared to the younger generation, who are not interested in learning about the utilization of WFPs. This lack of interest in information about WFPs among the younger generation can be attributed to their limited access to markets and availability of food plants in the study area. Traditional gathering of food plants has been reduced in younger generations during recent years; therefore, it is crucial to develop effective conservation strategies. These efforts not only safeguard indigenous flora, food knowledge, and cultural heritage, but they also contribute to food security and public health by utilizing local wild foods in the examined area., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Main Conclusion: This review discusses the Finger millet's rich nutritional profile, bioactive potential, and industrial applications, combined with its climate resilience, which make it a promising crop for enhancing food security and promoting sustainable agriculture. This review also highlights its significant potential to address malnutrition and mitigate climate change impacts. The emergence of Finger millet from "poor man's staple food" to "a nutrient rich cereal" has encouraged the need to explore this crop at a wider scale. It is a highly significant crop due to its rich nutritional and bioactive profile, diverse biological activities, and promising industrial applications, along with the high climate resilience. This comprehensive review evaluates its nutritional composition by comparing favorably with other cereals and millets and emphasizing its potential to address malnutrition and enhance food security. Furthermore, it explores the phytochemical/bioactive potential and strategies to enhance their bioavailability followed biological activities of Finger millet by highlighting its various health-promoting properties. The review also discusses industrial potential of finger millet including its role in nutraceutical and functional food production, as well as bioenergy generation. In addition, role of Finger millet as a climate-resilient crop; specifically, the available genetic resources and identification of genes and quantitative trait loci (QTLs) associated with major stress tolerance traits have also been discussed. By providing a comprehensive synthesis of existing knowledge, this study offers valuable insights for researchers, policymakers, and stakeholders engaged in efforts to promote sustainable agriculture, enhance food and nutrition security, and mitigate the impacts of climate change., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Food banks are providing crucial relief as food insecurity increases worldwide. While these services are essential for vulnerable populations, there is variability in foods available and users may experience poor nutritional quality, and an overabundance of discretionary foods, contributing to public health risks including overnutrition and obesity. Understanding how customers perceive food availability, variety, and quality is important to inform relief services and health interventions. This study reports the findings of a convergent parallel mixed-methods investigation of user experiences and perceptions of food availability, variety, and quality at a major food bank in Western Australia. Food bank customers (N = 207) at a food bank branch and mobile van locations completed a survey, with an option to complete a subsequent semi-structured interview ( n = 15). Approximately 80% of the survey sample had low (48%) or very low (30%) food security, half of the sample had been using the food bank for longer than 6 months, and 77% reported the food bank as their first choice for food. Three-quarters (77%) reported financial barriers to a balanced diet in the past twelve months and described how limited availability and variety complicated shopping. Interviewees explained complex perceptions of these issues, including favouring healthy food while considering discretionary food as a "luxury" that enhanced their quality of life. Our findings suggest that food bank users experience barriers to maintaining a balanced diet, encounter variable supplies of healthy and nutritious foods, and have concerns about the impacts of frequent discretionary food consumption. These findings have implications for public health promotion.

Food security is one of the important issues in the current world development process. The article takes 31 provinces (districts and cities) in China as the research object and constructs a multidimensional food security level evaluation index system from four dimensions: quantitative security, nutritional security, ecological security, and capacity security. Using the entropy method, China's food security index was calculated for the ten-year period from 2013 to 2022. Overall, China's food security level showed an upward trend during the decade, with the provinces of Shandong, Heilongjiang, and Henan having the highest level of security. The distribution dynamics of food security and its spatiotemporal evolution in the seven regions were examined using the Dagum Gini coefficient and its decomposition, and the absolute and conditional convergence of food security in the different areas was verified. The results of the study show that the provinces within East China have the largest gap in food security levels between them, and there is absolute β-convergence. Looking at China as a whole, the development of its food security level is characterized by significant convergence, which means that provinces with a low level of food security will have a faster rate of growth than those with a high level of food security, resulting in a gradual narrowing of the gap in food security levels between provinces., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright: © 2024 Cheng, Yu. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.)

