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Food Insecurity and Nutrition in a Disrupted World: Pandemics, Disasters, Conflicts and Food System Challenges

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Dear Colleagues,

“Several major drivers have delayed efforts to end world hunger and malnutrition in all its forms by 2030”, as can be seen here. The COVID-19 pandemic, natural disasters and conflicts have exposed cracks in the food system and increased the likelihood of food insecurity and other nutrition challenges. The triple burden of malnutrition (undernutrition, overnutrition and micronutrient deficiencies) increases the risk of preventable diet-related diseases and significantly impacts public health.

We invite papers that explore the following interconnecting themes:

Disaster response strategies related to food (preparation, response and recovery);
A systems approach to food security;
The role of food system actors in maintaining food security (government, non-government, private sector and community);
Food assistance to address episodic or chronic food insecurity;
Measuring and monitoring food assistance interventions (e.g., effectiveness, equity and efficiency);
Health or other interventions to address malnutrition in all its forms;
Reflections on how to protect food insecurity in an ever-changing world.

As Guest Editors of this Special Issue on “Food Insecurity and Nutrition in a Disrupted World: Pandemics, Disasters, Conflicts and Food System Challenges”, we invite you to submit a manuscript to Nutrients to improve our knowledge regarding issues, priorities and interventions to address all forms of malnutrition related to food insecurity. Original research (qualitative and quantitative), systematic and meta-analyses, and narrative reviews are welcome.

Dr. Christina Pollard
Dr. Sue Booth
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Nutrients is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2900 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

food assistance
food insecurity
health
malnutrition
COVID-19 pandemic
disasters

Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

15 pages, 1154 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Intergenerational Food Insecurity, Underlying Factors, and Opportunities for Intervention in Momostenango, Guatemala

by Ginny Lane, Silvia Xinico, Michele Monroy-Valle, Karla Cordón-Arrivillaga and Hassan Vatanparast

Nutrients 2024, 16(4), 470; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu16040470 - 6 Feb 2024

Viewed by 926

Abstract

Achieving sustainable food security in Guatemala, where nearly half the population is food insecure and 50% of children face chronic malnutrition, is challenging. This mixed-methods study aimed to identify the impacts of climate change on food production, community food security, and household food security. Twelve agricultural group leaders in six communities were interviewed using semi-structured guides. Key informant interview themes included subsistence agriculture, commercial production, challenges related to climate, capital, market, and capacity, as well as sustainable opportunities. Fifty-five mothers from 13 distinct communities around Momostenango were surveyed and interviewed. A significant finding is that 85% of households were food insecure, with 93% relying on agriculture. Food-secure families mostly worked on their own or leased land, whereas food-insecure ones combined farming with day labor. In times of food scarcity, strategies such as altering food consumption and reducing expenses were common. Severely food-insecure families were significantly more likely to reduce portion sizes (72%), whereas food-secure families typically resorted to less preferred foods. Overall, food insecurity was notably linked to larger families, older mothers with limited education, and reliance on agricultural day labor. Food insecurity is a long-term issue in rural areas, deeply rooted in structural socioeconomic constraints, and recurring across generations. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Food Insecurity and Nutrition in a Disrupted World: Pandemics, Disasters, Conflicts and Food System Challenges)

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15 pages, 523 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Food Insecurity, Food Assistance, and Psychological Distress among University Students: Cross-Sectional Survey Western Australia, 2020

by Liyuwork Mitiku Dana, Janine Wright, Rebecca Ward, Jaya A. R. Dantas, Satvinder S. Dhaliwal, Blake Lawrence, Moira O’Connor, Sue Booth, Deborah A. Kerr and Christina M. Pollard

Nutrients 2023, 15(11), 2431; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu15112431 - 23 May 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2582

Abstract

University students have been identified as a population sub-group vulnerable to food insecurity. This vulnerability increased in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This study aimed to assess factors associated with food insecurity among university students and the differences between students with and without children. A cross-sectional survey of (n = 213) students attending one university in Western Australia measured food insecurity, psychological distress, and socio-demographic characteristics. Logistic regression analyses were conducted to identify factors associated with food insecurity. Forty-eight percent of students who responded to the survey had experienced food insecurity in 2020. International students who were studying in Australia were nine times more likely to experience food insecurity than domestic students (AOR = 9.13; 95% CI = 2.32–35.97). International students with children were more likely to experience food insecurity than international students without children (p < 0.001) and domestic students with (p < 0.001) or without children (p < 0.001). For each unit increase in depression level, the likelihood of experiencing food insecurity increased (AOR = 1.62; 95% CI = 1.12–2.33). Findings show a higher prevalence of food insecurity among international university students and students with children during the COVID-19 pandemic and that food insecurity was associated with higher levels of psychological distress. These findings highlight the need for targeted interventions to mitigate the risk of food insecurity among Australian university students, particularly among international students, students with children, and those experiencing psychological distress. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Food Insecurity and Nutrition in a Disrupted World: Pandemics, Disasters, Conflicts and Food System Challenges)

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Food Insecurity and Nutrition in a Disrupted World: Pandemics, Disasters, Conflicts and Food System Challenges

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