from the Journal of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Community Development |
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JAFSCD peer-reviewed article by Edwin Nuijten (Wageningen U), Monika M. Messmer (Research Institute of Organic Agriculture [FiBL]), Pedro Mendes-Moreira (Polytechnic U of Coimbra), Adrián Rodríguez-Burruezo (Polytechnic U of Valencia), Véronique Chable (INRAE, UMR BAGAP), Edith T. Lammerts van Bueren (Wageningen U of Research)
Organic breeders must meet many requirements when developing cultivars to satisfy demand for high yield, good quality, resource efficiency and climate robustness, cultural and ethical acceptability, and the provision of ecosystem services. Given the current and future climatic, agronomic, economic, and sociocultural challenges, resilience can only be efficiently achieved through concerted actions. The concept of systems-based breeding integrates the strengths of different breeding orientations and provides a perspective where breeders can initiate developments toward ecologically and societally resilient crop production that address six sustainability targets.
In a new JAFSCD article, Implementing the systems-based breeding approach: Experiences and lessons learned from the European Union LIVESEED project, authors Edwin Nuijten, Monika M. Messmer, Pedro Mendes-Moreira, Adrian Rodriguez-Burruezo employed a holistic perspective on social construction that builds on Lammerts van Buerenet, who analyzed several challenges to ecological and societal resilience given the current and future climatic, agronomic, economic, and social environment.
Corresponding author Edwin Nuijten can be contacted at edwin.nuijten@wur.nl.
KEY FINDINGS Based on the workshop results, we identified three supportive pillars: -
Increase social awareness and reflection,
- Develop alternative financing approaches, and
- Develop appropriate breeding methods.
Based on other projects and literature, we have identified two additional supportive pillars needed to foster the integration and inter-linking of the processes part of the first three supportive pillars. -
The fourth pillar is to apply integrative interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary learning in education, which is needed to better anchor the integration of social and natural science thinking in daily practice.
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR POLICY, PRACTICE AND RESEARCH
The concept of systems-based breeding aims to integrate the strengths of different breeding orientations. providing a perspective where breeders can be initiators of developments toward a sustainable agrifood system based on an ecologically and societally resilient crop production. A future challenge important for diversification is the transition from the focus on short-term market profits toward long term ecological and societal sustainability.
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In the dominant breeding approach in Europe, breeding efforts need to be financed through seed sales. For organic agriculture, however, a broad portfolio of crops and varieties is needed to create resilience in the cropping systems which cannot be recovered through seed sales. In a new @JAFSCD article, authors analyze the EU LIVESEED program. Learn more about their research at https://doi.org/10.5304/jafscd.2025.144.004.
#plantbreeding #EU #LIVESEED
Image above: Special Issue: Fostering socially and ecologically resilient food and farm systems through research networks. Logos for INFAS, eOrganic, and the USDA. |
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Food insecurity affects a significant proportion of college students in the United States and beyond. Its prevalence is so notable that it has been described as a syndemic—a set of interconnected health and social issue. The impacts of food insecurity on college students are evident across multiple dimensions of holistic well-being. Students experiencing food insecurity are more likely to suffer from anxiety and depression and report higher levels of stress and poorer sleep quality compared to students without food insecurity. The consequences of food insecurity also poorly affect academic performance, including decreased attention and concentration, lower grade point averages, lower classroom attendance rates, and an increased likelihood of failing or withdrawing from courses.
Student food insecurity is a significant concern on college campuses in the United States and beyond. While demographic risk factors for food insecurity are well-documented, the influence of social factors, such as social relationships and social support, remains less understood. This study aimed to explore the experiences of college food pantry users in relation to food insecurity and social connections. In a new JAFSCD article "Food insecurity and social connections among university food pantry users before and during COVID-19" authors find that campus food pantries and their staff serve a broader role beyond providing access to food, aligning with strategic recommendations for addressing campus food insecurity.
Corresponding author Anthony D. Campbell can be contacted at adeoo44@auburn.edu. KEY FINDINGS -
Students reported a range of experiences related to social connections, both negative and positive, that clearly affected their access to resources and sup-port during the pandemic.
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Students adopted various strategies for dealing with pandemic food challenges, including using food pantries, relying on social supports such as food sharing, and seeking help from community support programs.
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In addition, in the pre-pandemic survey, students experiencing very low food security were more likely to report having had an exogenous event in the past 12 months and having less access to financial support.
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR POLICY, PRACTICE AND RESEARCH
Addressing food insecurity among college students requires a comprehensive and multifaceted approach. This study’s findings emphasize that campus food pantries and their staff serve a broader role beyond providing access to food, aligning with strategic recommendations for addressing campus food insecurity. Food pantries might consider including more assessment and consideration of students’ previous experiences of food insecurity, the impact of exogenous factors that create hardships during college, the associations of food insecurity with trauma, and the availability of social support resources.
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Food insecurity affects a significant proportion of college students in the United States and beyond. Its prevalence is so notable that it has been described as a syndemic—a set of interconnected health and social issue. While demographic risk factors for food insecurity are well-documented, the influence of social factors, such as social relationships and social support, remains less understood. To read more about this wicked problem, visit @JAFSCD https://doi.org/10.5304/jafscd.2025.144.014
Photo Above: Sacramento (California) State University students stock the ASI Food Pantry in 2016. Photo by Sac State/Andrea Price and used under CC BY-NC 2.0 via Flickr. |
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Join the 5th webinar in the Sustainable Diets series, Setting the Table, on Wednesday, October 22, 12:00-1:00 PM EDT. Learn and chat about the connections between trade, economics, design, and sustainable food systems. |
This webinar series is organized by JAFSCD Shareholder Dalhousie University. |
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