Bacillus cereus is a foodborne pathogen that induces vomiting and diarrhea in affected individuals. It exhibits resistance to traditional sterilization methods and has a high contamination rate in dairy products and rice. Therefore, the development of a new food safety controlling strategy is necessary. In this research, we isolated and identified a novel phage named vB&#95;BceP&#95;LY3, which belongs to a new genus of the subfamily Northropvirinae. This phage demonstrates a short latency period and remains stable over a wide range of temperatures (4-60 °C) and pH levels (4-11). The 28,124 bp genome of LY3 does not contain any antibiotic-resistance genes or virulence factors. With regards to its antibacterial properties, LY3 not only effectively inhibits the growth of B. cereus in TSB (tryptic soy broth), but also demonstrates significant inhibitory effects in various food matrices. Specifically, LY3 treatment at 4 °C with a high MOI (MOI = 10,000) can maintain B. cereus levels below the detection limit for up to 24 h in milk. LY3 represents a safe and promising biocontrol agent against B. cereus, possessing long-term antibacterial capabilities and stability., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: Tuberculosis is a leading cause of death worldwide, and food insecurity is known to negatively influence health outcomes through multiple pathways. Few studies have interrogated the relationship between food insecurity and tuberculosis outcomes, particularly independent of nutrition., Methods: We conducted a prospective cohort study of adults initiating first-line treatment for clinically suspected or microbiologically confirmed drug-sensitive tuberculosis at a rural referral center in Haiti. We administered a baseline questionnaire, collected clinical data, and analyzed laboratory samples. We used logistic regression models to estimate the relationship between household food insecurity (Household Hunger Scale) and treatment failure or death. We accounted for exclusion of patients lost to follow-up using inverse probability of censoring weighting and adjusted for measured confounders and nutritional status using inverse probability of treatment weighting., Results: We enrolled 257 participants (37% female) between May 2020 and March 2023 with a median age (interquartile range) of 35 (25-45) years. Of these, 105 (41%) had no hunger in the household, 104 (40%) had moderate hunger in the household, and 48 (19%) had severe hunger in the household. Eleven participants (4%) died, and 6 (3%) had treatment failure. After adjustment, food insecurity was significantly associated with subsequent treatment failure or death (odds ratio 5.78 [95% confidence interval, 1.20-27.8]; P = .03)., Conclusions: Household food insecurity at tuberculosis treatment initiation was significantly associated with death or treatment failure after accounting for loss to follow-up, measured confounders, and nutritional status. In addition to the known importance of undernutrition, our findings indicate that food insecurity independently affects tuberculosis treatment outcomes in Haiti., Competing Interests: Potential conflicts of interest . The authors: No reported conflicts of interest. All authors have submitted the ICMJE Form for Disclosure of Potential Conflicts of Interest. Conflicts that the editors consider relevant to the content of the manuscript have been disclosed., (© The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Infectious Diseases Society of America. All rights reserved. For commercial re-use, please contact reprints@oup.com for reprints and translation rights for reprints. All other permissions can be obtained through our RightsLink service via the Permissions link on the article page on our site—for further information please contact journals.permissions@oup.com.)

Background: Addressing Indigenous food security and food sovereignty calls for community-driven strategies to improve access to and availability of traditional and local food. Participatory approaches that integrate Indigenous leadership have supported successful program implementation. Learning Circles: Local Healthy Food to School is a participatory program that convenes a range of stakeholders including food producers, educators and Knowledge Keepers to plan, implement and monitor local food system action. Pilot work (2014-2015) in Haida Gwaii, British Columbia (BC), showed promising results of the Learning Circles (LC) approach in enhancing local and traditional food access, knowledge and skills among youth and adolescents. The objective of the current evaluation was therefore to examine the process of scaling-up the LC vertically within the Haida Nation; and horizontally across three diverse First Nations contexts: Gitxsan Nation, Hazelton /Upper Skeena, BC; Ministikwan Lake Cree Nation, Saskatchewan; and Black River First Nation, Manitoba between 2016 and 2019., Methods: An implementation science framework, Foster-Fishman and Watson's (2012) ABLe Change Framework, was used to understand the LC as a participatory approach to facilitate community capacity building to strengthen local food systems. Interviews (n = 52), meeting summaries (n = 44) and tracking sheets (n = 39) were thematically analyzed., Results: The LC facilitated a collaborative process to: (1) build on strengths and explore ways to increase readiness and capacity to reclaim traditional and local food systems; (2) strengthen connections to land, traditional knowledge and ways of life; (3) foster community-level action and multi-sector partnerships; (4) drive actions towards decolonization through revitalization of traditional foods; (5) improve availability of and appreciation for local healthy and traditional foods in school communities; and (6) promote holistic wellness through steps towards food sovereignty and food security. Scale-up within Haida Gwaii supported a growing, robust local and traditional food system and enhanced Haida leadership. The approach worked well in other First Nations contexts, though baseline capacity and the presence of champions were enabling factors., Conclusions: Findings highlight LC as a participatory approach to build capacity and support iterative planning-to-action in community food systems. Identified strengths and challenges support opportunities to expand, adopt and modify the LC approach in other Indigenous communities with diverse food systems., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

