Abstract Following a request from the European Commission, the EFSA Panel on Nutrition, Novel Foods and Food Allergens (NDA) was asked to deliver an opinion on the safety of water lentil powder as a novel food (NF) pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2015/2283. Water lentils refer to aquatic plants belonging to the Araceae family and represented by five genera (Lemna, Wolffia, Wolffiella, Landoltia and Spirodela). The NF is thermally washed and dried water lentils, which are produced as a polyculture crop consisting of species from the Lemna genus (70–100%) and the Wolffia genus (0–30%). The main constituents of the NF are protein, fibre and fat. The Panel notes that the concentration of trace elements and contaminants in the NF is highly dependent on the conditions of cultivation of the plant and the fertiliser composition. The NF is expected to be stable and to comply with the specifications during the suggested shelf life. The NF is intended for human consumption as a food ingredient in herbs, spices and seasonings, sauces, soups and broths, protein products, dietary food for weight control and as a food supplement. The target population is the general population, except for food supplements which are exclusively intended for consumption by adults. The Panel considers that based on the composition of the NF and the proposed intended uses, the NF is not nutritionally disadvantageous, except for the concerns regarding intake of manganese from the NF. No adverse effect was observed in the submitted 90‐day subchronic study, at the highest dose, 1,000 mg/kg body weight (bw) per day of NF. The Panel considers that, based on the protein concentration, the consumption of the NF may trigger allergic reactions. The Panel concluded that an increase in manganese intake from the NF used as food ingredient or food supplements is of safety concern and the safety of the NF cannot be established.

Food security remains a key development challenge for many developing countries in the world. In Bangladesh, agriculture is the mainstay of livelihoods of the rural population which provides employment for around 52% of the workforce counting for 63% of households of which the majority are small farm households. Although small-scale farmers play a vital role in food production, their households are mainly affected by the event of food insecurity, especially in the area where water is scarce for agricultural production. This study, therefore, sought to investigate household food security status through two measurement techniques named Household Dietary Diversity Score (HDDS) and Household Food Consumption Score (HFCS) among small farm households in Khajur union under Mahadevpur Upazila of Naogaon district, Bangladesh which was identified as a water-scarce area for the farmers. The estimated results of the HDDS based on the previous 24 hours recall reveals most of the households followed medium (55%) or low (27%) dietary in the study area. On the other hand, HFCS based on the previous 7 days of food consumption reveals that 83% of households had poor consumption levels. The major consumed food by households is rice followed by potato, oil, and sugar. The cross-tabulation analysis shows that 27% of households were completely food insecure while 55% were vulnerable to food security and 18% were food secure. The main coping strategy adopted by the sample households was taking a loan from NGOs when they face food shortages. It is recommended that government should provide support to the farm households through properly targeted income transfers, credit programs, and insurance mechanisms in times of crisis. Several food aid programmes such as Vulnerable Group Feeding or Social Security Policy Support programmes may have very high payoffs in improving food security status in the water-scarce areas. [J Bangladesh Agril Univ 2021; 19(3.000): 379-388]

