Agnieszka Poczta-Wajda

Celem artykułu jest identyfikacja pustyń żywnościowych w województwie wielkopolskim, obejmująca zarówno obiektywny, jak i subiektywny wymiar dostępu do zdrowej żywności. Badanie ma charakter interdyscyplinarny i integruje metody przestrzenne (GIS) z analizą danych ankietowych, wykorzystując model regresji logistycznej uporządkowanej do identyfikacji czynników wpływających na postrzeganą dostępność żywności. W części przestrzennej zidentyfikowano 28 obszarów potencjalnych pustyń żywnościowych, lecz w analizie kodów pocztowych uczestników badania nie stwierdzono przypadków spełniających kryteria przestrzennej definicji pustyni. Badanie ankietowe ujawniło zróżnicowanie w postrzeganiu dostępności – czynnikiem ograniczającym okazały się m.in. dystans do sklepu, czas dojazdu, wiek i płeć, natomiast pozytywnie wpływały: częste zakupy u lokalnych sprzedawców, zamieszkanie w mieście oraz szeroki asortyment sklepu. Uzyskane wyniki potwierdzają złożoność zjawiska pustyń żywnościowych i wskazują na konieczność łączenia analiz obiektywnych i subiektywnych w ocenie dostępności. Artykuł uzupełnia lukę w badaniach nad środowiskiem żywnościowym w Europie Środkowo-Wschodniej.

Food banks play a crucial role within the support network for individuals experiencing food insecurity, however, knowledge about their operations remains limited. This exploratory study aims to provide an initial understanding of the characteristics of food aid beneficiaries and the functioning of the Food Bank in Poznań (FBP), as viewed from both beneficiary and management perspectives. A mixed-methods approach was employed. The quantitative component consisted of a structured survey conducted using the PAPI method with 82 food aid recipients between December 2024 and January 2025. The questionnaire included demographic variables such as age, gender, household type, education, employment status, migration background, self-assessed health, and disability status. To identify distinct groups among beneficiaries, K-means clustering was applied as an exploratory technique, resulting in three profiles differentiated by age, gender, health status, and disability. To complement these findings, a semi-structured in-depth interview was conducted with the Director of the FBP. The interview addressed topics including beneficiary characteristics, food logistics, cooperation with partner organizations, and operational challenges. The results highlight the heterogeneity of food aid recipients and the evolving role of food banks. Beyond distributing surplus food, the FBP increasingly responds to emerging social crises and provides non-food support, positioning itself as a key actor within the broader social assistance system in Poland.

The increasing ecological, health, and social awareness has led European consumers to consider more sustainable food choices. However, their behaviours in this regard remain inconsistent. The aim of this paper is to systematically review the literature on European consumers’ attitudes toward sustainable food consumption, with a particular focus on factors that either promote or hinder sustainable behaviours. The PRISMA methodology was applied, allowing for a systematic search, selection, and analysis of literature in terms of quality and content. The review is based on 43 publications that meet specific thematic and methodological criteria. The data were obtained from the Scopus database and include articles published between 2008 and 2024, with the greatest interest in the topic observed in recent years. The findings indicate that key factors promoting sustainable consumption include health consciousness, environmental concern, and a preference for local products. In contrast, significant barriers remain, such as high costs, limited availability, and attachment to traditional culinary habits. Disruptive events such as the COVID-19 pandemic and geopolitical conflicts have influenced consumer attitudes and increased interest in locally sourced products. The results suggest that targeted educational policies and efforts to build trust in institutions are essential for effectively promoting sustainable consumption. Furthermore, strategies encouraging responsible consumption patterns should consider cultural and demographic differences to better bridge the gap between environmental awareness and actual consumer choices.

Household food security in a self-sufficient and highly developed regions such as the European Union is a rare topic in the scientific literature. Recent crises, such as the COVID-19 pandemic and food market disruptions, have reignited discussions on food security in the EU. Therefore, the aim of this article was to review the latest available publications on household food security in the EU and to explore the challenges and issues that contribute to the persistence of household food insecurity in EU countries. The review was carried out using the PRISMA methodology and includes articles from the last 20 years. The results suggest under European conditions, lack of food security means that people affected by this problem cannot afford food of sufficient quality and quantity to stay healthy and participate in society. The review of existing literature confirmed the importance of education, gender, age, marital status, household composition and location, country-specific heterogeneity, employment status and income in preventing food insecurity in EU countries. The problem of food insecurity particularly affects women, unmarried individuals, less educated individuals, less skilled workers and lower income families, and is strongly linked to mental health.

