Collecting development data with mobile phones: Key considerations from a review of the evidence

Growth in mobile phone access and ownership presents an opportunity to collect more data, more frequently, from more people, and for less money. There are multiple ways to collect data with mobile phones (SMS, voice calls, etc.), each with particular strengths and weaknesses. n The best mode of data collection depends on the characteristics of the target population (e.g. literacy, network access, acceptability of using mobile phones, etc.) and of the data to be collected (e.g. quantitative vs. qualitative, number of questions, sensitivity of information, etc)

Time-Use Analytics: An Improved Way of Understanding Gendered Agriculture-Nutrition Pathways

There is a resurgence of interest in time-use research driven, inter alia, by the desire to understand if development interventions, especially when targeted to women, lead to time constraints by increasing work burdens. This has become a primary concern in agriculture-nutrition research. But are time-use data useful to explore agriculture-nutrition pathways? This study develops a conceptual framework of the micro-level linkages between agriculture, gendered time use, and nutrition and analyzes how time use has been conceptualized, operationalized, and interpreted in agriculture-nutrition literature on low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). The paper argues that better metrics, but also conceptualizations and analytics of time use, are needed to understand gendered trade-offs in agriculture-nutrition pathways. In particular, the potential unintended consequences can be grasped only if the analysis of time use shifts from being descriptive to a more theoretical and analytical understanding of time constraints, their trade-offs, and resulting changes in activity

Concepts and critical perspectives for food environment research: A global framework with implications for action in low- and middle-income countries

Malnutrition in all its forms currently affects one in three people globally and is considered one of the greatest public health challenges of our time. Low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) are increasingly facing a double burden of malnutrition that includes undernutrition, as well as increasing overweight, obesity and diet related non-communicable diseases. The role of food environments in shaping transitioning diets and the double burden of malnutrition in LMICs is increasingly gaining policy attention. However, food environment research to date has predominantly been undertaken in response to obesity and associated diet-related non-communicable diseases in high-income countries (HICs). Empirical research in LMICs is in its infancy. There is a need to create a cohesive research agenda to facilitate food environment research and inform action across the globe, particularly with regard to LMICs. In this paper, we address three fundamental questions: First, how can the food environment be defined and conceptualised in a way that captures the key dimensions that shape food acquisition and consumption globally? Second, how can existing knowledge and evidence from HICs be leveraged to accelerate food environment research in LMICs? Third, what are the main challenges and opportunities in doing so? We conduct a brief synthesis of the food environment literature in order to frame our critical perspectives, and introduce a new definition and conceptual framework that includes external and personal domains and dimensions within the wider food environment construct. We conclude with a discussion on the implications for future research in LMICs

Effects of plastics in the food system on human health, food security, and the environment: a systematic scoping review

Background: Due to their characteristics, plastics are ubiquitous across global food systems, which is contributing to environmental pollution. Circular economy policies should account for the myriad effects of plastics across interdependent environmental, human health, and food security and economic domains. However, the available evidence is disparate, and researchers and policymakers do not share a common strategy for addressing this planetary health problem. We aimed to synthesise data from this diverse research landscape to facilitate multidisciplinary collaboration. Methods: In this systematic scoping review, we searched nine databases and 15 grey literature sources, for studies published from the year 2000 onwards (up to January, 2019). We sought to identify quantifiable evidence on major plastic types used in all processes from agricultural production to waste management (so-called farm to flush); and studies presenting quantifiable outcomes (direct or intermediate, beneficial or harmful) in relation to human health, food security, household economics, and the environment. Findings were presented in an evidence gap map. A full study protocol was registered with the Campbell Collaboration. Findings: 3362 studies were included in our review and evidence gap map. Between 2000 and 2019, a 4-times increase in published studies occurred, with China, India, and the USA accounting for 1175 (34·9%) studies, and low-income settings just 54 (1·6%) studies. Plastics used in agricultural production and processing, and storage and transportation were well researched (1869 [55·6%] studies and 1117 [33·2%] studies, respectively), with considerably less research of plastic use in the retail, consumption, and food waste disposal subsectors. Food security outcomes were most frequently captured (2546 [75·7%] studies), with human health (1602 [47·7%] studies) and the environment (282 [8·4%] studies) accounting for substantially less research. Agricultural plastics used to drive productivity or efficiencies were commonly researched (1730 [51·5%] studies), as was plastic packaging and effects on nutritional quality, longevity, or safety of foodstuffs (1090 [32·4%] studies). Little evidence was available regarding on-farm plastic pollution or contamination (34 [1·0%] studies), or regarding the effects of food system plastics on human health (39 [2·4%] studies). Just eight meta-analyses (0·2% studies) were captured, all exploring plastic mulching and row covers. Interpretation: The evidence base regarding the effects of food system plastics on planetary health domains is imbalanced. This review highlights key evidence gaps to fill before circular economy policies can truly account for benefits and harms across different domains. Funding: Co-funded by UK Aid from the UK Government, and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, via the Innovative Methods and Metrics for Agriculture and Nutrition Actions programme

A systematic scoping review of environmental, food security and health impacts of food system plastics

Plastic pollution arising from food systems is driving policies for reduction, removal, reuse and recycling, but literature on plastic uses and outcomes across subsectors is fragmented. We use a systematic scoping review to describe the extent, range and nature of published evidence since 2000 on seven major plastic types used at any point within food systems and their quantifiable effects on the environment, food security and human health. Although the majority of publications focus on agricultural production, relatively fewer consider retail, household and food waste disposal plastics. Gaps in the research include evidence from low- and middle-income countries, health or food security and/or economic outcomes generated from human population studies—and the subsequent environmental and human health effects. A greater understanding of this disparate evidence landscape is essential to formulate coherent research strategies to inform potential policy actions and assess trade-offs across economic and environmental targets, human health and food security