Volume 4 Issue 4, April 2023

The Russia–Ukraine conflict affected the price of staple crops and spurred interest in tropical wheat production. Regional consumption patterns and trade are better placed to guide effective and sustainable food security policy strategies.

A scenario analysis reveals how changes in food production and consumption towards circularity could save natural resources in Europe — without compromising the provision of sufficient micronutrients and macronutrients for the continent’s population.

Many countries respond to short-term price fluctuations by adopting export restrictions and importing liberalization measures. The mere announcement of trade policy changes can aggravate price volatility.

Climate change has already impacted nitrogen use and crop production. Nitrogen and climate scientists have to work together to understand future agricultural nitrogen use and adapt nitrogen management in a changing climate.

Edible insects contain dietary fibre in the form of chitin and its derivatives, as well as omega-3 fatty acids, but questions remain about how consumption impacts the gut microbiome and intestinal health. Although insect production may be useful to address food security, more human intervention studies are needed to explore their potential for broader health benefits.

Consumption patterns indicate that millets, rice, cassava and tubers are more important than imported wheat for the poorest Nigerians. Policy must reflect this by supporting coarse grain and rice production rather than any trade policy path for dislodging wheat imports.

Quantification of the impact of climate change on crop yield and nitrogen use efficiency reflects global inequalities in agricultural N use and losses. Using long-term historical data from over 150 countries, this study reveals the importance of farm size to regulate N use for climate adaptation.

An analysis based on data from the Global Dietary Database shows mean animal-sourced food intakes among children and adolescents increased modestly from 1990 to two portions per day in 2018, but remain low in sub-Saharan Africa, India and Bangladesh.

Ensuring that waste or by-products from one process form the input of another is key for food systems sustainability. This study assesses the biophysical potential of redesigning the European (EU27 + UK) food system on the basis of circularity principles. Changes in food consumption, crop production, animal production and fertilizer patterns are considered through scenario analysis.

Volatile food prices induce risk and uncertainty, challenging consumers and producers alike. This study uses historical trade policy and price datasets encompassing two recent food crises to investigate the impact that trade policies announced by specific countries may have on global agricultural markets.

Foods that had relish were once highly desirable. That no longer seems to be true today, hinting at our changing tastes.