Despite an abundance in natural and human resources, Indonesia has not been able tosignificantly improve the level of water, energy, and food (WEF) security. Challenges inachieving WEF security targets mostly relate to resource mismanagement, lack ofcoordination, authority imbalance among sectors, and overlapping roles andresponsibility among levels of government. The immature process of the decentralizationhas made these challenges even more complex; it is not easy to unify the vision of localgovernments (i.e. 34 provinces, 416 regencies, 98 cities) with the Regional Head who iselected every 5 years and sometimes brings different goals and development approaches.The lack of information, awareness, coordination and a common framework to bridge thegaps between national and local governments, jeopardizes the attainment of WEF securitytargets which have been set in the national long-term planning (RPJPN) and mid-termplanning (RPJMN). Unfortunately, this complex issue has not received the attention itdeserves, from a scientific perspective nor from a practical implementation point of viewsuch as through laws, policies and planning processes.This research addresses these knowledge and implementation gaps by analysing theinterlinkages among variables in the WEF system using the nexus approach whichintegrates management and governance across sectors and scales. The main objective ofthis research is to grasp the WEF security nexus in the local context and to evaluate theimplications of planned local interventions in WEF sectors by developing a conceptualand quantitative analysis framework and employing system dynamics modelling througha stakeholder engagement and co-development process. The Karawang Regency inIndonesia is chosen as an illustrative case study as it represents all challenges andvariables at the local level of WEF security nexus.The first part of this study identifies knowledge gaps and common critiques on the WEFnexus framework that have emerged since the concept was proposed. It analyses currentimprovements of the WEF nexus concept, applications and impacts during the period of2012-2020. By reviewing 10 existing WEF nexus frameworks, several gaps andomissions as well as their possible improvements are identified. Four principles that mustbe of serious consideration in developing the future WEF nexus framework andimproving the WEF nexus-related studies are proposed, i.e. to make them moreunderstandable, to make them adaptable to many diverse situations, to ensure reliable andvalid data, and to be applicable across scales. The perspective of “from local to global”and locally-based WEF resource management are also suggested to ensure that WEFsecurity can be achieved sustainably in local communities and they will help towardsnational and global targets.Secondly, several strategies and their practical implementation for WEF-related sectorsin the study area are formulated using the composite method of Location Quotient (LQ)and Competitive Position (CP). This method assesses the agglomeration level and growthpotential in each WEF sector, locating them in a four-quadrant matrix. Quadrant I,signifying the advantaged cluster, contains 1 sector (energy-related sector); quadrant II,signifying the potential cluster contains 1 sector (water-related sector) and 2 sub-sectors(estate & horticulture crops and water supply sub-sectors); none of sector in quadrant IIIor capable cluster, while 1 sector (food-related sector) and 4 sub-sectors (food crops,electricity, livestock, and fishery sub-sectors) fall in quadrant IV, the disadvantagedcluster. The analysis shows that the general characteristics of WEF-related sectors in aregion can be clearly distinguished based on its main economic development focus. Thispreliminary economic-based evaluation gives a better understanding and morecomprehensive insights for policy-makers and other stakeholders, although the clearinterrelation among variables and sectors is not assessed at this stage of analysis.The third set of results shows that participatory or group model building is beneficial inassisting local stakeholders to grasp the complexity of the WEF security system. Thegroup model building approach covers all major internal and external factors and drivers,including possible feedback mechanisms and key variables to be further analysed. Aqualitative Karawang WEF security (K-WEFS) model is established with stakeholders,and is composed of six sub-models with water, energy and food sectors as internal factorsand population, economy and ecosystem services as external drivers. The collaborativeaction plan, using system dynamics analysis and group model building, not only can beimplemented in WEF sectors but also other development planning and policy-makingprocess such as infrastructure, trade and services, monetary, transportation etc.Fourthly, building on the qualitative K-WEFS model, a quantitative stock-flow diagram(SFD) is developed. By employing STELLA® professional software, three plannedpolicy interventions in WEF-related sectors are modelled in an integrated way. Theimpacts on the available resources per person (APP) and self-sufficiency levels (SSL) ofresources are analysed in four scenarios, including business as usual and severalcombinations of planned interventions. Implications are based on model simulation, whilepossible practical actions are derived from both model simulation and otherconsiderations, such as local planning ambitions, national programs, local experts andmodeller’s opinion. Several potentially unanticipated and indirect impacts of policyinterventions are also highlighted in this quantitative simulation.Results and findings in this study, derived from the K-WEFS nexus framework areexpected to assist the local planner and decision-makers to deal with challenges in WEFresource management by making trade-offs explicit, building synergies among WEF related sectors and eventually improving the WEF security target’s achievement. 

