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Food Supply

Commentary

Supermarkets Are the Problem

Thirty percent of all supermarket sales can be attributed to end-of-aisle displays, where retailers have placed more foods that increase the risk of obesity and chronic diseases. Relocating those foods to less conspicuous places would still allow those who want them to get them, but the decision to buy would be deliberate rather than impulsive.

Feb 26, 2015
Event

A Movement to Ensure Fairness for Farmworkers

A screening of the documentary Food Chains was followed by a discussion about farmworkers and their contribution to agriculture and our food supply.

Feb 11, 2015
Commentary

Always Hungry? Here's the Real Reason Why

The problem of obesity cannot be attributed to a single dietary or physiological factor, like too much sugar, too much fat, or even factors like viruses, bacteria, and endocrine disrupters. The real problem is that Americans now live in a food swamp and there is just too much food easily available.

Aug 15, 2014
Commentary

Climate Change, Uncertainty Cast Clouds on Malawi's Food Policies

Malawi has the highest per capita maize consumption in Africa, but it may need to consider alternatives, taking into greater consideration weather, climate change and water needs.

May 20, 2014
Report

Responding to Foodborne Disease Outbreak

The Guidelines for Foodborne Outbreak Response and the companion Toolkit developed by the Council to Improve Foodborne Outbreak Response (CIFOR) are valuable resources, according to their target audience. However, lack of resources may be a challenge when it comes to implementing the CIFOR's recommendations.

May 7, 2013
Journal Article

Antiretroviral Therapy and Food Security Support Each Other

In examining the socioeconomic benefits of HIV antiretroviral therapy (ART) in Uganda, researchers find that ART helps alleviate the food insecurity of adults with HIV, which in turn may improve ART outcomes.

Nov 1, 2012
Project

How Does Neighborhood Environment Impact Health Outcomes?

The PHRESH project examines how neighborhood characteristics—like access to fresh fruits, vegetables, and meats—could make residents more or less healthy.

Sep 8, 2011
Journal Article

Food Prices and the Dynamics of Body Weight

The authors study the short- and long-run body weight consequences of changing food prices, in the Health and Retirement Study (HRS).

Apr 1, 2011
Journal Article

Los Angeles Fast-Food Restaurant Ban Unlikely to Have Impact on Obesity

Restrictions on fast-food chain restaurants in South Los Angeles are not addressing the main differences between neighborhood food environments and are unlikely to improve the diet of residents or reduce obesity.

Oct 6, 2009
Journal Article

Neighborhood Food Environments and Body Mass Index: The Importance of In-Store Contents

The availability of energy-dense snack foods in grocery stores plays a role in the weight status of neighborhood residents.

Sep 1, 2009
Journal Article

Obesity and the Built Environment: Changes in Environmental Cues Cause Energy Imbalances

This paper reviews documented changes in the food environment, changes in the physical activity environment and the mechanisms through which people respond to these environments, often without conscious awareness or control.

Dec 1, 2008
Journal Article

Food Prices and Weight Gain During Elementary School: 5-Year Update

Childhood overweight has increased rapidly over the last two decades. Energy-dense foods are cheaper per calorie, which could be a partial explanation for why the highest rates of obesity are observed among groups of limited economic means.

Nov 1, 2008
Journal Article

Disparities in the Food Environment Surrounding US Middle and High Schools

Hispanic youth are likely to attend schools surrounded by convenience stores, restaurants, or off-licenses. Middle schools have fewer surrounding businesses than high schools, and larger schools have fewer surrounding businesses than smaller schools.

Jul 1, 2008
Research Brief

Perennial Cornucopia: Planning the Next Agricultural Revolution

This research brief summarizes information about perennial polyculture farming and discusses its potential for reducing worldwide hunger and malnutrition, reversing environmental degradation, and redressing the loss of biodiversity.

Jul 2, 2007
Report

Perennial Polyculture Farming and the Next Agricultural Revolution

Ideally, improved agricultural practices should continue to increase food production while reducing environmental damage and other undesirable effects of current methods. Perennial polyculture farming could be an important step toward realizing that goal.

Jun 17, 2007
Journal Article

The Social Construction of Anemia in School Shelters for Indigenous Children in Mexico

Indigenous children in school shelters in Mexico suffer from anemia in spite of food that is subsidized, prepared, and served to them.

Jan 1, 2006
Journal Article

The U.S. Agricultural System: A Target for Al-Qaeda?

Discusses the Impact of a major act of agricultural bio-terrorism in the United States.

Jan 1, 2005
Report

The Future of Genetically Modified Crops: Lessons from the Green Revolution

Investigates the circumstances and processes required to establish the new ''Gene Revolution'' in which genetically modified crops are tailored to address chronic agricultural problems in specific regions of the world.

Aug 17, 2004
Report

Hitting America's Soft Underbelly: The Potential Threat of Deliberate Biological Attacks Against the U.S. Agricultural and Food Industry

Assesses the vulnerabilities of the agricultural sector and the food chain to a deliberate act of biological terrorism and explores the likely outcomes of a successful attack

May 2, 2004
Research Brief

How to Address the Threat of Agroterrorism

The U.S. agriculture sector and the food industry in general have received little attention with respect to protection against terrorist incidents. How are livestock and produce vulnerable? What would the consequences of an agroterrorism attack be?

Jan 1, 2004

Research conducted by

RAND Social and Economic Well-Being