The older adult population in Thailand has been steadily increasing in recent years, and urbanization has resulted in many older adults living independently, leaving many at nutritional risk. The purpose of this research is to explore food security among Thai older adults using a simple screening tool, the DETERMINE tool, as well as from three surveys which reflect seniors' health and ultimately food security including the mini-mental state examination (MMSE), the self-efficacy for physical activity scale (SEPAS), and the health literacy questionnaire. The DETERMINE tool was used in Thailand for the first time in this study. The findings revealed a moderate risk of food insecurity amongst participants, as most of them claimed to have underlying diseases, eat alone, eat a few nutrient-rich foods, and take medication. The MMSE, SEPAS, and health literacy questionnaire results suggested that food security was found to be negatively correlated with higher cognitive ability, higher physical activity, self-efficacy, and higher health literacy. In conclusion, there appears to be a high risk for malnutrition among older adults in Thailand, particularly in those with low income and underlying diseases.

Purpose: We investigated the relationship between disability and food security in South Africa using data from the General Household Survey (GHS)., Materials and Methods: Regression models were utilised with GHS data (2014-2018) to gauge the likelihood of food insecurity (the dependent variable) among individuals with disabilities. Socioeconomic and demographic traits of the 2018 GHS sample were analysed. All estimates were weighted and represented nationally at the individual level., Results: In this study population (32 187) of food insecure people, 9.64% are disabled. Food insecurity impacts more Black people with disabilities (91%) versus those without disabilities (90%), and disabled women (65%) versus nondisabled women (58%). Most reside in KwaZulu-Natal. Those with disability grants lower food insecurity odds, while child support grant recipients face higher odds. Household size and education are significant predictors, while marital status and gender are not., Conclusion: This study data justifies the need for disability-inclusive food security programmes in South Africa, especially amid crises like COVID-19. Significantly, there is a nil data finding about people with eating/swallowing disabilities whose needs intersect with food security. This emphasises the need for inclusive data collection that operates within a food sovereignty framework to increase the visibility of people with disabilities.

The nitrogen (N) cycle is an intricate biogeochemical process that encompasses the conversion of several chemical forms of N. Given its role in food production, the need for N for life on Earth is obvious. However, the release of reactive nitrogen (Nr) species throughout different biogeochemical processes contributes to atmospheric pollution. Several human activities generate many species, including ammonia, nitrous oxide (N 2 O), nitric oxide, and nitrate. The primary reasons for this change are the use of nitrogen-based fertilizers, industrial activities, and the burning of fossil fuels. N 2 O poses a significant threat to environmental sustainability on our planet, with its global warming potential approximately 298 times greater than that of CO 2 . It has direct or indirect impacts on the environment, agroecosystem, and human life on earth. Solar, hydroelectric, geothermal, and wind turbines must be used to reduce Nr emissions. In addition, enterprises should install catalytic converters to minimize nitrogen gas emissions. To reduce Nr emissions, strategic interventions like fertilizer balancing are needed. This work will serve as a comprehensive guide for researchers, academics, and policymakers. Additionally, it will also assist social workers in emphasizing the Nr issue to the public in order to raise awareness within worldwide society., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Climate change poses a substantial threat to agricultural sustainability globally. Agriculture is a vital component of the gross domestic production of developing countries. The multifaceted impacts of climate change on agriculture, highlighting how extreme weather events such as water stress, heatwaves, erratic rainfall, storms, floods, and emerging pest infestations are disrupting agricultural productivity. The socioeconomic status of farmers is particularly vulnerable to climatic extremes with future projections indicating significant increment in ambient air temperatures and unpredictable, intense rainfall patterns. Agriculture has historically relied on the extensive use of synthetic fertilizers, herbicides, and insecticides, combined with advancements in irrigation