Food and feeding habits of Channa punctatus (Bloch, 1793) was investigated from the water bodies of Nadia district, West Bengal during October 2003 to May 2004. A total 348 specimen were examined in two groups viz., group I (less than 110 mm) and group II (more than 110 mm) for convenience of discussion. The average RLG value for the group I was 0.65 and group II as 0.75. The average GaSI value was 3.77 during October and 3.62 during November when sexes could not be identified due to rudimentary stages of the gonads. The highest value of GaSI for male was recorded during February (3.24) and lowest during May (2.28) and for females the value was 3.27 during February and 2.06 during May. There was significant variation (P<0.05) in GaSI values during the period of study. The food items observed in the guts were insects, fishes, crustacean, molluscs, worms, animal matter, decayed organic matter, algae, plant matter, sand, mud and miscellaneous items. Fish was the principal food item, followed by insects and crustaceans.Key words: Food and feeding habits, Channa punctatus, gastro-somatic index

This study summarizes the concept of the food-energy-water security nexus (FEW nexus). The aim is to create awareness about the importance of the nexus and to enable stakeholders to consider interconnections between the sectors in their work. The FEW nexus is discussed in the context of Africa south of the Sahara (SSA)—using Malawi and Mozambique as case studies. Even though analyzing food, energy, and water security issues simultaneously is critical given the interconnections, summarizing interventions with the FEW nexus approach in Malawi and Mozambique, we found that there are only a limited number of interventions in place. Additionally, this study reviews macro- and microeconomic models that are able to analyze the FEW nexus. On the macrolevel, especially general equilibrium models are discussed, because they show trade-offs and synergies of nexus interventions at all economic levels. These models can help guide policymakers’ understanding of nexus effects ex ante and convince them to think beyond their respective political departments. On the microlevel, the impact of nexus interventions can be assessed with qualitative and quantitative approaches. There are specific challenges for nexus interventions when it comes to aggregation and planning of the targeting. A secondary data analysis of nexus interventions shows that existing data is not sufficient to conduct research specifically related to the FEW nexus. The results of this study will help research programs to reflect the key questions required to enhance adoption of FEW technologies and inform policymakers as they formulate policies that will exploit the strong synergies of food security, energy, and water investments. | Non-PR | IFPRI1; A.2 Sustainable Natural Resource Policies; A Ensuring Sustainable food production; CRP2; Land Resource Management for Poverty Reduction | EPTD; PIM | CGIAR Research Program on Policies, Institutions, and Markets (PIM)

Accurate information on irrigated areas’ spatial distribution and extent are crucial in enhancing agricultural water productivity, water resources management, and formulating strategic policies that enhance water and food security and ecologically sustainable development. However, data are typically limited for smallholder irrigated areas, which is key to achieving social equity and equal distribution of financial resources. This study addressed this gap by delineating disaggregated smallholder and commercial irrigated areas through the random forest algorithm, a non-parametric machine learning classifier. Location within or outside former apartheid “homelands” was taken as a proxy for smallholder, and commercial irrigation. Being in a medium rainfall area, the huge irrigation potential of the Inkomati-Usuthu Water Management Area (UWMA) is already well developed for commercial crop production outside former homelands. However, information about the spatial distribution and extent of irrigated areas within former homelands, which is largely informal, was missing. Therefore, we first classified cultivated lands in 2019 and 2020 as a baseline, from where the Normalised Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) was used to distinguish irrigated from rainfed, focusing on the dry winter period when crops are predominately irrigated. The mapping accuracy of 84.9% improved the efficacy in defining the actual spatial extent of current irrigated areas at both smallholder and commercial spatial scales. The proportion of irrigated areas was high for both commercial (92.5%) and smallholder (96.2%) irrigation. Moreover, smallholder irrigation increased by over 19% between 2019 and 2020, compared to slightly over 7% in the commercial sector. Such information is critical for policy formulation regarding equitable and inclusive water allocation, irrigation expansion, land reform, and food and water security in smallholder farming systems.

