Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems

Introduction Traceability systems are crucial for ensuring the quality and safety of agricultural products. However, farmers with different levels of livelihood capital face varying challenges in participating in such systems. Therefore, understanding how livelihood capital influences farmers’ willingness to participate is essential for promoting the widespread adoption. Methods This study survey…

Background Maize industry security is defined in this study as an integrated, sustainability-oriented food-security posture of the maize sector, reflecting how basic security level, market operation situation, technological innovation capacity, and resource-environment conditions jointly shape the availability, stability, and long-term viability of maize production and use. Methods To construct a…

This study examined how Participatory Development Communication facilitated learning, empowerment, and sustainable livelihood outcomes among citrus farmers participating in the Quality Planting Materials Production System project implemented by the Citrus Resources Research and Development Center in Nueva Vizcaya, Philippines. Anchored in Freirean dialogical communication and the Sustainable Live…

Introduction Drought stress is a primary constraint on linseed ( Linum usitatissimum L.) productivity, impairing plant growth and disrupting key physiological processes. While adequate soil moisture can alleviate such stress, the crop is frequently exposed to water deficits during critical growth stages under field conditions. Salicylic acid (SA) is increasingly recognized as an effective foliar …

Food systems are deeply inequitable yet sustainability in food systems cannot be attained without gender equality and social inclusion (GESI). Through a document review of the food systems transformation pathways (FSTPs) of Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Uganda, this paper assesses GESI integration in the food systems transformation commitments of the Eastern African nations. The findings…

Tropical land-use change strongly affects biological diversity and carbon cycling at multiple spatial levels. Evidence for synergies between ecosystem services (ES), such as carbon storage and biodiversity, has been accumulating for natural and managed ecosystems in the tropics and subtropics, and at a global scale. Less research has examined ES across different land-use types at a landscape-leve…

The organic agriculture governance system is increasingly seen as a platform for developing, adopting, and regulating a wide range of sustainable agricultural initiatives, making it a promising pathway for advancing food system transformation toward greater sustainability and resilience. This study examines, through the lens of farmers’ capabilities, how the efficiency of the organic agriculture …

Introduction The indiscriminate use of pesticides worldwide poses serious public health concerns due to their persistence on food commodities. Curry leaves, a widely consumed culinary herb, have been reported to contain comparatively higher pesticide residues than many vegetables. This necessitates the search for effective and practical decontamination approaches that can be applied prior to cons…

Identifying consumers’ expectations regarding food safety, information provision, and disclosure efforts is crucial for decision-makers to carry out their work more effectively. This study examines consumers’ expectations regarding food safety, information provision, and disclosure efforts. The data for the research was obtained by reviewing the relevant literature and conducting a survey with 61…

The double burden of malnutrition (DBM), characterized by the coexistence of undernutrition and overnutrition, remains a major public health challenge in Africa. Sub-Saharan Africa continues to report some of the highest global rates of stunting, wasting, and underweight, with stunting affecting up to 57.7% of children under five, while overweight and obesity are rising sharply, particularly in u…

White soft cheese (WSC), a popular fresh dairy product in the Middle East, has a desirable texture and flavor but is highly perishable due to its high moisture and low acidity, which favor microbial growth. This study evaluated the antimicrobial efficacy of rosemary essential oil (REO) and its incorporation into whey protein concentrate (WPC) coatings for WSC preservation. Bacterial contaminants …

Introduction Climate change and malnutrition are interlinked challenges that demand integrated climate and nutrition action for building more resilient food systems. Climate smart agriculture (CSA) and nutrition sensitive agriculture (NSA) interventions provide complementary pathways to enhance productivity, nutrition and climate resilience in African food systems. Although both domains are well …

Composting is a well-established technology for the treatment of a wide range of organic wastes and by-products without the production of any residue. It is a key process for the development of the circular economy. The process is well-known, conventional parameters for compost quality are established in most countries, and quality certificate schemes are in operation, based on indicators to prev…

Informal economies often serve as the unseen drivers of urban food security in the Global South, significantly contributing to poverty alleviation (SDG 1) and Zero Hunger (SDG 2). This dynamic is particularly evident in Pakistan, where the shadow economy is estimated at approximately $450 billion. Yet, the street food sector, a vibrant component of this landscape, remains largely overlooked in fo…

Background Guided by the concept of the Great Food View and the coordinated management of ecological thresholds in fisheries, this study examines the spatiotemporal evolution and trend prediction of carbon emissions from Litopenaeus vannamei aquaculture in China. Purpose This study aims to develop an analytical framework that promotes both industrial efficiency improvement and ecological value en…

Introduction Climate change is increasingly undermining maize production in Ghana, a critical pillar of rural livelihoods and national food security. Prolonged droughts, erratic rainfall, heat stress, and flooding disrupt traditional farming practices and contribute to declining yields, particularly in ecologically vulnerable zones. Methods This study draws on survey data from 149 maize farmers a…

Food safety is a critical public health and economic concern as it can compromise the integrity of food systems to deliver nutritious food and promote wellbeing. This review was to synthesize findings from studies across all the regions to identify the major food safety threats and the most affected food sources in the Ghanaian food system. A comprehensive search for peer reviewed published liter…

The concept of food traceability systems has risen significantly in recent years and is increasingly viewed as an important mechanism for establishing sustainable consumption. However, the psychological mechanisms through which traceability perception affects green purchasing behavior remain poorly understood. Utilizing signaling theory and the service-dominant logic, this study framed a dual-med…

Introduction Improving rural living environments is crucial for sustainable food systems, yet traditional governance often suffers from coordination failures and low farmer engagement. This study examines how digital governance platforms address these issues in rural China. Methods Using data from the 2020 China Rural Revitalization Survey (CRRS), we developed indicators for sewage treatment and …