Search Results (5,540)

The entry of JD.com into the food delivery sector and the ensuing subsidy competition have resulted in irrational competition, merchant profit squeezes, and food safety risks in China. This study therefore investigates the collaborative governance mechanisms for food delivery platforms under involutionary competition driven by traffic contestation. A two-agent evolutionary game model between platforms and merchants is developed, and Q-learning simulations are conducted to capture dynamic learning behaviors. The analysis examines the effects of coupon face value, cost-sharing mechanisms, traffic incentives, and government incentive-penalty policies on the strategic choices of both agents. Key findings reveal that merchants are more sensitive than platforms to traffic incentives and government penalties. Traffic-dependent merchants and traffic-independent merchants exhibit significantly different responses to government interventions. The coupon face value demonstrates a threshold effect, where only a reasonable range encourages compliant behavior among both parties. Based on these results, a collaborative governance framework is proposed. For traffic-dependent merchants, the government should focus on regulating platform behaviors and supervising coupon value controls, while platforms should establish a reward-oriented, penalty-supported incentive mechanism. For traffic-independent merchants, the government should strengthen consumer-reporting penalty mechanisms and strictly control collusion risks between platforms and merchants. Platforms should increase inspection frequency and reinforce penalties to prevent, at the source, the decline in product quality and market disorder induced by involutionary competition. This study provides strategic insights for achieving collaborative governance of involutionary competition in platform economies under intense traffic contestation. Full article

This paper examines the vulnerability and adaptive capacity of mountain communities in South and Central Asia, with specific reference to the Himalayas and the Central Asian highlands. Using a comparative framework, the study combines the Livelihood Vulnerability Index (LVI), LVI-IPCC, and the Livelihood Equity/Endowment Index (LEI) to measure multidimensional vulnerability. A mixed-methods approach combining household surveys and qualitative field evidence is used to analyze primary data from 600 households across four mountain regions: Leh (India), Sindhupalchok (Nepal), Batken (Kyrgyzstan), and Urgut (Uzbekistan). The results show that vulnerability is not explained only by climatic exposure; it is also associated with socio-economic conditions, institutional access, and livelihood assets. Leh and Sindhupalchok show higher vulnerability associated with water insecurity, food dependence, weak infrastructure, and climate variability, whereas Batken’s vulnerability is mainly linked to limited adaptive capacity. Urgut shows greater resilience associated with stronger adaptive capacity, despite persistent structural inequalities. The paper identifies financial access, social networks, and knowledge systems as important factors in strengthening resilience. It concludes that context-specific, inclusive, and asset-based policy interventions may help strengthen adaptive capacity and reduce vulnerability in fragile mountain ecosystems. Full article

Background: Consumption of ultra-processed foods (UPFs) continues to rise alongside a growing body of epidemiological evidence linking high UPF intake to adverse health outcomes, including cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes, in the general population. However, the factors underlying these associations remain incompletely understood, underscoring the need to examine components beyond traditional nutrient composition. In particular, food-processing additives are increasingly recognized as defining features of industrially formulated UPFs. Objective/Methods: In this study, we used a large food label database to cross-sectionally examine the presence and co-occurrence of selected additives (sorbates, benzoates, phosphate additives, and non-nutritive sweeteners [NNSs]) in sweetened beverages sold by the 25 top-selling U.S. food and beverage manufacturers in 2020. Results: We found that sweetened beverages marketed in the U.S. frequently contain multiple additive classes concurrently, supporting the concept that these products represent complex chemical exposure mixtures rather than simple combinations of water and sweeteners. Formulations containing multiple additives were substantially more common than simpler formulations, with many beverages simultaneously containing combinations of sweeteners, preservatives, and phosphate additives. Products containing NNS exhibited higher additive clustering compared to products containing added sugar. Conclusions: Collectively, these findings support the need for broader consideration of beverage formulation complexity in nutrition research, dietary guidance, and policy regulation. Full article