BACKGROUND: During the modification of several races, which has been done on chickens, there have been several changes in the function of neural pathways and receptor density involved in the control of food intake and appetite. Melanocortin system and its receptors are involved in the central regulation of nutritional behaviour and energy balance. Therefore, this study was designed to investigate the role of this system in the central control of food and water intake in birds.OBJECTIVES: The present study aimed to evaluate the role of MCR3 and MCR4 receptors in controlling the food and water intake in birds.METHODS: This work was performed on 48 Ross 308 broiler chicks through two experiments (each experiment in four groups). Primarily, stereotaxic surgical guide cannula was implanted in the chickens. Subsequently, in the first experiment, the chickens were divided into the four following groups: the control solution, 0.2, 2, and 10 nmol/5µl of SHU9119 (Non-selective antagonist of MCR3 and MCR4 receptors) In the second experiment, the chickens were also divided in four groups: the received control solution, 0.2, 2, and 10 nmol/5µl of MCL0020 (Selective MCR4 receptor antagonist) via intracerebroventricular (ICV) injection. Afterwards, cumulative food and water intake were measured at 30, 60, 90, 120, 150, and 180 minutes after the injection.RESULTS: The results of this study showed that ICV injection of SHU9119 and MCL0020 increased cumulative food intake (P>0.05), but did not affect cumulative water intake (P<0.05).CONCLUSIONS: According to the findings herein, central melanocortin system is one of the systems involved in central control of food intake in birds.

Accurate information on irrigated areas’ spatial distribution and extent are crucial in enhancing agricultural water productivity, water resources management, and formulating strategic policies that enhance water and food security and ecologically sustainable development. However, data are typically limited for smallholder irrigated areas, which is key to achieving social equity and equal distribution of financial resources. This study addressed this gap by delineating disaggregated smallholder and commercial irrigated areas through the random forest algorithm, a non-parametric machine learning classifier. Location within or outside former apartheid “homelands” was taken as a proxy for smallholder, and commercial irrigation. Being in a medium rainfall area, the huge irrigation potential of the Inkomati-Usuthu Water Management Area (UWMA) is already well developed for commercial crop production outside former homelands. However, information about the spatial distribution and extent of irrigated areas within former homelands, which is largely informal, was missing. Therefore, we first classified cultivated lands in 2019 and 2020 as a baseline, from where the Normalised Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) was used to distinguish irrigated from rainfed, focusing on the dry winter period when crops are predominately irrigated. The mapping accuracy of 84.9% improved the efficacy in defining the actual spatial extent of current irrigated areas at both smallholder and commercial spatial scales. The proportion of irrigated areas was high for both commercial (92.5%) and smallholder (96.2%) irrigation. Moreover, smallholder irrigation increased by over 19% between 2019 and 2020, compared to slightly over 7% in the commercial sector. Such information is critical for policy formulation regarding equitable and inclusive water allocation, irrigation expansion, land reform, and food and water security in smallholder farming systems.

Given the large amounts of water, land, and food embodied in the trade of goods and services, a key step in decoupling extensive resource consumption from the economic system is to understand the full impact of socioeconomic development on the water-land-food nexus. This study integrates input–output analysis, ecological network analysis, and Dempster–Shafer evidence theory into a supernetwork model to detect the water-land-food nexus among economic sectors with an aim to explore effective strategic paths for resource management and to facilitate the construction of a resource-saving society. Results show that most sectors of China are resource inefficient and that all resource systems are unsustainable as reflected in the low performance of their Finn's cycling index and system robustness. Meanwhile, results of flow networks analysis show an extremely uneven land resource allocation where more than 94% of the land used in China is classified as direct agricultural land. The water-land-food nexus can gain resource saving bonus via enhancing the robustness of economy. However, the co-benefits from the nexus are negligibly small for the resource utilization efficiency. The results also indicate that the relevant resource-saving policies on food and water are highly likely to gain resource co-benefits due to their similarities in sectoral importance. Correspondingly, a set of strategic measures, including adopting a tiered resource price, deepening industrial convergence of agriculture, enhancing agriculture-food nexus, and managing water or land use from the food consumer side, are designed to build a resource-saving society. The findings of this study can provide additional insights into the impacts of the economy on the water-land-food nexus, which is beneficial for achieving an efficient and coordinated management of resources.