Food Security through Biotechnology: The Case of Genetically Modified Sugar Beets in the United States

2017 ◽  
pp. 35-52
Author(s):  
P. Lynn Kennedy ◽  
Karen E. Lewis ◽  
Andrew Schmitz
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Food Security ◽  
Genetically Modified ◽  
The United States ◽  
Sugar Beets

scholarly journals Home food procurement impacts food security and diet quality during COVID-19

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Meredith T. Niles ◽  
Kristen Brassard Wirkkala ◽  
Emily H. Belarmino ◽  
Farryl Bertmann
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Food Security ◽  
Diet Quality ◽  
Technical Assistance ◽  
Safety Net ◽  
The United States ◽  
Dietary Quality ◽  
Home Food ◽  
Food Procurement ◽  
Food Insecure Households

Abstract Background Home food procurement (HFP) (i.e. gardening, fishing, foraging, hunting, backyard livestock and canning) have historically been important ways that people obtain food. Recently, some HFP activities have grown (e.g. gardening), while other activities (e.g. hunting) have become less common in the United States. Anecdotally, COVID-19 has sparked an increase in HFP evidenced by increased hunting licenses and shortages in seeds and canning supplies. HFP may have positive benefits for food security and diet quality, though research beyond gardening is especially limited in high-income countries. Methods We examine HFP activities since the COVID-19 pandemic began, and their relationship to food security and dietary quality using multivariable logit models and matching analysis with a statewide representative survey (n = 600) of residents of Vermont, United States. Results We find 29% of respondent households classified as food insecure since COVID-19, and higher prevalence of food insecurity among those experiencing a negative job change since COVID-19, households earning less than $50,000 annually, Hispanic and multi-race respondents. Nearly 35% of respondents engaged in HFP activities since the COVID-19 pandemic began; the majority of those gardened, and more than half pursued HFP activities more intensely than before the pandemic or for the first time. Food insecure households were more likely to pursue HFP more intensely, including more gardening, fishing, foraging, and hunting. Respondents who were food insecure, Black, Indigenous, People of Color, those with a negative job disruption, and larger households all had greater odds of increased intensity of HFP during the COVID-19 pandemic. HFP was significantly associated with eating greater amounts of fruits and vegetables; however, this effect was only significant for food secure households. Conclusion Overall, these results suggest that HFP activities have increased since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, and may be an important safety net for food insecure households. However, HFP for food insecure households does not translate into the same higher fruit and vegetable intake as found among food secure HFP households, suggesting this population may be trying to maintain intake, or that they may have potential important resource or technical assistance needs. Long-term, HFP activities may have important food security and diet quality impacts, as well as conservation implications, which should be more thoroughly explored. Regardless, the increased interest and intensity of HFP demonstrates opportunities for educational and outreach efforts.

scholarly journals A Standardized Approach to Orthotopic (Life-Supporting) Porcine Cardiac Xenotransplantation in a Non-Human Primate Model

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Corbin E. Goerlich ◽  
Bartley P. Griffith ◽  
John A. Treffalls ◽  
Tianshu Zhang ◽  
Avneesh K. Singh ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Heart Failure ◽  
Genetically Modified ◽  
Human Study ◽  
The United States ◽  
Large Animal ◽  
Term Survival ◽  
Human Organ ◽  
Large Animal Models

Abstract There are 5.7 million people in the United States with heart failure, which is life-limiting in 20% of patients.1 While data is most robust in the United States for this cohort, it is known to be a global problem with over 23 million people carrying the diagnosis.1 For end-stage heart failure, many require a heart transplantation, however, there is a shortage in the supply of organ donors. Cardiac xenotransplantation has been proposed to “bridge the gap” in supply for these patients requiring transplantation. Recent pre-clinical success using genetically modified pig donors in baboon recipients has demonstrated survival greater than 6 months.2–5 First-in-human transplantation of a genetically modified pig kidney demonstrated 54 hour rejection-free function when perfused by a deceased human recipient, demonstrating the feasibility of cross-species transplantation and invigorating enthusiasm further to utilize this new organ source for a population that would otherwise die waiting for a human organ.6 While this human study demonstrated proof-of-principle of overcoming hyperacute rejection, further regulatory oversight by Food and Drug Administration (FDA) may be required with pre-clinical trials in large animal models of xenotransplantation with long-term survival. These studies not only require a multi-disciplinary team and expertise in orthotopic transplantation (cardiac surgery, anesthesia and cardiopulmonary bypass), immunology and genetic engineering; but also, specifically handling large animal recipients that cannot communicate their symptoms. Here we detail our approach to pig-to-primate large animal model of orthotopic cardiac xenotransplantation perioperatively and in the months thereafter in long-term surviving animals. We also detail xenograft surveillance methods and common issues that arise in the postoperative period specific to this model and ways to overcome them.

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