Search Results (5,818)

Sorghum is a strategic crop for food, feed, and bioenergy. However, information on its cultivation area and agronomic profile in Indonesia remains limited. Therefore, this study aimed to identify, characterize, and evaluate sorghum cultivation in different agroecosystems and pedoagroclimatic settings in Indonesia. We surveyed published articles, newspapers, and other digital resources, collating a dataset that contained pedoagroclimatic characteristics. We then conducted a field survey to gather data on sorghum farming practices. The results show that sorghum is planted in 11 agroclimatic zones, mainly in D3, B1, and E4, and in seven soil types, mainly in Inceptisols, Mollisols, Vertisols, and Andisols. The cultivated varieties cover Bioguma 1, Bioguma 2, Bioguma 3, Numbu, Kawali, UPCA-S1, Suri 3 Agritan, Soper 9, and local varieties. Under smallholder farmers’ management, the average sorghum yield ranges from 3.6 to 7.5 Mg ha⁻¹. The 15–68% of the yield gap can be closed by implementing site-specific technologies, including high-yielding varieties and soil management. These findings provide a baseline for supporting efforts to increase sorghum production and develop robust sorghum cultivation technologies. Full article

The informal street food sector serves as a vital component of urban economies in South Africa, providing affordable nutrition and employment. However, this industry struggles to comply with required health and safety practices and standards. This study protocol outlines a mixed-methods investigation into hygiene practices, regulatory compliance, and the intersection with business sustainability among informal food vendors in Johannesburg’s inner city. This study aims to investigate how vendors’ perceptions of health risks and benefits influence compliance behaviours and, in turn, how these behaviours impact operational efficiency, financial stability, and customer trust. Grounded in the Health Belief Model (HBM) and the Balanced Scorecard (BSC) framework, the research seeks to explore both behavioural drivers and performance outcomes associated with hygiene adherence. The study will employ structured stall observations, semi-structured vendor interviews, and customer surveys across high-density vending zones. Quantitative data will be analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics, while qualitative data will be thematically analysed and triangulated with observed practices. The expected outcome is to identify key barriers and enablers of hygiene compliance and demonstrate how improved food safety practices contribute to business resilience, customer trust, and urban public health. The findings aim to inform inclusive policy and innovative business support strategies that integrate informal vendors into safer and more sustainable food systems. Full article

Understanding how avian assemblages respond to seasonal dynamics within urban land-cover structure is crucial for biodiversity conservation in rapidly urbanizing environments. Here, we investigated seasonal variation in avian dietary and foraging location guilds in central Taizhou City, China. Field surveys were conducted using the line transect method from April to November 2024. We assessed seasonal changes in community composition and the relationships between bird guilds and land cover types using multi-response permutation procedure (MRPP), non-metric multidimensional scaling (NMDS), and fourth-corner analysis. Bird community composition exhibited significant seasonal variations (MRPP, p < 0.05), with NMDS ordination showing a clear seasonal separation. Foraging location guilds exhibited more pronounced seasonal fluctuations in individual abundance than the dietary guilds. The Shannon diversity index for dietary guilds peaked in spring, followed by summer and autumn, whereas foraging location guilds exhibited higher diversity in summer and autumn. Fourth-corner analysis identified significant associations between guilds and land cover types, with foraging location guilds demonstrating stronger and more consistent responses to habitat structure than dietary guilds. Together, these results indicate that in urban landscapes, the spatial arrangement of habitats may shape avian foraging behavior more strongly than food availability alone, highlighting the need to integrate both structural and resource-based habitat features into urban planning and conservation. Full article

