Food and Agriculture

Household Food Security Status in South Africa

by ALTMAN, M., HART, T & JACOBS, P., 2009
Agrekon, 48:4, 345-361

Altman et al assess household-level food security in South Africa using publicly available household survey data from Statistics South Africa. The two datasets that are used in particular are the General Household Survey, an annual household survey that began in 2002, and the Income and Expenditure Survey of 2005/06. Because these surveys are not designed…

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Innovation in Resource-Based Technology Clusters: Investigating the Lateral Migration Thesis – The manufacture of biodegradable plastics from maize starch

by WALKER, M. & FARISANI, L., 2006
Research Report, Employment Growth & Development Initiative, Human Sciences Research Council

Walker & Farisani offer a case study of the lateral migration of technology from a resource sector in South Africa. They explore the role of collaborative partnerships and linkages in the diversification process of firms, particularly those that have moved from primary resource-based activities into high-value niche applications. Their focus is on the production of…

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Innovation in Resource-Based Technology Clusters: Investigating the Lateral Migration Thesis – The development of a sugar-based plastic in Brazil

by VELHO, L. & VELHO, P., 2006
Research Report, Employment Growth & Development Initiative, Human Sciences Research Council

Velho & Velho offer a case study from Brazil on the lateral migration of technology from resource industries. It is about an industrial plant to manufacture biodegradable plastic from sugar. This development is closely associated with the long term activity of sugar and alcohol production in Brazil, which is based on the natural endowments of…

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Exploring Statistics South Africa’s national household surveys as sources of information about household-level food security

by ALIBER,M., 2009
Agrekon, Vol 48, No 4 December 2009

Aliber investigates household-level food security in South Africa using publicly available household survey data from Statistics South Africa. The two datasets that are used in particular are the General Household Survey, an annual household survey that began in 2002, and the Income and Expenditure Survey of 2005/06. Because these surveys are not designed for the…

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Exploring Definitions of Food Insecurity and Vulnerability: Time to Refocus Assessments

by HART, T., 2009
Agrekon, 48:4, 362-383

Recent high food prices and changes in the world food situation are exacerbating the conditions of households that are vulnerable to food insecurity, especially those with weak livelihood strategies. To address the impact of these and other stressors it is necessary to develop a deeper understanding of concepts such as ‘vulnerability’ and ‘food insecurity’. This…

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The Status of Household Food Security Targets in South Africa

by JACOBS, P, 2009
Agrekon, 48:4, 410-433

Jacobs investigates the conceptual and methodological challenges to develop a set of baseline indicators for South African food security targets. A food security target is a well-defined and measurable goal to reduce the numbers of people who lack enough food of the right quality to live healthy lives. To derive baseline indicators for household food…

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For us women, working is an unfulfilled dream: womens’ wage work and food security.

by ALTMAN, M. & C CROSS, 2010
Agenda: Empowering Women for Gender Equity. 86:25-37. 2010.

This article reviews the findings from two small community studies in South Africa on the experience of poor households in respect of the economic downturn, employment, and food security, with special emphasis on gender dynamics. This study sought to explore the human, social and personal experiences of the economic downturn.The study interviewed 29 households in…

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Should Subsistence Production be Supported as a Strategy to Address Rural Food Insecurity?

by ALIBER,M., & HART, T., 2009
Agrekon, Vol 48, No 4 (December 2009)

At first glance South Africa’s black farming sector appears to contribute rather minimally to overall agricultural output in South Africa. However, despite the complexity involved in this sector and the often marginal conditions in which agriculture is practiced it appears to be important to a large number of black households. Furthermore, the significance they attach…

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Identifying targets for household food security in South Africa

by JACOBS, P, 2009
Research Report. Centre for Poverty Employment and Growth, Human Sciences Research Council

Jacobs uses South African food spending and consumption information to develop a conceptual and methodological approach for a food security target for low-income households. A food security target is a well-defined and measurable goal to reduce the number of people who lack enough food of the right quality to live healthy lives. Policies and programmes…

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