ABSTRACT
The paper contributes to the scarce literature on the negative effect of coronavirus 2019-induced income and food price shocks on household economic access to food, focusing on Malawi during the first two pandemic waves and using a country representative sample. We find that household income reduction, as explained by income source shocks and health mitigation measures, has a wave-specific and persistent effect on ordinal categories of food security perception. Our evidence supports the implementation and monthly scaling-up of nutrition-sensitive social protection programmes and health measures at the household level to address these adverse effects. © 2022 The Author(s). Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Foundation for the European Review of Agricultural Economics. All rights reserved.
ABSTRACT
Africa ranks second in the number of undernourished people globally and has the highest prevalence of food insecurity, twice the world's average. The continent could not meet the past Millennium Development Goals and targets for 2015, and the current projection shows that Africa is not on track to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 2 of Zero Hunger by 2030. Prospects for achieving these goals are dismal because of inherent primary drivers of food insecurity in each African region. This chapter identifies the primary drivers of food and nutrition insecurity in Africa and suggests strategies to attenuate its effect. Climate shocks (drought and flood) and insecurity are the primary agents driving food insecurity in Western, Central, and Southern Africa. Migratory pests (desert locusts) are a big challenge in Eastern and Southern Africa that have destroyed thousands of farmlands, while dependence on food subsidies, climate change, and political instability are the primary drivers of food insecurity in North Africa. In summary, the prevalence of food insecurity in Africa differs owing to the influence of food insecurity drivers in each region. Consequently, the COVID-19 widespread is expected to exacerbate Africa's current food insecurity. Sustainable strategies such as investing in the agricultural system through sustainable policies;reducing food prices;preventing localized desert locust outbreaks from attaining plague proportions and counterinsurgency;managing climate;and investing in food assistance in severe, catastrophic food insecurity that best fits each region would play a key role in mitigating food and nutrition insecurity in Africa. © The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2023.
ABSTRACT
Background: The Laspeyres price index is the ratio of the current cost of a market basket of commodities or food groups relative to base period prices. Objective: To develop a nutrition-relevant version of the Laspeyres price index, using market baskets based on tertiles of the nutrient rich food (NRF9.3) nutrient density metric. Methods: Nutrient composition data for 151 foods from the 2012 Mexico national health and nutrition survey (ENSANUT) were merged with food prices and price indices from the national institute of geography and statistics (INEGI). Nutrient Rich Food Index (NRF9.3) was the measure of nutrient density. May 2012 was the base period. Nutrient rich food price index (NRFPI) values were calculated for each tertile of NRF nutrient density scores for each month between June 2011 and March 2022. Results: The market basket of foods in the top tertile of NRF nutrient density scores cost more per 100 kcal and had higher NRFPI values compared to foods in the bottom tertile. Higher NRF9.3 scores were correlated with greater monthly inflation. The NRFPI for foods in the top tertile of NRF9.3 scores was marked by seasonal price spikes, and greater volatility compared to foods in the bottom tertile. Conclusion: The present adaptation of the Laspeyres Index used market baskets defined by nutrient density tertiles instead of commodity groups. This approach allows for easier tracking of the cost of nutrient dense foods and healthful diets across geographic regions and over time. Applied to Mexico food prices prior to and during the Covid-19 pandemic, the NRFPI was sensitive to time trends, seasonality, and price fluctuations. The new tool may be useful in monitoring the rising cost of healthy foods worldwide.
ABSTRACT
The purpose of the article is to review and critique the implementation of food export restrictions in times of crisis in addressing food security challenges. The methodological approach was to undertake a narrative literature review to outline the challenge of ensuring food security in times of crisis. We explored the problem of food export restrictions introduced in 2007-2008 and 2020 and assessed the changes in the state of food security at the national level during the COVID-19 pandemic using the Global Food Security Index (GFSI). The trade restrictions imposed in 2020 did not play a key role in the increases in international food prices as was the case during 2007-2008 and 2010-2011. The analysis of GFSI values questions whether food export restrictions have been sufficient measures given the size of the food security challenge during the pandemic, and this is a new contribution of this research. The issue of food export restrictions is underregulated in the World Trade Organization (WTO), and this needs to be urgently addressed by another institution, e.g., Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), given that the war in Ukraine is endangering food security across the world.
ABSTRACT
We conduct a time-series analysis of Colorado, Idaho, and national potato markets to examine price transmission and asymmetry (relative likelihood and magnitude of upward versus downward price shocks). Prices are typically driven by supply-side shocks. Colorado potato producers' prices are influenced by Idaho and experience unfavorable asymmetry relative to downstream parties. We apply findings to the COVID-19 lockdown period as a case study to explore market behavior during that time. Identifying and noting potentially harmful price dynamics in commodity markets could help producers effectively respond to similar shocks in the future. © 2022, Food Distribution Research Society. All rights reserved.
