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AL-Rousan N, AL-Najjar H, AL-Najjar D. The impact of Russo-Ukrainian war, COVID-19, and oil prices on global food security. Heliyon 2024; 10:e29279. [PMID: 38638981 PMCID: PMC11024606 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e29279] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2023] [Revised: 03/21/2024] [Accepted: 04/03/2024] [Indexed: 04/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Context Light of recent global upheavals, including volatile oil prices, the Russo-Ukrainian conflict, and the COVID-19 pandemic this study delves into their profound impact on the import and export dynamics of global foodstuffs. With rising staple food prices reminiscent of the 2010-2011 global food crisis, understanding these shifts comprehensively is imperative. Objective Our objective is to evaluate this impact by examining six independent variables (year, month, Brent crude oil, COVID-19, the Russo-Ukrainian conflict) alongside six food indicators as dependent variables. Employing Pearson's correlation, linear regression, and seasonal autoregressive integrated moving averages (SARIMA), we scrutinize intricate relationships among these variables. Results and conclusions Our findings reveal varying degrees of association, notably highlighting a robust correlation between Brent crude oil and food indicators. Linear regression analysis suggests a positive influence of the Russo-Ukrainian conflict, Brent oil on food price indices, and COVID-19. Furthermore, integrating SARIMA enhances predictive accuracy, offering insights into future projections. Significance Finally, this research has a significant role in providing a valuable analysis into the intricate dynamics of global food pricing, informing decision-making amidst global challenges and bridging critical gaps in prior research on forecasting food price indices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nadia AL-Rousan
- SEEIT, Computer Engineering Department, German Jordanian University, Amman, Jordan
| | - Hazem AL-Najjar
- Computer Science Department, University of Petra, Amman, 317, Jordan
| | - Dana AL-Najjar
- Department of Finance and Banking Sciences, Faculty of Business, Applied Science Private University, Amman, 11931, Jordan
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Vărzaru AA. Unveiling Digital Transformation: A Catalyst for Enhancing Food Security and Achieving Sustainable Development Goals at the European Union Level. Foods 2024; 13:1226. [PMID: 38672898 PMCID: PMC11048781 DOI: 10.3390/foods13081226] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2024] [Revised: 04/08/2024] [Accepted: 04/15/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
The digital revolution is reshaping various aspects of society, including having a profound impact on food security and the advancement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This study investigates the relationship between digital transformation, quantified through the components of the Digital Economy and Society Index (DESI), and SDGs related to food (SDG1, SDG2, SDG3, and SDG10), along with the overall SDG Index score. The data used for investigation are sourced from reports issued by the European Commission concerning DESI, as well as the SDG reports for the period from 2017 to 2022. The paper elucidates how different components of digitalization, such as connectivity, digital skills, internet usage, and digital public services, influence the attainment of food security objectives and broader sustainable development targets using structural equation modeling and cluster analysis. The findings underscore the pivotal role of digital technologies in enhancing poverty alleviation, health and well-being, and, in particular, mitigating inequality. This study contributes to understanding the complex relationship between digital transformation and food security, offering insights for policymakers, practitioners, and stakeholders aiming to leverage technology for advancing SDGs and fostering a more equitable and sustainable future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anca Antoaneta Vărzaru
- Department of Economics, Accounting and International Business, University of Craiova, 200585 Craiova, Romania
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Qi PY, Zhang TH, Yang YK, Liang H, Feng YM, Wang N, Ding ZH, Xiang HM, Zhou X, Liu LW, Jin LH, Li XY, Yang S. Beyond the β-amino alcohols framework: identification of novel β-hydroxy pyridinium salt-decorated pterostilbene derivatives as bacterial virulence factor inhibitors. PEST MANAGEMENT SCIENCE 2024. [PMID: 38578108 DOI: 10.1002/ps.8116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2023] [Revised: 02/16/2024] [Accepted: 04/02/2024] [Indexed: 04/06/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Bacterial virulence factors are involved in various biological processes and mediate persistent bacterial infections. Focusing on virulence factors of phytopathogenic bacteria is an attractive strategy and crucial direction in pesticide discovery to prevent invasive and persistent bacterial infection. Hence, discovery and development of novel agrochemicals with high activity, low-risk, and potent anti-virulence is urgently needed to control plant bacterial diseases. RESULTS A series of novel β-hydroxy pyridinium cation decorated pterostilbene derivatives were prepared and their antibacterial activities against Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae (Xoo) were systematacially assessed. Among these pterostilbene derivatives, compound 4S exhibited the best antibacterial activity against Xoo in vitro, with an half maximal effective concentration (EC50) value of 0.28 μg mL-1. A series of biochemical assays including scanning electron microscopy, crystal violet staining, and analysis of biofilm formation, swimming motility, and related virulence factor gene expression levels demonstrated that compound 4S could function as a new anti-virulence factor inhibitor by interfering with the bacterial infection process. Furthermore, the pot experiments provided convinced evidence that compound 4S had the high control efficacy (curative activity: 71.4%, protective activity: 72.6%), and could be used to effectively manage rice bacterial leaf blight in vivo. CONCLUSION Compounds 4S is an attractive virulence factor inhibitor with potential for application in treating plant bacterial diseases by suppressing production of several virulence factors. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pu-Ying Qi