and biotechnological approaches to boost productivity. It encompasses a range of practices designed to enhance the resilience of agricultural systems, improve productivity, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. By adopting climate-smart practices, farmers can better adapt to changing climatic conditions, thereby ensuring more sustainable and secure food production. Furthermore, it identifies key areas for future research, focusing on the development of innovative adaptation and mitigation strategies. These strategies are essential for minimizing the detrimental impacts of climate change on agriculture and for promoting the long-term sustainability of food systems. This article underscores the importance of interdisciplinary approaches and the integration of advanced technologies to address the challenges posed by climate change. By fostering a deeper understanding of these issues to inform policymakers, researchers, and practitioners about effective strategies to safeguard agricultural productivity and food security in the face of changing climate., (© 2024 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Climate change threatens global agriculture, impacting plant health and crop yield, while plant microbiomes offer potential solutions to enhance resilience. In this forum, we discuss the prospects of single cell multiome and network science in understanding intricate plant-microbe interactions, providing insights for sustainable agriculture and improved crop productivity for global food security., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Food insecurity (FI) expresses irregular access to sufficient, safe, and nutritious food. We analyze the association between clusters of sociodemographic characteristics and FI in university students from Mexico. The Latin American and Caribbean Food Security Scale was applied, and household type, socioeconomic status (SES), and the characteristics of the head of the household, among others, were asked in a cross-sectional study. We performed Two-Step cluster analysis and logistic regression models. We included 466 university students (72.5% women, 47% with FI). We identified three clusters; Cluster-1 ( n = 163) included a single-parent (37.4%) or co-resident/roommate (27%) household type, middle SES (63.2%); the head of the household is usually a woman (76.1%), single (71.8%), and with bachelor's degree (41.7%) or less educational level (46.6%). Cluster-2 ( n = 144) included the nuclear (89.6%) household type, high SES (76.4%); the head of the household is usually a man (79.2%), in a relationship (99.3%), and with a bachelor's degree (63.2%) or graduate level (33.3%). Cluster-3 ( n = 147) is very similar to Cluster-2. The difference is that Cluster-3 includes middle SES (70.1%), and the head of the household's educational level is high school or less (100%). Only belonging to Cluster-1 was positively associated with FI (OR = 1.96, 95%CI: 1.24, 3.09). These results show the interrelationships between multiple sociodemographic characteristics and should contribute to developing interventions that simultaneously address numerous sociodemographic factors to diminish FI in university students.

Precise agrochemical delivery to crops is vital for sustainable agricultural productivity. Recently, Liu et al. developed highly biocompatible smart microcarriers for precise agrochemical delivery to plants that can effectively provide nutrition while reducing runoff. This innovative and precise agrochemical delivery system represents a significant advancement in efficient and eco-friendly crop cultivation practices., Competing Interests: Declaration of interests The authors declare no competing interests., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Cocoa farmers in Nigeria adopt crop diversification to safeguard the food security of their households. Although credit and land are thought to play a vital role in crop diversification, they continue to have limited access to credit and land. This study investigated the linkages between access to credit, land use, crop diversification, and food security with a focus on cocoa farming households. A multistage sampling procedure was used to obtain data for the study. Data were analyzed with the aid of descriptive statistics, the Heifindahl index, the Tobit regression model, the food consumption score, and the ordered Logit regression model. The results for the entire respondents showed mean values of 55 years for age, 31 years for farming experience, 6 people for household size, and 5 ha for farm size. Heifindahl index shows 38.67 % of the respondents had low crop diversification in the study area. Tobit regression model reveals that access to credit, farming experience, cooperative organization, access to extension service, farm size, distance to farms, and labour are the main albeit significant factors that determine crop diversification among cocoa farming households. Food consumption score revealed that 46.67 % were poor, 30.67 % were at the borderline and about 27.67 % were within the acceptable threshold. The ordered logit model revealed that crop diversification index, formal education, access to credit, farm size, land use, and farming experience have a significant influence on the food security of households. The study concluded that there is a positive relationship between access to credit, land use, crop diversification, and food security. Therefore, the government and financial institutions should make credit facilities accessible to cocoa farmers to improve their livelihood., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (© 2024 The Authors.)

