309313
Land Use Change, and Food Security and Nutrition among Family Farmers in Brazil
OBJECTIVE: To assess possible relationships between changes in land use in relation to the production of Non-Food (corn, sugarcane, soybean, eucalyptus, cotton) and of Food (rice, beans, cassava and wheat) between 1996 and 2006 and FSN in farmers.
METHODS: Cross-sectional study of 107 families of small farmers intentionally selected in Ibiúna, São Paulo, Brazil, based on a Food/Non-Food Index (FFIx) in an attempt to relate with FSN. FFIx was derived from the 1996 and 2006 agricultural censuses. A questionnaire was applied covering socio demographic issues, land use and current FSN using the Brazilian Food Insecurity Scale (EBIA) and compared to the Past-EBIA for the years 1996 and 2006 was applied. Changes in land use were compared with Past-EBIAs.
RESULTS: Small farmer mean age was 48 years old, 70.1% had less than four years of education, 67.2% earned less than the minimum wage per capita. A few families (13.1%) received government cash transfers. Food security was found among 54.2% dwellings, moderate Food Insecurity (FI) among 13.1% and mild FI among 32.7%. Interviews showed that the Proportion of food crops decreased from 1996 to 2006 through 2012 especially for rice. Non-Food crops increased for maize and eucalyptus. An increased FI (81.8%) was detected in 2006 (p=0.000).
CONCLUSION: Field research confirmed a reduction of Food production previously indicated by FFIx at the macro structural level. The FI increase was related to the change in land use, but there are many other variables that can explain this relationship, such as direct consumption of farm crops, income changes, access to and the availability of food in markets.
Learning Areas:
Assessment of individual and community needs for health educationDiversity and culture
Occupational health and safety
Learning Objectives:
Compare the data of the change of land use found by Food/Non-Food Index, created in 2013 and published in the journal The Professional Geographer, with interviews with family farmers. Describe whether a relationship exists between this change and the condition of food insecurity and nutritional of households.
Keyword(s): Food Security, Rural Health
Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am a Bachelor’s degree in Nutrition, MSc and PhD of public health from the University of Campinas (UNICAMP, Sao Paulo, Brazil) with a focus on Epidemiology at the Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medical Sciences. Among my scientific interests has been the development of public policies for rural workers and understanding the factors associated with food insecurity and nutrition in brazilian population.
Any relevant financial relationships? No
I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.