Sustainable agricultural development requires regional agricultural systems to balance output growth, resource efficiency, ecological protection, and long-term resilience. In mountainous and ecologically sensitive regions, identifying the development constraints and statistically derived marginal contribution thresholds of agriculture is essential for promoting green transformation and sustainable land use. Taking Yunnan Province, China, as a representative plateau mountainous agricultural region, this study uses provincial annual data from 1990 to 2023 to quantitatively identify the key drivers and threshold characteristics of agricultural development under multidimensional constraints. A multidimensional indicator system was constructed covering fiscal and investment support, agricultural production inputs, rural infrastructure, and labor and population conditions. Ridge regression was employed to address multicollinearity among explanatory variables, Bootstrap approximate inference was used to improve the robustness of coefficient estimation, and the SHAP interpretation framework was introduced to rank key driving factors and identify marginal contribution thresholds. By integrating ridge regression, Bootstrap approximate inference, SHAP-based contribution ranking, and threshold identification, the proposed framework advances prior agricultural sustainability studies by linking coefficient-based factor analysis with interpretable marginal contribution thresholds under conditions of high multicollinearity and multidimensional resource constraints. The results show that agricultural development in Yunnan is characterized by multidimensional resource and infrastructure constraints. Rural electricity consumption, total reservoir storage capacity, fixed asset investment in agriculture, forestry, animal husbandry and fisheries, local public fiscal budget expenditure, and agricultural population generally act as positive supporting factors. Rural electricity consumption is the most stable and core driver across the aggregate and three sectoral models. In contrast, pesticide and fertilizer inputs show significant negative associations in most models, suggesting that future agricultural development in Yunnan is unlikely to be sustainably supported by continued expansion of high-intensity chemical inputs. Sectoral heterogeneity is also evident: agriculture and animal husbandry are more dependent on energy, water resources, and mechanization, whereas forestry shows a more distinct operational structure. The SHAP dependence analysis identifies several statistically derived marginal contribution thresholds, including rural electricity consumption of approximately 6.055 billion kWh, total reservoir storage capacity of approximately 10.395 billion m³, total agricultural machinery power of approximately 19.8324 million kW, pesticide use of approximately 37,500 tons, and fertilizer application of approximately 1.5238 million tons. These values should be interpreted as empirical transition points in the modeled marginal contributions rather than definitive biophysical ecological limits. They indicate that the sustainability-related constraint structure of agricultural development in Yunnan is not a single output ceiling but a composite interval shaped by infrastructure support capacity, factor allocation conditions, and the declining marginal contribution of high-intensity chemical inputs. The findings provide directional quantitative evidence for sustainable agricultural governance, agricultural green transformation, and differentiated policy discussion in mountainous agricultural regions and offer reference implications for advancing SDG 2 and SDG 15 through the coordination of food-related production, resource use efficiency, and ecosystem conservation. The identified thresholds should be interpreted as model-derived marginal contribution transition points rather than operational policy cutoffs or directly enforceable ecological standards. Full article

Ensuring sustainable management of water, energy, and food (WEF) resources requires governance frameworks capable of addressing cross-sectoral interdependencies and policy fragmentation. This study evaluates the performance and coherence of national water, energy, and agricultural policies in Mali, South Africa, Malawi, and Tanzania, with a focus on their contribution to WEF nexus integration and energy transition pathways. A mixed-methods approach is applied, combining qualitative policy analysis, stakeholder consultations (n = 52), and a composite policy coherence index to assess cross-sectoral policy alignment across three river basins: the Bani River Basin (Mali), the Songwe River Basin (Malawi–Tanzania), and the Inkomati–Usuthu Water Management Area (South Africa). The results indicate that key water policy dimensions such as conservation, pollution control, and stakeholder participation demonstrate high performance (mean = 1.0) and strong coherence (SD = 0.0–0.1) across all countries. However, these values primarily reflect the presence of policy instruments rather than their effective implementation. Stakeholder evidence highlights persistent gaps in enforcement, coordination, and institutional capacity. In the energy sector, core infrastructure and participation policies exhibit high performance (mean = 1.0; SD = 0.0), while critical market instruments—including feed-in tariffs (FITs) and power purchase agreements (PPAs)—show moderate performance (mean = 0.6–0.8) and high variability (SD = 0.4–0.5), indicating regulatory inconsistency. In the agricultural sector, economic incentives achieve high performance (mean = 1.0; SD = 0.0), whereas sustainable practices such as agroecology, crop rotation, and organic fertilization remain weakly integrated (mean = 0.1–0.4; SD up to 0.5). Overall, the findings reveal that WEF nexus governance is characterized by strong structural policy alignment (mean = 0.8–1.0) but limited functional integration, reflecting a gap between policy design coherence and implementation effectiveness. Strengthening regulatory frameworks, improving cross-sectoral coordination, and enhancing investment mechanisms are critical for advancing resource efficiency and accelerating energy transition. The study provides a reproducible framework for assessing policy coherence and offers policy-relevant insights for integrated resource governance in Sub-Saharan Africa. Full article