Straw return is regarded as a widely used field management strategy for improving soil health, but its comprehensive effect on crop grain yield and quality remains elusive. Herein, a meta-analysis containing 1822 pairs of observations from 78 studies was conducted to quantify the effect of straw return on grain yield and quality of three main crops (maize, rice, and wheat). On average, compared with no straw return, straw return significantly ( p < 0.05) increased grain yield (+4.3%), protein content (+2.5%), total amino acids concentration (+1.2%), and grain phosphorus content (+3.6%), respectively. Meanwhile, straw return significantly ( p < 0.05) decreased rice chalky grain rate (-14.4%), overall grain hardness (-1.9%), and water absorption of maize and wheat (-0.5%), respectively. Moreover, straw return effects on grain yield and quality traits were infected by cultivated crop types, straw return amounts, straw return methods, and straw return duration. Our findings illustrated that direct straw return increased three main crop grain yields and improved various quality traits among different agricultural production areas. Although improper straw return may increase plant disease risk and affect seed germination, our results suggest that full straw return with covered or plough mode is a more suitable way to enhance grain yield and quality. Our study also highlights that compared with direct straw return, straw burning or composting before application may also be beneficial to farmland productivity and sustainability, but comparative studies in this area are still lacking., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Zhang, Yu, Zhang, Li, Su, Wu, Xu, Li and Yao.)

Feeding a growing population with healthy food while preserving the natural ecosystem's resources is a critical challenge of our century. In Egypt, the increasing demand for food commodities and the intensive consumption of freshwater resources by the agricultural sector is hindering the food system capability to achieve sustainable food and nutrition security. The Egyptian government has recently prioritized the improvement of dietary supply through the efficient use of the locally available natural resources. However, strategies to transform the Egyptian agri-food system towards the sustainable satisfaction of healthy dietary needs have not been yet studied. Here, a novel approach has been introduced, able to combine the environmental advantages of an optimized crop allocation with the benefits of providing a healthy diet. First, a physically based agro-hydrological model is used to assess the crop water needs associated with the current cropland and diet (baseline). Subsequently, a linear optimization crop allocation algorithm is designed to replace crops in order to maximize green water productivity, while meeting the dietary requirements of the EAT-Lancet diet. Our results show that through an optimized crop allocation entailing the production of healthy and varied food, it is possible to reach an average 95 % satisfaction of the demand for healthy food items by local agricultural products, with an 8 % reduction in local freshwater consumption and a 90 % increase in crop profitability. Our study suggests the prioritization of the promotion of the dietary guidelines by the EAT-Lancet Commission at the national level in Egypt, to support human health against malnutrition and the development of a more sustainable and efficient food system., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: In the aftermath of the COVID-19 public health emergency, it is important to understand the extent of socioeconomic burdens of long COVID, defined as continuation of symptoms after initial infection, including food insecurity., Objective: This study aimed to assess the association between long COVID and family food insecurity among low-income individuals (or any of their family members living with them) who were participants and nonparticipants in public food assistance programs (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program [SNAP], Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children [WIC], and National School Lunch Program [NSLP]) in the United States., Design: The study used an observational cross-sectional design., Participants/setting: Data on 7151 adults (aged 18+ years), with family income of < 200% of the Federal Poverty line, from the 2022 National Health Interview Survey, were analyzed., Main Outcome Measures: Level of family food security, based on responses to a set of 10 questions measuring family's food security during the past 30 days., Statistical Analyses Performed: Multinomial logistic regression models were estimated to obtain relative risk ratios of marginal and low/very low food security, relative to the base outcome of high food security, for long COVID status. Multivariable models were estimated separately for the full sample and for subgroups of food assistance participants and nonparticipants. A seemingly unrelated regression (SUR) specification was estimated to assess whether the estimates were different across the participant and nonparticipant subgroups., Results: Compared with individuals who never had COVID-19, the adjusted relative risks of experiencing marginal and low/very low food security were 1.42 (95% CI, 1.00-2.02) and 1.43 (95% CI, 1.08-1.91) times higher, respectively, for individuals who had long COVID. Although the adjusted risks were not observed to be statistically significant in the participant subgroup, among nonparticipants, adjusted relative risk ratios were 2.34 (95% CI, 1.43-3.82) and 1.56 (95% CI, 1.02-2.39), respectively. SUR results showed that relationships between long COVID and food insecurity were only different for marginal and not low/very low levels of food security between food assistance participant and nonparticipant groups., Conclusions: Study findings highlight a significantly higher risk of marginal and low/very low- food security among low-income adults who had long COVID, especially those who were nonparticipants in public food assistance programs. Further research is warranted to explore the causal pathways of this relationship for informing