Insecticide resistance is a growing threat to global food security, with several major pests in Australian broad-acre systems already showing high resistance levels. Integrated Pest Management (IPM) can reduce insecticide reliance and slow resistance evolution, yet adoption remains low. Using the redlegged earth mite (Halotydeus destructor, RLEM) as a case study, we examined how knowledge gaps and risk attitudes influence insecticide use and broader pest management. An online survey of grain growers and advisors in RLEM-affected regions revealed that, despite widespread resistance to synthetic pyrethroids and organophosphates, and most respondents identifying with an IPM mindset, these insecticides remain frequently used. Advisors demonstrated greater overall knowledge than growers, but substantial gaps persisted across both groups, including awareness of field resistance and familiarity with national resistance management guidelines. Risk aversion showed a stronger and more consistent influence on management decisions than knowledge, shaping both growers’ and advisors’ recommendations. These findings highlight demographic and attitudinal factors that can undermine resistance management. While centred on RLEM, the behavioural drivers identified here likely influence pest control decisions across a range of pest species and farming systems. Full article

Coastal port cities depend on global seafood flows, yet their food security is increasingly exposed to price volatility and supply disruptions. This study examines Busan citizens’ perceptions of seafood-related food security and seafood supply chain stability, and derives actionable municipal policy priorities for a trade-dependent port city. Anchored in the FAO four-dimensional framework—availability, access, utilization, and stability—we developed 20 seafood-related attributes and surveyed adult residents in Busan (n = 297). The measurement structure was assessed through reliability checks and exploratory factor analysis, and Importance–Performance Analysis (IPA) was used to map attribute-level priorities and identify the largest importance–performance gaps. Overall, respondents regard seafood food security as highly important but only moderately satisfactory. Availability and utilization perform relatively well, indicating perceived strengths in basic supply conditions and safe consumption, whereas access and stability show lower performance relative to importance, reflecting concerns about affordability, uneven physical access for vulnerable groups, price volatility, and exposure to external shocks. Notably, several stability-related attributes emerge as “Concentrate Here” priorities, highlighting the need for strengthened risk management, early warning communication, and resilience-oriented logistics planning at the city level. By integrating the FAO framework with attribute-level IPA, this study demonstrates how citizen perception data can translate macro food security debates into locally implementable priorities for building sustainable food systems in coastal cities. Full article

U.S. hospitals generate considerable food waste, contributing to environmental degradation strategies. This study evaluated the feasibility, impact, and perception of a novel composting program implemented at Rhode Island Hospital over six months beginning in December 2024. Compostable waste bins were installed in the cafeteria with educational signage. Surveys assessing composting knowledge, attitudes, and roles in waste management were distributed to staff, patients, and administrators. Collected food waste was transported to Bootstrap Compost, which provided daily weight data used to estimate greenhouse gas emissions reductions, compare composting with landfill disposal costs, and project annual outcomes. Over the study period, 490.6 kg of food waste were diverted from landfills, corresponding to a reduction of 0.35 metric tons of CO₂-equivalent emissions. While composting was more expensive than landfill disposal ($6.45/kg vs. $0.24/kg), cost neutrality could be achieved with diversion rates at or above 116 kg per day. Surveys revealed strong support for composting but limited awareness of its relevance to healthcare’s environmental footprint. Respondents suggested improvements in education, signage, and infrastructure. This program demonstrated how hospital-based composting initiatives align with healthcare institutions’ environmental stewardship goals while highlighting financial and logistical challenges relevant for pilot–scale efforts. Full article

Rice paddy fields (referred to below as rice fields) are important not only for food production, but also as habitats for various species. The Nagoya Daruma Pond Frog (Pelophylax porosus brevipodus) is an endangered frog species endemic to Japan, mainly living in and around rice field areas. In July 2018, heavy rainfall caused severe flooding in Mabi Town of Okayama Prefecture, western Japan, submerging numerous rice fields and affecting local frog populations, including P. porosus brevipodus. To clarify whether the population structure of P. porosus brevipodus changed following the flood disaster in the rice fields of Mabi Town, we conducted quantitative field surveys in a rice fallow field in mid-October before (2017) and after (2018, 2020–2022, excluding 2019) the flood. The number of frogs declined sharply after the 2018 flood, reaching only a few individuals by 2020, but showed a substantial recovery in 2021 following the resumption of rice cultivation, although numbers decreased again in 2022. This recovery, despite fluctuations, indicates that habitat restoration through rice farming played a key role in enabling the population to rebound. Our findings underscore the importance of maintaining and restoring rice field environments after natural disasters for the survival and long-term recovery of P. porosus brevipodus. Full article

