Exploring the Nexus between Food Systems and the Global Syndemic among Children under Five Years of Age through the Complex Systems Approach.

The intricate relationship between food systems and health outcomes, known as the food-nutrition-health nexus, intersects with environmental concerns. However, there's still a literature gap in evaluating food systems alongside the global syndemic using the complex systems theory, especially concerning vulnerable populations like children. This research aimed to design a system dynamics model to advance a theoretical understanding of the connections between food systems and the global syndemic, particularly focusing on their impacts on children under five years of age. The framework was developed through a literature review and authors' insights into the relationships between the food, health, and environmental components of the global syndemic among children. The conceptual model presented 17 factors, with 26 connections and 6 feedback loops, categorized into the following 5 groups: environmental, economic, school-related, family-related, and child-related. It delineated and elucidated mechanisms among the components of the global syndemic encompassing being overweight, suffering from undernutrition, and climate change. The findings unveiled potential interactions within food systems and health outcomes. Furthermore, the model integrated elements of the socio-ecological model by incorporating an external layer representing the environment and its natural resources. Consequently, the development of public policies and interventions should encompass environmental considerations to effectively tackle the complex challenges posed by the global syndemic.

What Is Quality Food? The Opinion of Key of the Brazilian Food System.

The aim of the study was to explore the concept of quality food in the opinion of key informants of the food system. This qualitative research included 208 key informants related to the food supply for Brazilian public food services. The participants were grouped into three groups according to their participation in the food system: 1. Food production; 2. Management and marketing; 3. Meal's production process. Key informants answered the following question: "In your opinion, what is quality food?". The answers were analysed through qualitative content analysis. The data analysis resulted in 52 codes grouped into eight categories, expressing the opinion of the study participants about what quality food is: nutritional, sustainable, sensory, hygienic-sanitary, care, regulatory, dependability and symbolic. Nutritional and sustainable dimensions were predominantly considered. The activities carried out in the food system seem to influence the opinion on food quality. The groups linked to food production put more emphasis on the sustainable dimension, followed by the nutritional dimension, while the groups linked to management and marketing and to the meals production process put more emphasis on the nutritional and sensory dimensions. These differences may indicate a difficulty in the transition towards a more sustainable and healthy food system.

Análise das preparações de um serviço de alimentação hospitalar segundo o Escore para Avaliação Qualitativa de Preparação / Analysis of the preparations of a hospital food service according to the Score for Qualitative Assessment of Preparation

Introdução: A oferta de ambientes alimentares saudáveis e sustentáveis deve contar com a avaliação de cardápios que estejam adequados para além da dimensão nutricional, devendo contemplar, entre outros fatores, o grau de processamento dos alimentos conforme recomendações do Guia Alimentar para a População Brasileira. Objetivo: Analisar as preparações de um serviço de alimentação hospitalar segundo o Escore para Avaliação Qualitativa de Preparação. Métodos: O estudo foi do tipo quantitativo, observacional, transversal e analítico, desenvolvido em um serviço de nutrição hospitalar no município de Fortaleza - CE no período de janeiro a junho de 2023. A amostra foi composta por todas as preparações do cardápio de almoço e jantar dos colaboradores, pacientes e acompanhantes. Para análise, foi utilizado o Escore de Avaliação Qualitativa das Preparações, que avalia o grau de processamento industrial do ingrediente, além de outras recomendações. Resultados: Os resultados mostraram que 80% das 315 preparações foram classificadas como de "alta qualidade". As sobremesas e saladas apresentaram maior percentual de preparações classificadas como de "alta qualidade", 97% e 95,7% respectivamente (p <0,001). Uma preparação (1,2%) foi classificada como de "muito baixa qualidade". A qualidade das refeições dos pacientes foi superior à dos colaboradores e acompanhantes (p < 0,05) confirmando a hipótese do trabalho. Conclusões: A qualidade das preparações analisadas apresentou resultados satisfatórios e em concordância com as recomendações do Guia Alimentar para a População Brasileira.