policies to mitigate the burden of long COVID., (Copyright © 2024 Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Significant postharvest losses and food safety issues persist in many developing nations, primarily due to fungal activities, including mycotoxin production. In this study, green synthesised zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) were prepared from leaf extracts of Syzygium cordatum (ZnO 1), Lippia javanica (ZnO 2), Bidens pilosa (ZnO 3), and Ximenia caffra (ZnO 4). Physicochemical characteristics of the ZnO-NPs were determined using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transmission Infrared spectroscopy and ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis) spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The XRD analysis confirmed the presence of a wurtzite crystal structure in the hexagonal shape of the ZnO nanoparticles (NPs), with an average size ranging between 25 and 43 nm. The microscopic examination of the morphology revealed the presence of spherical particles with sizes ranging from 37 to 47 nm in diameter. The antifungal efficacy of the ZnO-NPs was assessed against pathogenic plant fungi, including Botrytis sp. (STEU 7866), Penicillium sp. (STEU 7865), and Pilidiella granati (STEU 7864), using the poisoned food technique. Further antifungal evaluation of the ZnOPs was performed using the broth microdilution assay. A significant interaction between the type of ZnO-NPs and fungal species was observed, with the highest susceptibility in Mucor sp. to ZnO 2, achieving over 50% inhibition. Penicillium sp. also showed high susceptibility to all ZnO-NPs. Molecular docking results confirmed the strong H-bonding interactions of ZnO-NPs with fungal receptors in Mucor sp. and Penicillium sp., Botrytis sp. and P. granati exhibited the least susceptibility. Further tests revealed that ZnO 2 exhibited the highest inhibitory effect on Botrytis sp., with a low minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 25 µg/mL, attributed to its larger positive zeta potential. This study indicates that ZnO NPs, particularly those mediated using Lippia javanica (ZnO 2), have promising potential as effective antifungal agents, which could play a significant role in reducing postharvest decay and losses., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Rice grain is widely consumed as a staple food, providing essential nutrition for households, particularly marginalized families. It plays a crucial role in ensuring food security, promoting human nutrition, supporting good health, and contributing to global food and nutritional security. Addressing the diverse quality demands of emerging diverse and climate-risked population dietary needs requires the development of a single variety of rice grain that can meet the various dietary and nutritional requirements. However, there is a lack of concrete definition for rice grain quality, making it challenging to cater to the different demands. The lack of sufficient genetic study and development in improving rice grain quality has resulted in widespread malnutrition, hidden hunger, and micronutrient deficiencies affecting a significant portion of the global population. Therefore, it is crucial to identify genetically evolved varieties with marked qualities that can help address these issues. Various factors account for the declining quality of rice grain and requires further study to improve their quality for healthier diets. We characterized rice grain quality using Lancastrians descriptor and a multitude of intrinsic and extrinsic quality traits. Next, we examined various components of rice grain quality favored in the Asia-Pacific region. This includes preferences by different communities, rice industry stakeholders, and value chain actors. We also explored the biological aspects of rice grain quality in the region, as well as specific genetic improvements that have been made in these traits. Additionally, we evaluated the factors that can influence rice grain quality and discussed the future directions for ensuring food and nutritional security and meeting consumer demands for grain quality. We explored the diverse consumer bases and their varied preferences in Asian-Pacific countries including India, China, Nepal, Bhutan, Vietnam, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Thailand, Cambodia, Philippines, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Korea, Myanmar and Japan. The quality preferences encompassed a range of factors, including rice head recovery, grain shape, uniform size before cooking, gelatinization, chalkiness, texture, amylose content, aroma, red-coloration of grain, soft and shine when cooked, unbroken when cooked, gelatinization, less water required for cooking, gelatinization temperature (less cooking time), aged rice, firm and dry when cooked (gel consistency), extreme white, soft when chewed, easy-to-cook rice (parboiled rice), vitamins, and minerals. These preferences were evaluated across high, low, and medium categories. A comprehensive analysis is provided on the enhancement of grain quality traits, including brown rice recovery, recovery rate of milled rice, head rice recovery, as well as morphological traits such as grain length, grain width, grain length-width ratio, and grain chalkiness. We also explored the characteristics of amylose, gel consistency, gelatinization temperature, viscosity, as well as the nutritional qualities of rice grains such as starch, protein, lipids, vitamins, minerals, phytochemicals, and bio-fortification potential. The various factors that impact the quality of rice grains, including pre-harvest, post-harvest, and genotype considerations were explored. Additionally, we discussed the future direction and genetic strategies to effectively tackle these challenges. These qualitative characteristics represent the fundamental focus of regional and national breeding strategies employed by different countries to meet consumer preference. Given the significance of rice as a staple food in Asia-Pacific countries, it is primarily consumed domestically, with only a small portion being exported internationally. All the important attributes