ABSTRACT
The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has caused enormous disruptions to not only the United States, but also the global economy. Due to the pandemic, issues in the supply chain and concerns about food shortage drove up the food prices. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the prices for food increased 4.1% and 3.7% over the year ended in August 2020 and August 2021, respectively, while the amount of annual increase in the food prices prior to the COVID-19 pandemic is less than 2.0%. Previous studies show that such kinds of exogenous disasters, including the 2011 Tohoku Earthquake, 9/11 terrorist attacks, and major infectious diseases, and the resulted unusual food prices often led to subsequent changes in people's consumption behaviors. We hypothesize that the COVID-19 pandemic causes food price changes and the price changes alter people's grocery shopping behaviors as well. To thoroughly explore this, we formulate our analysis from two different perspectives, by collecting data both globally, from China, Japan, United Kingdom, and United States, and locally, from different groups of people inside the US. In particular, we analyze the trends between food prices and COVID-19 as well as between food prices and spending, aiming to find out their correlations and the lessons for preparing the next pandemic. © 2022 IEEE.
ABSTRACT
The purpose of the article is to review and critique the implementation of food export restrictions in times of crisis in addressing food security challenges. The methodological approach was to undertake a narrative literature review to outline the challenge of ensuring food security in times of crisis. We explored the problem of food export restrictions introduced in 2007-2008 and 2020 and assessed the changes in the state of food security at the national level during the COVID-19 pandemic using the Global Food Security Index (GFSI). The trade restrictions imposed in 2020 did not play a key role in the increases in international food prices as was the case during 2007-2008 and 2010-2011. The analysis of GFSI values questions whether food export restrictions have been sufficient measures given the size of the food security challenge during the pandemic, and this is a new contribution of this research. The issue of food export restrictions is underregulated in the World Trade Organization (WTO), and this needs to be urgently addressed by another institution, e.g., Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), given that the war in Ukraine is endangering food security across the world.
ABSTRACT
This paper begins with a survey of recent commodity price developments that highlights the magnitude of this price surge and identifies the rapid rise in wheat prices as a key element. The analysis in this paper focuses on the extent to which domestic markets are insulated from these changes and on the resulting impacts on world prices. An econometric analysis using error-correction models finds stable long-term relationships between world wheat prices and most domestic prices of wheat and wheat products, but with considerable variation across countries in the rate of price transmission. A case study of the price shocks during the COVID-19 pandemic and the Ukraine food price crisis finds that price insulation roughly doubled the overall increase in world wheat prices and raised their volatility both during periods of price increase and price decline.
ABSTRACT
Background: Animal source foods, especially fish is the most commonly consumed and an important source of macro and micronutrients in the diet of the urban low-income residents. The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted the food environment in Bangladesh but little is known about how food access and food prices (affordability) have affected the purchase and consumption of fish. The objective of the study was to understand the impact of the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic on urban food environment with a specific focus on fish consumption. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 586 homogeneous adults (288 females and 298 males) from separate households from five informal settlements in Dhaka city, Bangladesh during October-November 2020. Data were collected on: (1) food access and affordably; and (2) food purchase and fish consumption. The associations between food access, price, food purchase, and fish consumption were evaluated using path analysis. Results: The majority of respondents reported that food access was more difficult, food prices increased, and food purchase decreased during the COVID-19 pandemic compared to pre-COVID (84-89% of respondents). Fish and meat were more difficult to access, more expensive and purchased less compared to other foods (74-91% of respondents). Compared to pre-COVID period, households consumed less fish during the COVID-19 pandemic, and reported compromised the variety and quality of fish. In the path analysis, food access was associated with food purchase (b = 0.33, p < 0.001). Food purchase was associated with quantity, variety, and quality of fish consumed. Food price was inversely associated with the quality of fish consumed (b = -0.27, p < 0.001). Conclusions: The COVID-19 pandemic negatively affected the food environment, particularly food access, price (affordability), purchase, and consumption, especially of fish. Limited food access negatively affected the quantity, variety and quality of fish consumed. An increase in food prices directly affected the quality of fish consumed. Policy actions are essential to ensure equal access to nutritious foods, such as fish. These policies need to focus on diversity and quality along with preventing increases in food prices during emergencies to mitigate future threats to the nutrition and health of the urban low-income residents.
Subject(s)
COVID-19 , Animals , Bangladesh/epidemiology , COVID-19/epidemiology , Cross-Sectional Studies , Female , Humans , Male , Micronutrients , PandemicsABSTRACT
Purpose>This paper aims to investigate how differently the COVID-19 blockade regulations influence the prices of perishable and storable foods. The authors focus on the cases of the 2020 blockade at Hubei province and the 2021 blockade at Shijiazhuang city in China, and the authors examine how the blockade influenced the prices of Chinese cabbages (perishable) and potatoes (storable) within and around the blockade area.Design/methodology/approach>The paper employs the fixed effects model, the panel VAR (PVAR) model, and the spatial dynamic panel (SPD) model to estimate the impacts of the blockade on the food prices. It constructs the unique data set of 3-day average prices of Chinese cabbages and potatoes at main wholesale markets in China during the two urban blockade periods from January 1 to April 8 in 2020 and from January 1 to March 1 in 2021.Findings>The results from the SPD models indicate that the price of Chinese cabbages was more vulnerable and increased by 7.1–9.8% due to the two blockades while the price of potatoes increased by 1.2–6.1%. The blockades also significantly influenced the prices in the areas adjacent to the blockade area. The SPD results demonstrate that the impacts of the blockades would be overestimated if the spatial dependence is not controlled for in the fixed effects model and the PVAR model.Research limitations/implications>Because the research focuses on the cases in China, the results may lack generalizability. Further research for other countries is encouraged.Originality/value>This paper demonstrates the importance of considering food types and spatial dependence in examining the impact of the COVID-19 blockades on food prices.
ABSTRACT
As the Russo–Ukrainian conflict obstructs the vast wheat production of Ukraine, we investigate the relationship over crises between geopolitical risk and prices of essential food commodities. We use multiresolution analysis to identify patterns concealed by high noise levels inherent with commodity prices during crises. Our sample includes such important periods as Brexit, COVID-19, and the current Russo–Ukrainian conflict. Results evidence a one-way causal relationship, with geopolitical factors significantly affecting food prices. Scholars interested in global development, as well as policy makers and international aid organizations will be especially interested in understanding the sensitivity of food prices to geopolitical risk.
ABSTRACT
The paper contributes to the scarce literature on the negative effect of coronavirus 2019-induced income and food price shocks on household economic access to food, focusing on Malawi during the first two pandemic waves and using a country representative sample. We find that household income reduction, as explained by income source shocks and health mitigation measures, has a wave-specific and persistent effect on ordinal categories of food security perception. Our evidence supports the implementation and monthly scaling-up of nutrition-sensitive social protection programmes and health measures at the household level to address these adverse effects.
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To compare the cost and affordability of two fortnightly diets (representing the national guidelines and current consumption) across areas containing Australia's major supermarkets. DESIGN: The Healthy Diets Australian Standardised Affordability and Pricing protocol was used. SETTING: Price data were collected online and via phone calls in fifty-one urban and inner regional locations across Australia. PARTICIPANTS: Not applicable. RESULTS: Healthy diets were consistently less expensive than current (unhealthy) diets. Nonetheless, healthy diets would cost 25-26 % of the disposable income for low-income households and 30-31 % of the poverty line. Differences in gross incomes (the most available income metric which overrepresents disposable income) drove national variations in diet affordability (from 14 % of the median gross household incomes in the Australian Capital Territory and Northern Territory to 25 % of the median gross household income in Tasmania). CONCLUSIONS: In Australian cities and regional areas with major supermarkets, access to affordable diets remains problematic for families receiving low incomes. These findings are likely to be exacerbated in outer regional and remote areas (not included in this study). To make healthy diets economically appealing, policies that reduce the (absolute and relative) costs of healthy diets and increase the incomes of Australians living in poverty are required.
Subject(s)
Diet, Healthy , Diet , Australia , Costs and Cost Analysis , Humans , IncomeABSTRACT
COVID-19's emergence has caused an impact on a large number of manufacturers and industries. While some past research is no longer time-efficient, as an emerging industry, the healthy food market research resources are not sufficient. This study aims to explore what factors could affect the total revenue of the new product. In order to find the best results, this paper reviewed previous studies and, on the basis of literature review, adopted a regression model to test the data. The data used in this paper are all provided by Smartfood Company. Due to the small number of data samples, this paper does not clean the raw data. Through regression analysis of the data, this paper builds a linear regression model and identifies the factors that have a significant impact on the total revenue of healthy food form Smartfood Company. The final results show that the Smartfood Co.'s revenue would be influenced by four explanatory to varying degrees, including price, advertising, product location in stores, and store volume. This finding basically consists of the hypothesis and the previous research, which also proves the reliability of this conclusion for the side. The research results of this paper can provide new ideas for the sales strategy of Smartfood Co. © 2021 IEEE.
ABSTRACT
Pre-prepared, or ready meals (frozen, chilled and shelf-stable) are increasingly available in supermarkets in developed countries. This study aimed to investigate how the range of ready meals in Australian supermarkets has changed from 2014 to 2020, and how products vary by price, serving size, nutrient composition and Health Star Rating. Product information was obtained from the FoodTrack™ packaged food database for the years 2014 to 2019 and from an instore audit of products available in Adelaide, Australia for 2020. There was a 13% annual average increase in the number of ready meals available in supermarkets. Serving size did not change (median 350 g, p-trend = 0.100) and price increased modestly from 2014 to 2020 (median $1.67 to $1.79/100 g, p-trend < 0.001), with chilled ready meals being the most expensive. A modest decrease in sodium density from 2014 to 2020 (median 275 to 240 mg/100 g, p-trend < 0.001) was seen. However, the category has a wide range in Health Star Ratings and nutrient composition, highlighting the importance of appropriate consumer choice to optimise health benefits. With the increasing availability of ready meals, global improvements within this category should be encouraged and consumers guided to choose healthier products.