This study analyses the economic performance, sustainability, and resilience of family farming systems in São Tomé and Príncipe, using an approach that combines quantitative and qualitative data. Primary data were collected through a survey of 50 rural families from the seven districts of the country, focus group discussions, and field observations. Quantitative analysis included descriptive statistics and exploratory comparative procedures, complemented by economic evaluation, while thematic analysis examined the qualitative data. The findings reveal diversified agroforestry systems, integrating up to 33 crops and small-scale livestock production. At the individual and aggregate levels, agroforestry shows viable economic performance, with a net profit margin of 57.4%, capable of generating income and marketable surpluses. This improves rural livelihoods, strengthens resilience to climate and market shocks, and supports both subsistence and market-oriented production. Despite these strengths, structural constraints persist, including fragile value chains, limitations in access to credit and markets, low technology adoption, and climate vulnerability. Human capital, particularly education, emerges as a key factor in improving productivity and value creation. Integrated policies on access to resources and education are needed to promote diversification, multi-activity, and market integration as central strategies for increasing sustainability, food security, and risk reduction in family farming. Full article

Agri-food systems are increasingly exposed to environmental, economic, and social challenges, including climate change, biodiversity loss, resource depletion, and growing territorial inequalities. In this context, agroecology is increasingly recognised as a transformative paradigm integrating ecological, economic, social, cultural, and political dimensions within broader processes of food-system transition. Within the PRIMA AgrEcoMed project, 24 Italian agroecological initiatives led by women and young farmers were analysed to explore their contribution to agroecological transition processes in Mediterranean rural areas. The study adopts a qualitative multiple-case study approach and evaluates the selected initiatives through the framework of the 13 Principles of Agroecology proposed by the High-Level Panel of Experts on Food Security and Nutrition, organised into three operational axes: improving resource efficiency, strengthening resilience, and ensuring social responsibility and fairness. The results show that the analysed initiatives combine ecological farming practices with processes of multifunctionality, territorial networking, knowledge co-creation, short supply chains, and community engagement. The findings suggest that several initiatives move beyond input-reduction strategies associated with “weak agroecology” and display characteristics consistent with stronger agroecological pathways based on territorial embeddedness, collective learning, and the reorganisation of relationships between production, consumption, and local communities. The paper highlights the relevance of agroecology not only as an environmentally sustainable farming approach, but also as a broader socio-ecological and territorial transition process, as well as the importance of policy frameworks to support territorial agroecological systems. Full article

This integrative critical review examines how biomass and bioenergy can contribute to energy diversification while accounting for constraints related to climate mitigation, energy security, resource availability, and technology readiness. The review combines a targeted literature synthesis with expert-informed insights from the international seminar Energy Transition and Biofuels held at the Federal University of Itajubá in October 2025. The seminar and COP30-related discussions were used as contextual and conceptual inputs, while peer-reviewed literature, policy documents, and technical reports provided the evidentiary basis for the analysis. The manuscript evaluates biomass and biofuels utilization, refinery integration, sustainable aviation fuels, biochar, BECCS, hydrogen synergies, life-cycle assessment, artificial intelligence, and logistics. The synthesis indicates that biomass is not a universal substitute for fossil fuels. Still, it has distinctive value in applications requiring renewable carbon, dispatchable energy, process heat, liquid fuels, carbon removal, and compatibility with existing infrastructure. The analysis also shows that these contributions are contingent on feedstock governance, land and water safeguards, logistics, fertilizer inputs, technology maturity, and verified life-cycle performance. The food–fuel discussion is therefore reframed as a context-specific problem of land-use, access, productivity, and governance rather than a simple competition between energy and food production. The study concludes that bioenergy can most credibly support the energy transition when deployed through differentiated pathways tailored to regional resources, sustainability constraints, and sector-specific decarbonization requirements. Full article