must be clearly defined within specific parameters. It is crucial for geneticists and breeders to develop a rice variety that can meet the diverse demands of consumers worldwide by incorporating multiple desirable traits. Thus, the goal of addressing global food and nutritional security, and human healthy can be achieved., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Objectives: Food security plays a critical role in achieving Sustainable Development Goal 2 (SDG-2) and public health outcomes; however, its effectiveness under the impact of international sanctions remains unclear. This study examined the impact of international sanctions on achieving SDG-2 and food security., Study Design: This cross-country empirical analysis was based on a combined database that included data from the Global Sanctions Data Base (GSDB), Food and Agriculture Organization Statistics (FAOSTAT) and United Nations (UN) Comtrade., Methods: First, an instrumental variable (IV) strategy was used to deal with the endogeneity of other events in target countries' sanctions. Second, a two-stage least square (2SLS) regression was conducted using high-dimensional fixed effects. Third, based on the Structural Gravity Model, a Poisson pseudo maximum likelihood (PPML) regression on bilateral agricultural trade was performed., Results: Findings from this study showed that international sanctions had a negative impact on the achievement of SDG-2 and food security, which was associated with poor public health outcomes. This was mainly evidenced by an increase in the prevalence of undernourishment and a high population of children with moderate or severe stunting. Sanctions were also shown to distort the agricultural value-added share and decrease domestic agricultural production. In addition, sanctions impeded bilateral import supply, which resulted in a lower import value and quantity, and a higher import price., Conclusions: Food security and agricultural sustainability associated with hunger, nutrition and health from 1950 to 2019 were significantly associated with international sanctions. Under the uncertain shock of international sanctions, progress towards SDG-2 deteriorated, mainly for Targets 2.1, 2.2 and 2.a, and the impact was non uniform across all targets. From a sociopolitical perspective, the empirical findings of this study provide vital lessons for policymakers and public health communities to increase humanitarian outreach., (Copyright © 2024 The Royal Society for Public Health. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The use of plant genetic resources (PGR)-wild relatives, landraces, and isolated breeding gene pools-has had substantial impacts on wheat breeding for resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses, while increasing nutritional value, end-use quality, and grain yield. In the Global South, post-Green Revolution genetic yield gains are generally achieved with minimal additional inputs. As a result, production has increased, and millions of hectares of natural ecosystems have been spared. Without PGR-derived disease resistance, fungicide use would have easily doubled, massively increasing selection pressure for fungicide resistance. It is estimated that in wheat, a billion liters of fungicide application have been avoided just since 2000. This review presents examples of successful use of PGR including the relentless battle against wheat rust epidemics/pandemics, defending against diseases that jump species barriers like blast, biofortification giving nutrient-dense varieties and the use of novel genetic variation for improving polygenic traits like climate resilience. Crop breeding genepools urgently need to be diversified to increase yields across a range of environments (>200 Mha globally), under less predictable weather and biotic stress pressure, while increasing input use efficiency. Given that the ~0.8 m PGR in wheat collections worldwide are relatively untapped and massive impacts of the tiny fraction studied, larger scale screenings and introgression promise solutions to emerging challenges, facilitated by advanced phenomic and genomic tools. The first translocations in wheat to modify rhizosphere microbiome interaction (reducing biological nitrification, reducing greenhouse gases, and increasing nitrogen use efficiency) is a landmark proof of concept. Phenomics and next-generation sequencing have already elucidated exotic haplotypes associated with biotic and complex abiotic traits now mainstreamed in breeding. Big data from decades of global yield trials can elucidate the benefits of PGR across environments. This kind of impact cannot be achieved without widescale sharing of germplasm and other breeding technologies through networks and public-private partnerships in a pre-competitive space., (© 2024 The Author(s). Global Change Biology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Helicoverpa armigera is among the most problematic agricultural pests worldwide due to its polyphagy and ability to evolve pesticide resistance. Molecular detection methods for H. armigera have been developed to track its spread, as such methods allow for rapid and accurate differentiation from the native sibling species H. zea . Droplet digital PCR (ddPCR) is a preferred method for bulk screening due to its accuracy and tolerance to PCR inhibitors; however, real-time PCR is less expensive and more widely available in molecular labs. Improvements to DNA extraction yield, purity, and throughput are crucial for real-time PCR assay optimization. Bulk DNA extractions have recently been improved to where real-time PCR sensitivity can equal that of ddPCR, but these new methods require significant time and specialized equipment. In this study, we improve upon previously published bulk DNA extraction methods by reducing bench time and materials. Our results indicate that the addition of caffeine and RNase A improves DNA extraction, resulting in lower Cq values during real-time PCR while reducing the processing time and cost per specimen. Such improvements will enable the use of high throughput screening methods across multiple platforms to improve the probability of detection of H. armigera .