Introduction: The provision of healthy and sustainable food environments should include the assessment of adequate menus beyond the nutritional dimension, and, among other factors, the food processing levels recommended by the Food Guide for the Brazilian Population. Objective: To analyze the preparations of a hospital food service under the Qualitative Preparation Assessment Score. Methods: This quantitative, observational, cross-sectional, and analytical study was conducted in a hospital nutrition service in Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil, from January to June 2023. The sample consisted of all the lunch and dinner menu preparations for employees, patients, and companions. Besides other recommendations, we adopted the Qualitative Preparation Assessment Score for analysis to evaluate the ingredient industrial processing level. Results: The results showed that 80% of the 315 preparations were classified as "high quality". Desserts and salads had the highest percentage of preparations classified as "high quality", 97% and 95.7%, respectively (p<0.001). One preparation (1.2%) was classified as "very low quality". The quality of patients' meals was higher than that of employees and companions (p<0.05), confirming the study's hypothesis. Conclusions: The quality of the preparations analyzed was satisfactory and aligned with the recommendations of the Food Guide for the Brazilian Population.

National School Feeding Program (PNAE): A Public Policy That Promotes a Learning Framework and a More Sustainable Food System in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.

Food systems drive change, which can accelerate the process of ending hunger, improving diets and protecting the environment. This is the attribution given to the Brazilian National School Feeding Program (Programa Nacional de Alimentação Escolar-PNAE), which was created to supply 15% of the food needs of millions of children in Brazilian schools. Therefore, the purpose of this article was to create a framework to analyze learnings in the PNAE that contribute to the development of a sustainable food system in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. For this, a qualitative descriptive survey with abductive logic was chosen through a study of multiple cases and semistructured interviews as its strategy. It was noticed that individuals tended to group themselves in accordance with their learning level. A group in which instrumental learning was prevailing would tend to strictly follow the rules. Groups that already had communicative learning would be more proactive and look for improvements. However, when they would reach emancipatory learning, they would become more willing to disrupt initiatives to create new perspectives to solve problems. From that, decisions became political, and the more organized the groups became, the more power they had to allow their ideas to prevail.

Transición saludable y sostenible en Argentina / Transition healthy and sustainable in Argentina

Inseguridad alimentaria, malnutrición por exceso, patrones alimentarios poco saludables e insostenibles y encarecimiento diferencial de los alimentos más nutritivos, son los factores que intervienen en el complejo panorama alimentario de la población argentina y constituyen sendos desafíos contemporáneos que requieren de cambios en la forma en que se producen, distribuyen, comercializan y consumen los alimentos. Objetivo. Diseñar un modelo de cambios dietarios de transición alimentaria adecuado en términos nutricionales y adaptado a las particularidades del escenario local. Materiales y Métodos. Sobre las principales brechas de excesos dietarios del patrón alimentario argentino se diseñó una matriz de cambios dietarios, considerando tres dimensiones: cantidades, ocasiones y diversificación, transicionales hacia el modelo de referencia (EAT-Lancet) y se determinaron las implicancias económicas del proceso de cambio dietario propuesto. Resultados. Se identificaron 20 estrategias de adaptación dietaria para acortar parcialmente las brechas de carnes (máximo 25%), alimentos feculentos (máximo en torno a ⅕) y sus productos derivados; priorizando aquellos frescos, estacionales y de cercanía. La combinación de cambios dietarios implicaría un ahorro neto de 11% comparado con una canasta saludable. Conclusión. La transición alimentaria hacia modelos más saludables y sostenibles debe considerar cambios flexibles, progresivos y factibles; resguardando los factores socioculturales característicos de la población argentina. Su implementación y mantenimiento requiere de políticas públicas efectivas y voluntad de los diversos actores involucrados, incluyendo a los propios consumidores(AU)

Introduction. NFood insecurity, overnutrition, unhealthy and unsustainable dietary patterns and disproportionate increase in the cost of nutritious foods are the factors that play an important role in the complex nutritional food landscape of the Argentine population and represent contemporary challenges that require changes in the way food is produced, distributed, marketed, and consumed. Objective. Design a model of dietary transition changes that is nutritionally adequate and adapted to the specificities of local scenario. Materials and methods. Regarding the main excesses in the dietary pattern of the Argentinean population, a matrix of dietary changes was designed, considering three dimensions: quantities, occasions and diversification, transitioning towards the reference model (EAT-Lancet). The economic implications of the change process were determined. Results. 20 dietary adaptation strategies were identified to partially reduce the gaps in meat (maximum 25%), starchy foods (maximum around ⅕) and their derivatives products; prioritizing those that are fresh, seasonal and locally sourced products. The combination of dietary changes would imply a net savings of 11% compared to a healthy food basket. Conclusion. The dietary transition towards healthier and more sustainable models must consider flexible, progressive and feasible changes; the sociocultural factors characteristic of the population. Its implementation and maintenance requires effective public policies and the willingness of the various actors involved, including consumers themselves(AU)

Identificación de materias primas locales de estación primavera/verano y subproductos de la región centro chaqueña para su aprovechamiento durante la alimentación complementaria / Identification of local spring/summer raw materials and by-products from the central Chaco region for use during complementary feeding

Resumen Introducción: el conocimiento acerca de la disponibilidad de materias primas regionales, junto con estrategias socio-tecnológicas y educativas, resultan útiles para un aporte óptimo de nutrientes en la dieta. El objetivo del estudio fue identificar las materias primas y subproductos locales de la región centro chaqueña, que podrían resultar útiles para cubrir deficiencias nutricionales durante la etapa de alimentación complementaria. Materiales y método: se diseñó un instrumento para encuestar a los referentes productivos acerca del tipo y destino de la actividad agropecuaria, ubicación geográfica, descripción de la producción, disponibilidad, procesos tecnológicos, capacidad/volumen de producción, entre otros. Se analizaron los productos en función de su aporte en nutrientes críticos para niños de 6 a 24 meses (calcio, hierro, vitaminas A, D y E) mediante tablas de composición química y búsqueda bibliográfica. La ficha técnica diseñada contó con 4 secciones y 29 ítems: datos generales (8 ítems), agricultura, ganadería y subproductos (7 cada una). Resultados: se trabajó con 50 productores locales que abastecían el departamento Comandante Fernández. Se observó que la principal actividad en la región fue la agricultura, representando un 32%; de éstos, el 78% de la producción correspondió a vegetales y el 22% a frutas de estación. Le siguieron las actividades mixtas en un 26% y la elaboración de subproductos en un 22% (63 tipos diferentes). En menor proporción, se encontró la actividad ganadera y otras actividades representando un 12% y 8%, respectivamente. Se identificaron como posibles alimentos fuentes de nutrientes al zapallo y batata (vitamina A), acelga y zapallo angola (vitamina E), yema de huevo, carne vacuna y morcilla (hierro), quesos, ricota, rúcula y acelga (calcio), huevo (vitamina D). Conclusiones: se concluye que la región cuenta con variedad de productos locales como fuentes primarias de nutrientes críticos para el consumo directo y desarrollo tecnológico de posibles formulaciones.

Abstract Introduction: knowledge about the availability of regional raw materials, together with socio-technological and educational strategies, are useful for an optimal supply of nutrients in the diet. The objective of this study was to identify local raw materials and by-products from the central Chaco region that could be useful to cover nutritional deficiencies during the complementary feeding stage. Materials and method: for this purpose, an instrument was designed to survey the productive referents about the type and destination of agricultural activity, geographical location, description of production, availability, technological processes, and production capacity/volume, among others. The products were analysed according to their contribution of critical nutrients for children aged 6 to 24 months (calcium, iron, vitamins A, D, and E) using chemical composition tables and a bibliographic search. The technical data sheet designed had 4 sections and 29 items: General Data (8 items), Agriculture, Livestock, and By-products (7 each). Results: 50 local producers supplied the department of Comandante Fernández. It was observed that the main activity in the region was agriculture, representing 32%; of these, 78% of the production corresponded to vegetables and 22% to seasonal fruits. This was followed by mixed activities at 26% and the production of by-products at 22% (63 different types). To a lesser extent, livestock and other activities accounted for 12% and 8%, respectively. Possible nutrient sources were identified such as pumpkins and sweet potatoes (vitamin A), chard and angola pumpkin (vitamin E), egg yolk, beef and blood sausage (iron), cheese, ricotta, arugula and chard (calcium), egg (vitamin D). Conclusion: it is concluded that the region has a variety of local products as primary sources of critical nutrients for direct consumption and technological development of possible formulations.

Household availability of foods from Brazilian biodiversity / Disponibilidade domiciliar de alimentos provenientes da biodiversidade brasileira / Disponibilidad domiciliaria de alimentos provenientes de la biodiversidad brasileña

Abstract: Food biodiversity is characterized by the diversity of foods that compose a local, regional, or national ecosystem. Brazil has 20% of all the planet's biodiversity and the richest biomes in the world. Therefore, describing the participation of these foods in the Brazilian diet is relevant. Using a complex sample with data from 57,920 households collected by the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics from 2017 to 2018, this study showed that, except for yerba mate, the availability of foods from Brazilian biodiversity is low, representing an average of 7.09g/per capita/day. Regarding biomes, the Caatinga had the highest availability of fruits (4.20g/per capita/day) while the Amazon had the highest availability of vegetables (1.52g/per capita/day). The results are unsatisfactory and lower than what is expected from a territory rich in biodiversity and a world-leading food system. A greater commitment is essential to promote actions that strengthen the consumption of these foods among Brazilians.

Resumo: A biodiversidade alimentar é caracterizada pela diversidade alimentar que compõe um ecossistema local, regional ou nacional. O Brasil tem 20% de toda a biodiversidade do planeta e os biomas mais ricos do mundo. No entanto, é relevante descrever a participação desses alimentos na dieta dos brasileiros. Utilizando uma amostra complexa com dados de 57.920 domicílios, coletados pelo Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística de 2017 a 2018, observou-se que, com exceção da erva-mate, a disponibilidade de alimentos provenientes da biodiversidade é baixa, representando uma média de 7,09g/per capita/dia. Por biomas, a Caatinga apresentou a maior disponibilidade de frutos (4,20g/per capita/dia), enquanto para legumes, a Amazônia se destacou (1,52g/per capita/dia). Os resultados são insatisfatórios e abaixo do que se espera de um território biodiverso e de um sistema alimentar que é destaque mundial. É necessário um maior comprometimento para a promoção de ações que fortaleçam o consumo desses alimentos entre brasileiros.

Resumen: La biodiversidad alimentaria se caracteriza por la diversidad alimentaria que conforma un ecosistema local, regional o nacional. Brasil tiene el 20% de toda la biodiversidad del planeta y los biomas más ricos del mundo. Sin embargo, es relevante describir la participación de estos alimentos en la dieta de los brasileños. Utilizando una muestra compleja con datos de 57.920 domicilios, recopilados por el Instituto Brasileño de Geografía y Estadística de 2017 a 2018, se observó que, con excepción de la yerba mate, la disponibilidad de alimentos de la biodiversidad es baja, representando un promedio de 7,09g/per cápita/día. Por biomas, la Caatinga presentó la mayor disponibilidad de frutos (4,20g/per cápita/día), mientras que en relación a las legumbres, la Amazonía se destacó (1,52g/per cápita/día). Los resultados son insatisfactorios y por debajo de lo que se espera de un territorio rico en biodiversidad y un sistema alimentario mundialmente reconocido. Es necesario un mayor compromiso para la promoción de acciones que fortalezcan el consumo de estos alimentos entre los brasileños.

COVID-19 and the beef market in Latin America: An impact assessment by supply and demand.

The impact of COVID-19 on agricultural markets, especially the beef market, represents one of the greatest food security challenges the world is facing in the post-pandemic era and, for this reason, has been widely documented. This study contributes to the literature through a comprehensive impact analysis of the effects of COVID-19 on both the demand and supply of beef in Latin America and thus provides valuable information for two of the most important links of the beef value chain. Robust econometric methods and a graphic analysis were used that give solidity to the investigation. The analysis used a data panel of supply and demand variables between 2018 and 2022 derived from the US Department of Agriculture. The results suggest that the beef market was strongly affected by the pandemic related health emergency, presenting decreases in both consumption and production. These effects are transitory, however, since the analysis of the post-pandemic data revealed that consumption and production return to normal and seem to grow until smoothing out over time.

Full Exploitation of Peach Palm (Bactris gasipaes Kunth): State of the Art and Perspectives.

The peach palm (Bactris gasipaes Kunth) is a palm tree native to the Amazon region, with plantations expanding to the Brazilian Southwest and South regions. This work is a critical review of historical, botanical, social, environmental, and nutritional aspects of edible and nonedible parts of the plant. In Brazil, the importance of the cultivation of B. gasipaes to produce palm heart has grown considerably, due to its advantages in relation to other palm species, such as precocity, rusticity and tillering. The last one is especially important, as it makes the exploitation of peach palm hearts, contrary to what happens with other palm tree species, a non-predatory practice. Of special interest are the recent efforts aiming at the valorization of the fruit as a source of carotenoids and starch. Further developments indicate that the B. gasipaes lignocellulosic wastes hold great potential for being upcycled into valuable biotechnological products such as prebiotics, enzymes, cellulose nanofibrils and high fiber flours. Clean technologies are protagonists of the recovery processes, ensuring the closure of the product's life cycle in a "green" way. Future research should focus on expanding and making the recovery processes economically viable, which would be of great importance for stimulating the peach palm production chain.

The link between agriculture and rural food security in the ecoregions of Mexico: path diagrams and underlying dataset.

In this research, we build two food systems datasets in Mexico; The first one describes the structure of agricultural production units and the second one describes food security aspects of the rural population in these agricultural production units. We also build a third dataset, consisting of path diagrams and path coefficients (derived from Structural Equation Modeling) that relate the first dataset to the second dataset in the four most populated ecoregions of Mexico. The description of the path models and the insights they bring to the current state of food security in Mexican rural households are detailed in an associated article entitled "Is food security primarily associated with smallholder agriculture or with commercial agriculture?: An approach to the case of Mexico using structural equation modeling" (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agsy.2021.103091). The agricultural variables (in the first dataset) include farm size, destination of the farmer's production, cultivation practice / water management, predominant source of income of the household, land tenure type, crop diversity, agricultural surface expansion, and the presence of forest cover. They are based on the primary data of the full, latest available agricultural census in Mexico and corresponding official land use / land cover data. The second dataset consists of four food security indicators designed and built for the first food security model in Mexico that incorporates food availability, food accessibility and food utilization aspects. They include the Food Self-sufficiency Index (the balance between food production and food consumption), the Food Access Index (inversely related to marginalization), the Entitlement to Public Health Care index, and the Undernutrition Infrequency index (related to hospital sickness records). We provide the path tables and diagrams that describe the links between the agricultural structure and food security. These diagrams provide the first nationwide statistical evidence for the prominent role of smallholder agriculture in rural food security at the national level and at ecoregion scale for a country of the global South. In order to further investigate the structure of the agricultural production units and their relationships with socio-economic, territorial and landscape data, artificial intelligence (i.e. data mining and machine learning) techniques could be performed on this compendium of datasets. The food security data may stir the development of more food security models in Mexico in relation to other drivers such as consumption habits and non-agricultural activities of rural households.

Strengthening Governance and Institutional Capacity at the Nutrition-Food Supply Policy Nexus Comment on "What Opportunities Exist for Making the Food Supply Nutrition Friendly? A Policy Space Analysis in Mexico".

Cervantes et al have provided an insightful addition to the policy literature by identifying the contextual, political, and policy factors that create constraints and opportunities for putting nutrition at the center of the food supply chain policy process. This commentary discusses important elements and features when aiming for reconciling nutrition goals and food supply policy, provides some examples of the salience of nutrition of non-health policies in countries with different income levels, and argues for improving governance for better nutrition outcomes and inspiring institutional interest and idea of food supply policy actors around population nutrition. Cervantes et al highlight the political context that favors nutrition outcomes, nutrition advocacy in the public agenda, and multisectoral mechanisms which can keep the nutrition objective moving forward in the food supply sector. However, a wider view on governance and institutional capacity is needed, recognizing government action by multiple sectors, with diverse sets of actors. The expanded understanding of nutrition, which includes considering nutrition as an emerging facet of food systems, by policy actors is needed. Enhancing discourse involving nutrition and food supply actors is important in order to appeal to the wider public and opinion leaders across the political spectrum. Accomplishing this also requires political will and an advocacy movement, especially by civil society and grassroots movements.

Changes in Food Environment Patterns in the Metropolitan Area of the Valley of Mexico, 2010-2020.

The concept of food environment refers to the opportunities; environments; and physical, economic, political, and socio-cultural conditions that frame the interaction of people with the food system and shape decisions about food acquisition and consumption. This study analyzes the relationships between the characteristics of urban environments and the availability of retail food through the evaluation of physical and financial access to food in the Metropolitan Area of the Valley of Mexico (MAVM) between 2010 and 2020. Using Geographic Information Systems (GISs), both physical access through network distance to economic food retail units and financial access through socioeconomic status at the block scale were evaluated. The network distance and socioeconomic status results were used as criteria for the spatially explicit classification of the MAVM into food deserts, oases, and swamps. Food deserts are the most abundant food environments but only increased in the third and fourth metropolitan contours. Swamps have increased throughout the city, related to the proliferation of convenience stores that have replaced grocery stores. This study contributes evidence at a local and regional scale required for the future urban planning of the MAVM and for public health and sustainability programs focusing on treating food-related diseases.

Ultra-Processed Foods Elicit Higher Approach Motivation Than Unprocessed and Minimally Processed Foods.

Background: Ultra-processed foods (UPF) are becoming extensively available in the food environments. UPF are industrial formulations that are designed to maximize palatability and consumption through a combination of calorie-dense ingredients and chemical additives. UPFs are also aggressively marketed, which may make them more attractive than unprocessed/minimally processed foods (UMPF). Since consumers' purchase decisions are guided by food-evoked emotions, we aimed to provide evidence that UPF visual cues trigger higher emotional responses and approach motivation than UMPF visual cues, with potential impacts on individuals' intention to consume the UPF over the UMPF. Methods: Participants (n = 174; 144 women; mean age = 20.7 years; standard deviation = 4.35) performed two tasks. In the first task, 16 pictures of foods (8 UPF and 8 UMPF), and 74 pictures from other affective categories, were presented. After viewing each picture, the participants rated it along two basic dimensions of emotion through the Self-Assessment Manikin scale: pleasantness and arousal. In the second task, the participants viewed the same food pictures, and they rated their intention to consume the foods depicted in the pictures. Each picture was plotted in terms of its mean pleasantness and arousal ratings in a Cartesian plane, which resulted in an affective space. Results: Pictures of UPF and UMPF were positioned in the upper arm of the boomerang-shaped affective space that represents approach motivation. Pictures containing UPF triggered higher approach motivation and intention to consume than pictures containing UMPF. We also found a stronger association between emotional responses and intention to consume UPF relative to UMPF. Conclusion: These results shed new light on the role of ultra-processed foods evoked emotions that contribute to less healthy and sustainable food environments.

What Opportunities Exist for Making the Food Supply Nutrition Friendly? A Policy Space Analysis in Mexico.

BACKGROUND: As part of a global policy response for addressing malnutrition, food system actions have been proposed. Within food system interventions, policies directed to supply chains have the potential to increase the availability and affordability of a healthy diet. This qualitative study aimed to identify opportunities to integrate nutrition as a priority into the food supply policy space in Mexico. METHODS: Data were collected through analysis of 19 policy documents and 20 semi-structured stakeholder interviews. As an analytical framework, we used policy space analysis and embedded the Advocacy Coalition Framework (ACF) and the steps of the food chain of the conceptual framework of food systems for diets and nutrition. RESULTS: Policy issues relevant to nutrition were viewed differently in the economic and agricultural sectors versus the health sector. Overall, the main policy objective related to nutrition within the economic and agricultural sectors was to contribute to food security in terms of food quantity. Nutrition was an objective in itself only in the health sector, with a focus on food quality. Our policy space analysis reveals an opportunity to promote a new integrated vision with the recent creation of an intersectoral group working on the public agenda for a food system transformation. This newer integrative narrative on food systems presents an opportunity to shift the existing food security narrative from quantity towards considerations of diet quality. CONCLUSION: The political context and public agenda are favorable to pursue a food system transformation to deliver sustainable healthy diets. Mexico can provide a case study for other low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) for putting nutrition at the center of food policy, despite the ongoing constraints on achieving this.

The health, environmental, and economic dimensions of future dietary transitions in Argentina.

Diets link human health with environmental sustainability, offering promising pressure points to enhance the sustainability of food systems. We investigated the health, environmental, and economic dimensions of the current diet in Argentina and the possible effects of six dietary change scenarios on nutrient adequacy, dietary quality, food expenditure, and six environmental impact categories (i.e., GHG emissions, total land occupation, cropland use, fossil energy use, freshwater consumption, and the emission of eutrophying pollutants). Current dietary patterns are unhealthy, unsustainable, and relatively expensive, and all things being equal, an increase in income levels would not alter the health dimension, but increase environmental impacts by 33-38%, and costs by 38%. Compared to the prevailing diet, the six healthier diet alternatives could improve health with an expenditure between + 27% (National Dietary Guidelines) to -5% (vegan diet) of the current diet. These dietary changes could result in trade-offs between different environmental impacts. Plant-based diets showed the lowest overall environmental impact, with GHG emissions and land occupation reduced by up to 79% and 88%, respectively, without significant changes in cropland demand. However, fossil energy use and freshwater consumption could increase by up to 101% and 220%, respectively. The emission of eutrophying pollutants could increase by up to 54% for all healthy diet scenarios, except for the vegan one (18% decrease). We conclude that the health and environmental crisis that Argentina (and other developing countries) currently face could be mitigated by adopting healthy diets (particularly plant-based), bringing in the process benefits to both people and nature. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s11625-021-01087-7.

The Indispensable Territorial Dimension of Food Supply: A View from Brazil During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

The research-activists network 'Collective Action on Real Food' analyzed alternative food supply initiatives formed in response and/or expanded due to the pandemic in Brazil and identified more than 260 examples. Despite this dynamism, the policy processes of the UN Food System Summit were not able to-or might not even have tried to-break the mechanisms that make such initiatives politically invisible.

Unveiling the social performance of selected agri-food chains in Costa Rica: the case of green coffee, raw milk and leafy vegetables.

PURPOSE: Several frameworks coincide in the importance of addressing social impacts to ensure sustainability. However, the agri-food sector, regarded as key in sustainable production, still neglects to identify potential social impacts when applying life cycle approaches. This work contributes to understanding the social performance of three agricultural products from a Latin American and Caribbean developing country as Costa Rica while recognising the challenges of Social-Life Cycle Assessment (S-LCA) application in this context. METHODS: S-LCA represents a powerful technique to evaluate the potential social impacts of a product. Three case studies were analysed through S-LCA, using the subcategory assessment method (SAM) to characterise the social impacts and detect hotspots in the production of green coffee, raw milk and leafy vegetables. Primary data was collected through questionnaires to relevant informants and observations. In addition to secondary information, these data and information were used to assess eight impact subcategories for the farmer and worker stakeholder groups and nine subcategories for the local community. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: The main results suggest that the Costa Rican institutional and market frameworks provide an enabling environment for a generally positive social performance in the studied cases. The assessed stakeholders can fulfil basic needs through access to inputs and services and achieve fair-trading conditions. Child labour, forced labour and evidence of environmental or health risks for the surrounding communities were absent. Important efforts to address the delocalisation, migration and child labour were observed, suggesting the potential development of social handprints in further studies. However, the farm production phase, related to farmers and workers, entails hotspots regarding social security and women's empowerment. Moreover, farmers appear as the most vulnerable group because of their overall social performance. CONCLUSIONS: S-LCA helped identify relevant areas of intervention in the context of these particular case studies; however, further research and capacity building are recommended to tackle the detected challenges, both in the agri-food chains and in the use of S-LCA. Furthermore, these findings can aid in future decision and policy-making to improve and safeguard the positive social performance observed in the studied products. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s11367-021-01964-4.

Quality and environmental footprints of diets by socio-economic status in Argentina.

Food consumption and production plays a major role on human health and environmental sustainability. In addition, socio-economic status (SES) could be an important determinant on these impacts. Here we investigated the quality and environmental footprints of diets of different SES in Argentina. Dietary data was obtained from a recent national-wide representative survey (21,547 households), and individual intake was estimated by applying the Adult-Male Equivalent (AME) approach. Dietary quality was assessed by comparing the apparent consumption of foods and nutrients with the level of intake associated with the lowest risk of mortality, and applying the Alternate Healthy Eating Index 2010 (AHEI-2010). The environmental footprints were assessed with a set of six environmental indicators: greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, total land occupation, cropland demand, fossil energy use, freshwater consumption and eutrophying emissions. Per capita total expenditure was utilized as an indicator of SES. We found a suboptimal intake of healthy and excess of unhealthy foods and nutrients in all SES, as well as a low AHEI-2010 score (34.7 ± 3.56 over 100). Regarding environmental footprints per AME, we estimated 8.91 ± 2.49 kg CO2-eq/day for GHG emissions, 9.30 ± 2.93 MJ/day for fossil energy use, 54.2 ± 14.8 m2/day for total land occupation, 7.07 ± 1.90 m2/day for cropland demand, 205 ± 65.3 L/day for freshwater consumption and 19.8 ± 6.43 g PO4-eq/day for eutrophying emissions. The Argentinian diet was found to be both unhealthy and unsustainable in all socio-economic levels.