- National Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide, Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide and Agricultural Bioengineering, Ministry of Education, Center for R&D of Fine Chemicals of Guizhou University, Guiyang, China
| | - Tai-Hong Zhang
- National Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide, Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide and Agricultural Bioengineering, Ministry of Education, Center for R&D of Fine Chemicals of Guizhou University, Guiyang, China
| | - Yi-Ke Yang
- National Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide, Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide and Agricultural Bioengineering, Ministry of Education, Center for R&D of Fine Chemicals of Guizhou University, Guiyang, China
| | - Hong Liang
- National Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide, Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide and Agricultural Bioengineering, Ministry of Education, Center for R&D of Fine Chemicals of Guizhou University, Guiyang, China
| | - Yu-Mei Feng
- National Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide, Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide and Agricultural Bioengineering, Ministry of Education, Center for R&D of Fine Chemicals of Guizhou University, Guiyang, China
| | - Na Wang
- National Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide, Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide and Agricultural Bioengineering, Ministry of Education, Center for R&D of Fine Chemicals of Guizhou University, Guiyang, China
| | - Zheng-Hao Ding
- National Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide, Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide and Agricultural Bioengineering, Ministry of Education, Center for R&D of Fine Chemicals of Guizhou University, Guiyang, China
| | - Hong-Mei Xiang
- National Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide, Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide and Agricultural Bioengineering, Ministry of Education, Center for R&D of Fine Chemicals of Guizhou University, Guiyang, China
| | - Xiang Zhou
- National Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide, Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide and Agricultural Bioengineering, Ministry of Education, Center for R&D of Fine Chemicals of Guizhou University, Guiyang, China
| | - Li-Wei Liu
- National Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide, Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide and Agricultural Bioengineering, Ministry of Education, Center for R&D of Fine Chemicals of Guizhou University, Guiyang, China
| | - Lin-Hong Jin
- National Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide, Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide and Agricultural Bioengineering, Ministry of Education, Center for R&D of Fine Chemicals of Guizhou University, Guiyang, China
| | - Xiang-Yang Li
- National Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide, Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide and Agricultural Bioengineering, Ministry of Education, Center for R&D of Fine Chemicals of Guizhou University, Guiyang, China
| | - Song Yang
- National Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide, Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide and Agricultural Bioengineering, Ministry of Education, Center for R&D of Fine Chemicals of Guizhou University, Guiyang, China
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Varjani S, Vyas S, Su J, Siddiqui MA, Qin ZH, Miao Y, Liu Z, Ethiraj S, Mou JH, Lin CSK. Nexus of food waste and climate change framework: Unravelling the links between impacts, projections, and emissions. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2024; 344:123387. [PMID: 38242308 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2024.123387] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2023] [Revised: 12/22/2023] [Accepted: 01/16/2024] [Indexed: 01/21/2024]
Abstract
This communication explores the intricate relationship between food waste and climate change, considering aspects such as impacts, projections, and emissions. It focuses on the pressing issue of waste generation and its potential consequences if current trends persist, and emphasises the importance of efficient solid waste management in improving environmental quality and fostering economic development. It also highlights the challenges faced by developing countries in waste collection and disposal, drawing comparisons with the waste utilisation methods used by developed nations. The review delves into the link between food waste and climate change, noting the paradoxical situation of food wastage against the backdrop of global hunger and malnutrition. It underscores the scientific evidence connecting food waste to climate change and its implications for food security and climate systems. Additionally, it examines the environmental burden imposed by food waste, including its contribution to greenhouse gas emissions and the depletion of resources such as energy, water, and land. Besides environmental concerns, this communication also highlights the ethical and socioeconomic dimensions of food waste, discussing its influence on Sustainable Development Goals, poverty, and social inequality. The communication concludes by advocating for collective action and the development of successful mitigation strategies, technological solutions, and policy interventions to address food waste and its climate impacts. It emphasises the need for collaboration, awareness, and informed decision-making to ensure a more sustainable and equitable future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sunita Varjani