Over the past fifty years, urban and rural spaces have been reshaped by global sustainability policies, digital innovation, and emerging socio-ecological needs. This article investigates the convergence of agro-urban planning strategies, Smart City infrastructures, and adaptive governance models, proposing an integrated agro-urban paradigm for sustainable territorial transformation. Drawing on a literature review and comparative analysis of international case studies—including Toronto, Milan, and Woven City—the research develops a triadic interpretative framework based on worldview, program, and faith. The study identifies AgroCities as systems centered on food sovereignty and ecological resilience, Smart Cities as efficiency-driven digital ecosystems, and Adaptive Cities as flexible, human-centered responses to complexity. Findings suggest that integrating food systems, technological innovation, and participatory governance enhances urban resilience and sustainability across scales. The article concludes by advocating for multi-scalar planning tools, cross-sectoral policies, and civic engagement to support the transition toward inclusive and regenerative cities. This framework offers a theoretical and operational contribution to reimagining urban planning in line with the principles of Smart Land and adaptive urbanism. Full article

Food security is a strategic national priority, yet the expansion of non-grain production of cultivated land (NGPC) poses a substantial threat to grain production capacity. This paper investigates whether agricultural new quality productive forces (ANQPFs)—as a potential high-quality solution to food security challenges—can effectively mitigate NGPC. Conceptually, while ANQPF may either promote or inhibit NGPC, its net effect remains indeterminate. Initially, an optimal decision-making model is developed to theoretically examine the influence of ANQPF on land-use strategies. Aligning with theoretical predictions, empirical estimates from two-way fixed effects models using Yangtze River Basin panel data (2013–2023) demonstrate that ANQPF significantly mitigates NGPC. These results are resilient to a battery of robustness and endogeneity tests. Mechanism analysis indicates that this effect operates through the substitution of traditional labor and the expansion of socialized services tailored to grain crops. This inhibitory effect is found to be more pronounced in major grain-producing regions and less developed areas. Notably, threshold regression reveals a non-linear relationship: the capacity of ANQPF to stabilize grain production diminishes as per capita GDP surpasses a critical threshold, exhibiting a pattern of diminishing marginal returns. The findings suggest that while ANQPF initially inhibits the shift toward non-grain production, its effectiveness is contingent and stage-dependent. This underscores the need for differentiated policy interventions that integrate technological innovation with institutional and economic support to safeguard food security. Full article

Traditional shellfish harvesting plays a crucial role in food security, local livelihoods and the preservation of cultural heritage in coastal communities. This study examined environmental, socioeconomic and circular economy perceptions associated with the artisanal fishery of the “black chinese” snail (Hexaplex nigritus) in the Navachiste Lagoon system, located in the south-eastern Gulf of California. A quantitative, exploratory–descriptive approach was employed using a structured Likert-scale questionnaire administered to 225 fishers. Four analytical dimensions were evaluated: environmental perception, personal-family-social, economic, and circular economy perception. Given the multidimensional nature of the questionnaire, the results were interpreted through item-level response patterns. An exploratory hierarchical cluster analysis using Ward’s method suggested greater similarity between environmental and economic perception profiles, without establishing a definitive relationship. The descriptive results indicated moderate environmental concern ($\overline{\mathrm{x}}$ = 3.12), high sociocultural value ($\overline{\mathrm{x}}$ = 4.49), a negative economic perception ($\overline{\mathrm{x}}$ = 2.32) associated with low income and dependence on intermediaries, and limited adoption of circular economy practices ($\overline{\mathrm{x}}$ = 1.36). It is concluded that, despite its cultural importance, surveyed fishers perceive that the fishery faces environmental pressures and economic constraints and shows an almost total lack of integration of circular economy practices. These findings underscore the potential importance of developing comprehensive policies to promote sustainable management, strengthen marketing, and foster a circular economy for the H. nigritus fishery with the aim of contributing to its long-term sustainability in the region. Full article

Despite the plethora of literature on urban agriculture (UA), an analysis of the reasons why many urban residents in Africa rarely engage in the practice remains incipient. This review examines the irony between large arable land and persistent hunger in African cities. It was inspired by the rising food insecurity driven by the heavy reliance on market-based food, high poverty, and rapid urbanization. The study conducts a systematic review to clarify the debate on why, in the midst of these setbacks, a disproportionate percentage of urban residents do not produce their own food. Through the PRISMA method and five inclusion benchmarks, the paper identified 38 peer-reviewed book chapters and journal articles that provide the underlying rationale for why UA is not prevalent in African cities. The paper found economic, environmental, governance, and prevailing sociocultural conditions as primary barriers. To that end, it suggests avenues for empowering urban residents to transition from simply being consumers to producers. It concludes by identifying the limitations of the paper and new lines of study that ought to be conducted to fully realize the potential of UA across the continent. Full article

Greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution are closely interconnected environmental challenges with major implications for human health and global sustainability. Many of the activities that drive climate change also release pollutants such as nitrogen dioxide, sulphur dioxide, carbon monoxide, and particulate matter, which directly affect air quality and population health. This review synthesises current evidence on the main sources of greenhouse gas emissions and atmospheric pollutants, the atmospheric processes that influence air quality, and the epidemiological evidence linking air pollution exposure to adverse health outcomes. The paper also discusses the public health co-benefits of climate mitigation strategies, including the transition to cleaner energy systems, sustainable transport policies, and urban environmental interventions. Finally, the review places air pollution and climate change within the broader framework of human security, highlighting their implications for health security, environmental stability, food systems, and economic resilience. By integrating perspectives from environmental epidemiology, public health, and global environmental governance, this review provides a multidisciplinary overview of the links between greenhouse gas emissions, air quality, and human well-being, and underscores the importance of coordinated policy responses to address these interconnected challenges. Full article

The sustainable management of chemical fumigants in intensive horticulture represents one of the most complex challenges in European agricultural policy, requiring the integration of agronomic knowledge, regulatory frameworks, economic viability, and stakeholder perspectives. This study proposes and tests a multi-phase consultation methodology designed to bridge the gap between individual expert knowledge and collective, evidence-based consensus, moving from qualitative field-based elicitation to structured multidisciplinary engagement and incorporating both scientific data and practical experience. A total of 72 experts were involved across two phases. In phase 1, in-depth face-to-face interviews (n = 18) captured field-level knowledge on integrated pest management strategies, risk perception, and decision-making criteria, including the economic sustainability of production systems, a dimension prioritized in the European Commission’s Vision for Agriculture and Food. Phase 2 consisted of a one-day multistakeholder event (n = 54)—bringing together researchers, regulators, industry representatives, and farmers—to confront qualitative findings with experimental data on operator safety, groundwater protection, and consumer residues. This deliberate transition from individual perception to informed, shared consensus represents the methodological core of the approach and its most distinctive contribution. The phase 1 results showed that the majority of experts considered chemical fumigants currently indispensable, while recognizing complementary strategies—particularly solarization and natural substances—as valuable supporting tools. The phase 2 experimental data confirmed operator exposure below regulatory thresholds, no groundwater contamination under professional application conditions, and the absence of detectable residues in treated crops. The results demonstrate that this structured consultation can generate actionable knowledge for integrated nematode and soil-borne disease management, with a methodology replicable across other complex regulatory and agronomic contexts within the European framework. Full article

Background/Objectives: The spatial interaction between obesity, diet-related chronic diseases, premature mortality, food environments, and social determinants of health is a global concern. This study aimed to analyze the spatial distribution of healthy and unhealthy food outlets in two medium-sized cities in southern Chile. Methods: A cross-sectional observational study was conducted to characterize the food environment in two medium-sized cities in Chile. Food outlets were geolocated and classified as healthy, regular, or unhealthy, and into four food environment categories (institutional outlets, informal markets, formal markets, and restauration) using validated instruments. Results: Of 1972 identified sites, 1949 were geolocated. Among these, 246 (12.6%) were classified as healthy, 461 (23.7%) as unhealthy, and 1242 (63.7%) as regular. Food environments comprised 1441 stores (73.9%), 366 restauration (18.8%), 136 street food outlets (7.0%), and six institutional food outlets (0.3%). The two lowest socioeconomic quintiles (Q1–Q2) exhibited a lower proportion of healthy food outlets (39.4%). Significant positive spatial autocorrelation was observed for stores, restaurants, and street food outlets (p < 0.005). Conclusions: Food environments were unequally distributed, with a higher density of healthy food outlets in areas characterized by greater population density and higher socioeconomic status. The observed spatial autocorrelation highlights the need for targeted public health interventions to reduce inequalities in access to healthy foods. These findings provide evidence to support policies aimed at promoting more equitable and healthier food environments in medium-sized cities. Full article