Many recent studies have examined the impact of predicted changes in temperature and precipitation patterns on infectious diseases under different greenhouse gas emissions scenarios. But these emissions scenarios symbolize more than altered temperature and precipitation regimes; they also represent differing levels of change in energy, transportation, and food production at a global scale to reduce the effects of climate change. The ways humans respond to climate change, either through adaptation or mitigation, have underappreciated, yet hugely impactful effects on infectious disease transmission, often in complex and sometimes nonintuitive ways. Thus, in addition to investigating the direct effects of climate changes on infectious diseases, it is critical to consider how human preventative measures and adaptations to climate change will alter the environments and hosts that support pathogens. Here, we consider the ways that human responses to climate change will likely impact disease risk in both positive and negative ways. We evaluate the evidence for these impacts based on the available data, and identify research directions needed to address climate change while minimizing externalities associated with infectious disease, especially for vulnerable communities. We identify several different human adaptations to climate change that are likely to affect infectious disease risk independently of the effects of climate change itself. We categorize these changes into adaptation strategies to secure access to water, food, and shelter, and mitigation strategies to decrease greenhouse gas emissions. We recognize that adaptation strategies are more likely to have infectious disease consequences for under-resourced communities, and call attention to the need for socio-ecological studies to connect human behavioral responses to climate change and their impacts on infectious disease. Understanding these effects is crucial as climate change intensifies and the global community builds momentum to slow these changes and reduce their impacts on human health, economic productivity, and political stability., (Global Change Biology© 2024 The Author(s). Global Change Biology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

In developing countries, orphan legumes stand at the forefront in the struggle against climate change. Their high nutrient value is crucial in malnutrition and chronic diseases prevention. However, as the 'orphan' definition suggests, their seed systems are still underestimated and seed production is scanty. Seed priming is an effective, sustainable strategy to boost seed quality in orphan legumes for which up-to-date guidelines are required to guarantee reliable and reproducible results. How far are we along this path? What do we expect from seed priming? This brings to other relevant questions. What is the socio-economic relevance of orphan legumes in the Mediterranean Basin? How to potentiate a broader cultivation in specific regions? The case study of the BENEFIT-Med (Boosting technologies of orphan legumes towards resilient farming systems) project, developed by multidisciplinary research networks, envisions a roadmap for producing new knowledge and innovative technologies to improve seed productivity through priming, with the long-term objective of promoting sustainability and food security for/in the climate-sensitive regions. This review highlights the existing drawbacks that must be overcome before orphan legumes could reach the state of 'climate-ready crops'. Only by the integration of knowledge in seed biology, technology and agronomy, the barrier existing between research bench and local agricultural fields may be overcome, generating high-impact technical innovations for orphan legumes. We intend to provide a powerful message to encourage future research in line with the United Nations Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development., Competing Interests: Author CK was employed by the company Agroland S.A. The remaining authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest. The author(s) declared that they were an editorial board member of Frontiers, at the time of submission. This had no impact on the peer review process and the final decision., (Copyright © 2024 Balestrazzi, Calvio, Macovei, Pagano, Laux, Moutahir, Rajjou, Tani, Chachalis, Katsis, Ghaouti, Gmouh, Majid, Elleuch, Hanin, Khemakhem, El Abed, Nunes, Araújo, Benhamrouche and Bersi.)