Pandemia Covid-19, a następnie inwazja Rosji na Ukrainę spowodowała globalną recesję, zakłócenia łańcuchów dostaw, wysoką inflację, wzrost długu publicznego, ale także niestabilność na rynkach żywności w skali globalnej. Wynikające z tych wydarzeń niedobory żywności, a także pogorszenie dostępności ekonomicznej produktów spożywczych pogłębiły nierówności na świecie i zaostrzyły problem braku bezpieczeństwa żywnościowego. Celem badania była ocena poziomu i stabilności bezpieczeństwa żywnościowego krajów UE na tle innych krajów świata oraz odpowiedź na pytanie, czy wspólna polityka rolna (WPR) spełniła swoją rolę w tworzeniu odpornych systemów żywnościowych. Ocenę stabilności trzech wymiarów bezpieczeństwa żywnościowego w różnych krajach świata dokonano w oparciu o Globalny Indeks Bezpieczeństwa Żywnościowego (GFSI). Badania wykazały, że sytuacja w zakresie bezpieczeństwa żywnościowego w UE jest bardzo dobra na tle świata, o czym świadczy fakt, że wśród 20 krajów o najwyższym wskaźniku GFSI aż 12 to kraje UE. WPR jest czynnikiem zarówno poprawiającym bezpieczeństwo żywnościowe w państwach członkowskich UE, jak i stabilizującym jego i tak już wysoki poziom.

Considering challenges related to climate change, projected population growth, and increasing food demand, the long-term use of water in agriculture is becoming a pressing concern. Therefore, effective water resource management by farmers is crucial and warrants extensive scientific investigation. Consequently, the primary objective of this article was to identify pertinent studies addressing farmers' approaches, attitudes, and actions concerning water management and the adoption of water innovations. The review was conducted using the PRISMA method, serving as the foundation for subsequent quantitative and qualitative analyses. The findings suggest that water management in agriculture is gaining significance due to increasing exposure to the risk of limited water availability and complement to adapt to changing climate conditions. Previous research has predominantly focused on selected southern regions of Europe. Farmers' attitudes toward water management are primarily influenced by socio-economic and institutional factors. Education emerged as a crucial determinant in encouraging farmers to use water conservation practices.

Aim/purpose – This study explores the nexus between Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), trade openness, exchange rate, and Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per capita in Vietnam between 1986 and 2020. Design/methodology/approach – The Vector Error Correction Model (VECM) was used to evaluate the nexus between FDI, trade openness, exchange rate, and GDP per capita in Vietnam between 1986 and 2020. Moreover, the Johansen co-integration test examined the long-run relationship among these variables. Findings – Results address that GDP per capita, FDI, and trade openness may generate an appreciation of the Vietnamese currency in the short run. In the long run, we found that FDI inflows and trade openness support GDP per capita, but the depreciation of Vietnam Dong harms the economic growth of this country in the long run. The Johan- sen co-integration test confirmed a long-run association among GDP per capita, FDI inflows, trade openness, and exchange rate. Results also indicated a unidirectional cau- sality running from GDP per capita and trade openness to FDI and exchange rate. In addition, a bidirectional causality ran from FDI to the exchange rate. Research implications/limitations – Policies were recommended to facilitate macroe- conomic stability for Vietnam. First, fiscal and monetary policies should be carried out to achieve targets in macroeconomic stability, economic development, employment creation, and inflation control. Second, FDI inflows should continue to be encouraged since they accelerate economic growth. Still, FDI projects should concentrate on improving labor skills and technological progress and promoting sustainable development in crucial sectors such as agriculture, energy, and the environment. Third, fostering innovation in exports by shifting focus from raw materials and inputs exports towards processed and high-value-added commodities while also promoting exports from domestic enterprises to reduce reliance on exports from FDI enterprises. Lastly, improving flexible and active exchange rate regimes consistent with real conditions in both domestic and international markets is necessary to stabilize the exchange rate and foreign currency market in Vietnam. Originality/value/contribution – This paper contributes to the field by providing spe- cific policy recommendations for Vietnam. These recommendations aim to stabilize the economy, attract FDI, renovate exports, and implement flexible and active exchange rate regimes. Keywords: Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), trade openness, exchange rate, Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per capita. JEL Classification: E60, O11, O24.

Given the unique role of small farms in providing their own food and nutrition security, the classic three-dimensional approach to sustainability evaluation is not exhaustive. In addition to the socio-economic and environmental dimensions, the question of sustainable development should be extended to the dimension of food and nutrition security. But yet the relations among the different sustainability dimensions at the farm level are not obvious. Consequently, the objective of this paper is to assess the interactions between food and nutrition security and the socio-economic and environmental dimensions of sustainability in small-scale farms. The study is based on surveys conducted in 2018 on a sample of 710 small-scale farms in Poland. By applying structural equation modeling with simultaneous confirmatory factor analysis, the study found a positive relationship between the socio-economic and food and nutrition security dimensions of sustainability, but there was a lack of synergy between the environmental component and the other dimensions. GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT