Agriculture & Food Security

Abstract Food price volatility has posed a persistent challenge in Ethiopia for more than five decades, raising concerns about its long-term implications for child survival in the context of chronic food insecurity. Although previous studies have explored food prices and child health, little is known about how the dynamics of food price volatility influence under-five mortality across different t…

Abstract Background Perceived risks associated with food production are a major concern among European consumers and strongly influence debates on sustainable agricultural practices. In particular, the adoption of precision-bred (gene-edited) crops and the use of alternative pesticide strategies raise questions about consumer acceptance and regulatory alignment. This study examines consumer perce…

Faba bean gall, a disease caused by Physoderma viciae, has emerged as a major constraint to faba bean production in the highland areas of northeastern Ethiopia. This study assessed the prevalence, incidence, and severity of faba bean gall across major faba bean-growing districts during the 2022 and 2023 cropping seasons. A total of 200 fields were surveyed, and disease parameters were recorded al…

Abstract Globally, child undernutrition remains a primary health concern. Climate change will aggravate undernutrition and food insecurity, particularly in subsistence farming households in sub-Saharan Africa. Home gardening could serve as an adaptation strategy for vulnerable households, especially those with children under five years. Here, we present the experiences and perceptions of benefici…

With the escalating impacts of climate change, drought stress (DS) is significantly decreasing water accessibility and availability, causing substantial direct and indirect economic repercussions within agricultural systems. Addressing the needs of a growing global population necessitates urgent advancements in breeding DS-tolerant crops while maintaining high yields. This urgency demands a fast …

Abstract Background Food security remains a persistent challenge in the Asia-Pacific region, where climate shocks and economic volatility interact to create complex and escalating risks. Traditional vulnerability assessments often rely on static or retrospective methods, failing to capture dynamic feedbacks, predict tipping points, or evaluate the resilience of policy interventions. This study ad…

Abstract This study examines the impact of climate change on urban food gardens in Sobantu and Mpophomeni townships in Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. It emphasises the importance of understanding how climate change affects the production side of the food system in urban settings, particularly given the vulnerability of resource-limited urban farmers to erratic rainfall, pests and …

Abstract Background Contract farming (CF) has garnered a lot of attention owing to its structural transformation potentials. Yet, most studies on CF have focused on specialty/industrial crops. Staple crops have received little attention, and their welfare impacts are unclear despite their potentials to make CF arrangements more inclusive. In this study, we evaluate the welfare impacts of CF in ri…

Climate change occurs over time and mostly affects changes in temperature and weather patterns, therefore affecting crop yields and agricultural production. Adaptation to climate change has resulted in communities being better off in terms of being resilient to climate change. However, little is understood concerning the effects of these coping strategies on the health and nutrition status of the…

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s40066-025-00574-9.