- School of Energy and Environment, City University of Hong Kong, Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of China
| | - Shaili Vyas
- Swinburne University of Technology, Hawthorn, Melbourne, Victoria, 3122, Australia
| | - Junjie Su
- School of Energy and Environment, City University of Hong Kong, Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of China
| | - Muhammad Ahmar Siddiqui
- School of Energy and Environment, City University of Hong Kong, Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of China; Branch of Chinese National Engineering Research Center for Control & Treatment of Heavy Metal Pollution, The Hong Kong University of Science & Technology, Clear Water Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of China
| | - Zi-Hao Qin
- School of Energy and Environment, City University of Hong Kong, Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of China
| | - Yahui Miao
- School of Energy and Environment, City University of Hong Kong, Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of China
| | - Ziyao Liu
- School of Energy and Environment, City University of Hong Kong, Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of China
| | - Shraya Ethiraj
- School of Energy and Environment, City University of Hong Kong, Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of China
| | - Jin-Hua Mou
- School of Energy and Environment, City University of Hong Kong, Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of China
| | - Carol Sze Ki Lin
- School of Energy and Environment, City University of Hong Kong, Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of China.
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Tesfaye B, Lengoiboni M, Zevenbergen J, Simane B. A Holistic Analysis of Food Security Situation of Households Engaged in Land Certification and Sustainable Land Management Programs: South Wello, Ethiopia. Foods 2023; 12:3341. [PMID: 37761049 PMCID: PMC10527708 DOI: 10.3390/foods12183341] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2023] [Revised: 08/28/2023] [Accepted: 09/01/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Land degradation, food and tenure insecurity are significant problems in the northern highlands of Ethiopia, particularly in the region known as the country's famine corridor. Addressing these twine issues in the region has become a focal point for both local and international organizations, underscoring the significance of preventive measures. Since 2000, the Government of Ethiopia (GoE) has been implementing sustainable land management and certification programs. This study aims on households involved in these programs, specifically in Dessie Zuria and Kutaber Woredas, South Wello Zone (SWZ). The primary objectives of the research were to assess households' current food security status, identify factors influencing their food security, and classify coping and survival strategies employed by households during food shortages. Primary and secondary sources have been used to collect both qualitative and quantitative data. Quantitative data were collected from surveyed households and analyzed USING SPSS software version 26, whereas qualitative data were transcribed, grouped, and interpreted in line with the aim of the research. Three food security models, namely the Household Food Balance Model, Months of Adequate Household Food Provisioning, and Household Dietary Diversity Score, were employed to evaluate food security. Consequently, a significant percentage of the surveyed households, amounting to 88.3%, 35.6%, and 93.8%, were found to experience food insecurity according to the respective models. Rainfall shortages and variability, crop pests and diseases, shrinking farm plots, and land degradation are among the identified food security determinants. During dearth periods, households deploy a variety of coping and survival strategies. To mitigate food insecurity stemming from both natural and socio-economic factors, the research suggests several recommendations. These include advocating for tenure policy reforms by the GoE, and the local governments should promote the adoption of efficient land management practices, instituting a land certification system based on cadasters, encouraging family planning, boosting investments in education and literacy, raising awareness and providing training in climate-smart agriculture techniques, educating communities on optimal grain utilization, saving, trade, and storage methods, facilitating opportunities for income generation through off-farm and non-farm activities, and offering support for crop and livestock diversification.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bichaye Tesfaye
- Centre for Food Security Studies, College of Development Studies, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa P.O. Box 1176, Ethiopia;
- Department of Urban and Regional Planning & Geo-Information Management, University of Twente, Languid 1430, P.O. Box 217, 7500 AE Enschede, The Netherlands;
| | - Monica Lengoiboni
- Department of Urban and Regional Planning & Geo-Information Management, University of Twente, Languid 1430, P.O. Box 217, 7500 AE Enschede, The Netherlands;
| | - Jaap Zevenbergen
- Department of Urban and Regional Planning & Geo-Information Management, University of Twente, Languid 1430, P.O. Box 217, 7500 AE Enschede, The Netherlands;
| | - Belay Simane
- Center for Environment and Sustainable Development, College of Development Studies, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa P.O. Box 1176, Ethiopia;
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