Background: Food insecurity among college students is a multidimensional challenge shaped by individual, interpersonal, institutional, community, and policy factors. Although many campuses require or provide meal plans, students may experience food insecurity when barriers related to agency (choice and autonomy), utilization (nutrition security), and availability persist. This study explored how undergraduate students at a private, urban U.S. university experience and navigate the multiple dimensions of food insecurity. Methods: We conducted in-depth, semi-structured interviews via Zoom between December 2024 and January 2025 with n = 22 undergraduate students recruited based on food security status, determined by a Fall 2024 longitudinal survey using the USDA Six-Item Short Form. Transcripts were double-coded by trained research assistants in ATLAS.ti using an inductive codebook. Thematic analyses followed a phronetic, iterative approach, organizing findings within a socio-ecological determinants framework and comparing themes by food security status. Results: We identified nine themes across four domains (individual, interpersonal, institutional and community, and political). At the individual level, constrained personal resources for groceries and cooking, time scarcity leading to skipped meals, and health impacts that detracted from academics emerged as key themes. Interpersonally, reliable family financial support was protective and informal support from peers/coaches filled gaps sporadically for some. At the institutional and community level, dining hall hours misaligned with student schedules, perceived limited variety and nutrition quality reduced food agency and utilization, and transportation impeded use of the sole grocery partner accepting university meal plan benefits. Notably, meal plans including unlimited meal swipes provided stable access but did not guarantee food security when food agency and utilization barriers persisted. Many students relied on campus events for free food; formal assistance (e.g., food pantry) was largely underused. At the policy level, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) awareness and enrollment was limited among our sample. Conclusions: Meal plan access alone is insufficient to ensure food security. Campus strategies should extend beyond access to prioritize flexibility, variety, and alignment with students’ schedules and preferences, while strengthening communication and eligibility support for external benefits. Future work should design and evaluate interventions that integrate all dimensions of food security and address institutional policies affecting students’ basic needs. Full article

Bananas underpin Uganda’s food security and rural economy, but productivity is declining due to emerging pests, diseases, and declining soil fertility. To address these challenges, hybrid stress-tolerant banana varieties (HBVs) have been developed and released, but their adoption remains uneven across the country. This study analyzes the spatial distribution and determinants of HBV adoption and intensity in Uganda, providing new insights to inform scaling strategies. A cross-sectional survey of 624 banana-farming households was conducted across 24 districts in both traditional and non-traditional banana-growing regions. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and a Tobit regression model to capture both the binary decision to adopt and the intensity of adoption, measured as the number of HBV mats planted. Results showed significant regional variation; adoption was highest in Northern Uganda (73.9%) and lowest in Central and Southwestern regions (≈24%). Education and land size positively influenced adoption, while reliance on planting materials from fellow farmers consistently reduced adoption intensity across all regions. Gender and household structure also shaped adoption patterns, with male and married farmers more likely to plant larger areas of HBVs. The findings highlight the need for regionally tailored interventions, including strengthening formal seed systems, enhancing farmer knowledge, and addressing gender gaps in technology access. Strengthening institutional seed channels and extension support can accelerate HBV scaling and contribute to resilient banana production in Uganda. Full article

Background: Ultra-processed food (UPF) consumption has increased significantly in Latin America and Spain, impacting both health and environmental sustainability. To our knowledge, this is the first multicenter study to examine the association between UPF consumption and sustainable lifestyle behaviors in Latin America and Spain. Objective: To evaluate the association between UPF consumption and sustainable lifestyle behaviors in Latin America and Spain. Methods: This was an observational, analytical, multicenter, cross-sectional study. A validated, self-administered online questionnaire was distributed in 14 countries between March 2023 and January 2024. The survey collected sociodemographic data, UPF intake (classified using the NOVA system), body mass index and sustainable lifestyle behaviors (food, transport, environment). Multivariate linear regression models were applied to assess associations, adjusting for age, sex, smoking, physical activity and BMI. Results: Among 6009 adults (mean age: 34.98 ± 12.55; 79.5% women), those with the highest consumption of UPF (fast food, beverages and juices, salty snacks and sweet snacks) were significantly more likely to be in the least sustainable quartile compared to those who did not consume these food products ((OR = 2.51; 95% CI: 1.79–3.54), (OR = 1.82; 95% CI: 1.50–2.22), (OR = 1.51; 95% CI: 1.32–1.73) and (OR = 1.42; 95% CI: 1.20–1.67), respectively, with p values < 0.001). Conclusions: High consumption of ultra-processed foods (UPFs) is inversely associated with sustainable lifestyles. These findings position UPF consumption not only as a health problem but also as a key indicator of unsustainable lifestyles. Full article

In the face of escalating environmental crises, sustainable development is becoming one of the key global challenges. A growing body of research indicates that transitioning to plant-based diets, including a vegan diet, can significantly improve environmental sustainability. Young people from Generation Z play a crucial role in shaping future consumption patterns, and their beliefs and attitudes toward sustainable food may serve as an important indicator of social changes in the area of nutrition and the potential for implementing pro-ecological practices. The aim of the study is to assess students’ perceptual attitudes toward plant-based products, which constitute an integral part of vegan diets, addressing a significant gap in the literature on sustainable consumption among Generation Z in emerging economies. The study allows for the identification of the main sources of information, psychosocial barriers, and motivational factors underlying the adoption of a vegan diet, situating them within sustainable development paradigms. The research group consisted of 263 university students in Warsaw (Poland). A CAWI survey method was used, with a proprietary questionnaire. The study shows that more than 60% of respondents were not interested in this dietary option, and a similar proportion did not expect to adopt veganism in the future. Students’ attitudes toward the vegan diet are shaped primarily by their self-assessment of nutritional knowledge, previous experiences with plant-based diets, and socio-cultural factors. Although many respondents recognize the health and environmental benefits of a plant-based diet, the lack of reliable knowledge, concerns about deficiencies, higher product costs, and social pressure remain key barriers limiting their willingness to change eating habits. From a practical perspective, the findings highlight the need to develop nutrition education focused on the competencies required to properly balance plant-based diets, to increase the economic and sensory accessibility of vegan food, and to counteract persistent stereotypes and misconceptions about veganism, especially on social media, which is the main source of information for this age group. Full article

During a late-winter field survey in Baihuashan National Nature Reserve, Beijing, several noctuid moths were observed flying during the daytime at low temperatures and being actively preyed upon by Marsh tits, which removed the heads and wings of captured individuals. These observations indicate that adults of this noctuid lineage are active in late winter, providing a critical nutritional resource for insectivorous birds during the ecologically constrained, food-limited winter period. Here, we formally describe this lineage as a new genus, Shoudus gen. nov., based on a new species, S. baihuashanus sp. nov., collected from Baihuashan reserve, including three specimens retrieved during active interception of tit predation, along with detached wings and heads recovered from the snow. The new genus is placed in the tribe Orthosiini Guenée, 1837, primarily based on adult external morphology, including large compound eyes with long interfacetal hairs and bipectinate male antennae, as well as forewing patterning similar to certain orthosiine genera such as Perigrapha and Clavipalpula. Notably, the dark reddish-brown forewings with sharply contrasting pale markings, as seen in the new genus and these related genera, appear well adapted for camouflage against bark, leaf litter, and exposed soil in their habitats—potentially functioning as both background matching and disruptive coloration. To further assess its phylogenetic placement, we conducted a molecular analysis based on mitochondrial COI sequences (13 newly generated and 6 retrieved from BOLD/NCBI). The resulting maximum likelihood and Bayesian trees consistently support the monophyly of the new genus and reveal a close phylogenetic relationship with Orthosia, the type genus of Orthosiini. This integrative evidence strongly supports the recognition of Shoudus as a distinct lineage within Orthosiini. Full article

Arsenic occurs in food in both inorganic (iAs) and organic (oAs) forms. Inorganic arsenic is highly toxic and classified as carcinogenic to humans, whereas oAs species, such as arsenobetaine (AB), monomethylarsonic acid (MMA), and dimethylarsinic acid (DMA), generally exhibit lower toxicity. Rice and rice-based products represent major contributors to dietary iAs exposure. Within this context, the present study provides an updated assessment of the occurrence of iAs and oAs in rice-based beverages available on the Italian market. A method for the simultaneous determination of iAs, AB, DMA, and MMA was developed and validated, and it exhibits adequate sensitivity to ensure robust occurrence data, eliminating left-censoring for iAs. A comprehensive analysis of twenty-five representative rice-based beverages was conducted, revealing that the contamination profiles exhibited a high degree of homogeneity, with iAs as the predominant species. All samples complied with the European maximum level for iAs in non-alcoholic rice-based beverages. When combined with recent Italian consumption data, these results enabled age-specific dietary exposure assessment. Although rice drinks contribute marginally to overall population exposure, estimated intakes for regular consumers in early childhood are associated with a small margin of exposure, raising potential concern for vulnerable subgroups. The increasing diversification of dietary habits and the rising consumption of plant-based beverages point to the necessity of continuous monitoring of iAs. Ongoing efforts in monitoring studies, updated food consumption surveys, and effective risk communication are essential to refine exposure assessment and thereby enhance public health protection. Full article

Household food waste is a complex issue shaped by socioeconomic conditions, household size, time and resource constraints, and routine food management behaviors. Understanding the practices, attitudes, barriers, and motivators that influence food waste is crucial for designing effective and sustainable interventions for low-income households experiencing high rates of food insecurity. Guided by community input, a food waste reduction education program was developed and piloted in seven California counties. In total, 50 adults were enrolled; 40 completed pre/post surveys, 17 completed food waste audits, and 14 responded to a four-month follow-up survey. Survey results showed significant increases in key food management behaviors: making and using a shopping list, freezing food, and using leftovers in future meals. The percentage of participants discarding food because of package dates declined from 53% to 30%. All measures of barriers and self-efficacy improved. Food audit results indicated the volume and weight of solid and liquid food waste decreased, although the changes were not statistically significant. At follow-up, all respondents reported checking their refrigerator and cupboards before shopping, making a shopping list, and storing and reheating food safely all or most of the time. Overall, the findings demonstrate that practical, skills-based education can help low-income households reduce food waste. Full article

Tourism has become a key sector of the global economy and a driver of economic growth. The Wine Routes are a specialized tourist offering that meets the needs of a segment of travelers, contributing to the enhancement and preservation of rural areas. Recent studies have highlighted that among the reasons driving tourists to choose Slow tourism is the desire to discover local food and wine as an expression of territorial culture. This study assumes that the characteristics of Wine tourists may have changed in recent years. An extensive survey was conducted on visitors of Sicilian Wine Routes. The results examine Wine tourism and Slow tourism and their overlap for tourists who travel around rural territories following the lure of food and wine. The results highlight a new segmentation and the existence of a new profile of Eno-Slow tourists with new primary motivations and needs. On a global level, the new Eno-Slow tourist fits perfectly into the international trends of responsible and sustainable tourism, strengthening the image of wine-producing regions as models of balance between culture, nature, and quality of life. These findings are very important as they provide useful guidance for policymakers and stakeholders committed to the sustainable competitiveness of rural tourist destinations, both locally and internationally. Full article