Food exports and imports of New Zealand in relation to the food-based dietary guidelines

Evaluating the influencing factors of food imports within belt and road initiatives (BRI) countries: An economic threshold model approach

International food chains and trade usually support many vulnerable and food-insecure developing countries to ensure stable access to food and sufficient resources to maintain and enhance economic growth. However, the smooth transition of uninterrupted food trade and supply is one of the major concerns for almost every country. Based on the economic threshold model grouping tactics, the study evaluates the influencing factors of global food imports and how different countries foster food imports in different conditions. The empirical data has been comprised of panel data from 91 countries along the “Belt and Road” for the last 21 years. The results show that: (i) Population size and arable land endowment have single and double threshold effects on food imports. (ii) Economic development has different effects on the food imports of each group of countries. It has an inverted U-shaped relationship with countries with large populations and high arable land endowments and a “U-shaped relationship” with countries with low arable land endowments. There is a linear relationship between the food imports of countries with small populations and medium arable land endowments, and there is no significant impact on food imports of countries with large populations and medium arable land endowments. (iii) The impact of infrastructure, technological progress, food stocks, and industrial structure on food imports varies from country to country, but tariff policies have no significant impact on food imports. All member countries should utilize the platform of “Belt and Road Initiatives” to capture the resource endowment and exchange associated science and technology of food production, processing, transport, and storage. Food productivity and self-dependency on food should also be increased.

Implementing healthy food environment policies in New Zealand: nine years of inaction

BACKGROUND

The INFORMAS [International Network for Food and Obesity/Non-communicable Diseases (NCDs) Research, Monitoring and Action Support] Healthy Food Environment Policy Index (Food-EPI) was developed to evaluate the degree of implementation of widely recommended food environment policies by national governments against international best practice, and has been applied in New Zealand in 2014, 2017 and 2020. This paper outlines the 2020 Food-EPI process and compares policy implementation and recommendations with the 2014 and 2017 Food-EPI.

METHODS

In March-April 2020, a national panel of over 50 public health experts participated in Food-EPI. Experts rated the extent of implementation of 47 "good practice" policy and infrastructure support indicators compared to international best practice, using an extensive evidence document verified by government officials. Experts then proposed and prioritized concrete actions needed to address the critical implementation gaps identified. Progress on policy implementation and recommendations made over the three Food-EPIs was compared.

RESULTS

In 2020, 60% of the indicators were rated as having "low" or "very little, if any" implementation compared to international benchmarks: less progress than 2017 (47%) and similar to 2014 (61%). Of the nine priority actions proposed in 2014, there was only noticeable action on one (Health Star Ratings). The majority of actions were therefore proposed again in 2017 and 2020. In 2020 the proposed actions were broader, reflecting the need for multisectoral action to improve the food environment, and the need for a mandatory approach in all policy areas.

CONCLUSIONS

There has been little to no progress in the past three terms of government (9 years) on the implementation of policies and infrastructure support for healthy food environments, with implementation overall regressing between 2017 and 2020. The proposed actions in 2020 have reflected a growing movement to locate nutrition within the wider context of planetary health and with recognition of the social determinants of health and nutrition, resulting in recommendations that will require the involvement of many government entities to overcome the existing policy inertia. The increase in food insecurity due to COVID-19 lockdowns may provide the impetus to stimulate action on food polices.

Ensuring the right to food for indigenous children: a case study of stakeholder perspectives on policy options to ensure the rights of tamariki Māori to healthy food

BACKGROUND

The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child confirms a child's right to adequate food, and to the highest attainable standard of health. For indigenous children, these rights are also recognised in the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. However, Indigenous children endure higher rates of obesity and related health conditions than non-indigenous children, including in Aotearoa New Zealand (NZ). For indigenous tamariki (Māori children) in NZ, high levels of obesity are interconnected with high rates of food insecurity. Therefore there is a need for action. This study aimed to investigate policy options that would safeguard the rights of indigenous children to healthy food. We explored with key stakeholder's policy options to ensure the rights of indigenous children to healthy food, through a case study of the rights of tamariki.

METHODS

Interviews were conducted with 15 key stakeholders, with experience in research, development or delivery of policies to safeguard the rights of tamariki to healthy food. Iterative thematic analysis of the transcripts identified both deductive themes informed by Kaupapa Māori theory and literature on rights-based approaches and inductive themes from the interviews.

RESULTS

The analysis suggests that to ensure the right to adequate food and to healthy food availability for tamariki, there needs to be: a comprehensive policy response that supports children's rights; an end to child poverty; food provision and food policy in schools; local government policy to promote healthy food availability; and stronger Māori voices and values in decision-making.

CONCLUSIONS

The right to food for indigenous children, is linked to political and economic systems that are an outcome of colonisation. A decolonising approach where Māori voices and values are central within NZ policies and policy-making processes is needed. Given the importance of food to health, a broad policy approach from the NZ government to ensure the right to adequate food is urgent. This includes economic policies to end child poverty and specific strategies such as food provision and food policy in schools. The role of Iwi (tribes) and local governments needs to be further explored if we are to improve the right to adequate food within regions of NZ.