Inadequate food and nutrition affect human well-being, particularly for many poor subpopulations living in rural areas. The purpose of this research was to analyze the factors that determine the Household Dietary Diversity Score (HDDS) in the rural area of the Paute River Basin, Azuay Province, Ecuador. The sample size of 383 surveys was determined by a stratified random sampling method with proportional affixation. Dietary diversity was measured through the HDDS, with 12 food groups (cereals; roots and tubers; fruits; sugar/honey; meat and eggs; legumes or grains; vegetables; oils/fats; milk and dairy products; meats; miscellaneous; fish and shellfish) over a recall period of 7 days. A Poisson regression model was used to determine the relationship between the HDDS and sociodemographic variables. The results show that the average HDDS of food consumption is 10.89 foods. Of the analyzed food groups, the most consumed are cereals; roots and tubers; fruits; sugar/honey. In addition, the determinants that best explain the HDDS in the predictive model were housing size, household size, per capita food expenditure, area of cultivated land, level of education, and marital status of the head of household. The tools used in this research can be used to analyze food and nutrition security interventions. Furthermore, the results allow policymakers to identify applicable public policies in the fight against hunger.

Eliminating food insecurity is one of humanity’s greatest global challenges. Thus, the purpose of this research was to analyze the factors that determine food insecurity in households in the rural area of the Paute River Basin, Azuay Province, Ecuador. Stratified sampling was used as the sampling method, with proportional affixation. Moreover, we employed the Latin American and Caribbean Household Food Security Measurement Scale (ELCSA). We estimated the main determinants of household food insecurity using two binomial logit models and one ordered logit model. For the analysis of the data, the respective statistical and econometric tests were employed. The results show that housing size and access to food security information are the most important determinants of food insecurity in the three predictive models applied in this research. This research contributes to the existing literature on food insecurity and provides important information for policymakers, especially regarding food insecurity in rural areas, which has profound economic and social implications.

Households' food access remains a concern primarily in rural households in lower-and middle-income countries. The purpose of this study is to measure food access and to identify the coping strategies in indigenous households of the communities of Sierra Tarahumara in Mexico. The representative sample was made up of 123 households from 38 communities. The survey was conducted face to face during the winter season between February and March 2015. Since all respondents only speak the Tarahumara language, authors were assisted by translators. The level of access to food was low in 54.47% of households. The main coping strategies used by households were rationing and augmenting short-term household food availability. Bivariate analyses were used, with Chi-square (χ 2 ) test suggesting that coping strategies associated with food access included: reliance on less expensive foods, purchasing food on credit, limiting portion size at meal times, skipping meals, and restricting consumption of adults to secure children's intake. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) test indicated that the income derived from various households are identical across all food access levels. We conclude that the indigenous households did experience difficulties in obtaining food.

Responsible marketing (RM) helps companies make products that improve people’s lives and is in line with public policies that provide a positive impact on society; an example of this is traffic light nutritional labelling (TLNL). Ecuador was a pioneer in Latin America in the mandatory implementation of TLNL. For this reason, this research aimed to analyze RM in the TLNL of food products from the perception of consumers in the urban area of Cuenca, Ecuador. Specifically, the research aimed to answer: What is the degree of consumer understanding of TLNL in the urban area of Cuenca, Ecuador? A cross-sectional investigation was undertaken, with 384 surveys conducted. A chi-square test (χ2) was performed, which showed the relationship between variables reflecting RM knowledge and the understanding and use of TLNL. An ordinal logit model (OLM) was applied, showing that the variables of education, knowledge of labeling, and knowledge of marketing were associated with a greater probability of having some level of understanding of TLNL. Finally, a binomial logit model (BLM) revealed that the variables of income level, knowledge of TLNL, illnesses, confidence in TLNL, the influence of COVID-19 on eating habits, and knowledge of marketing were associated with people being more likely to use TLNL. RM is present in the TLNL through the clear and understandable dissemination of information.

Fair commercialization networks represent a direct economic and social participation mechanism for small producers in rural areas. Women’s participation is a pillar in short commercialization, which incorporates family income and economic independence, as well as food diversification in the territory. This research aims to analyze short commercialization circuits (SCCs) for agroecological foods as a contribution to productive development in the rural Andean area of Pillaro canton. This research, developed between April 2019 and May 2020, involved a quantitative approach and cross-sectional data collection. The Farm Sustainability Indicators (IDEA) method was used for the analysis, which establishes three scales: agroecological, socio-territorial and economic sustainability. The results show that SSCs contribute to food security through low-cost food, diversification, and nutritional products. In addition, SCCs allow a closeness between producers and consumers that provides greater confidence in the products offered. The ratings of 35.0 for the sustainability scale, 30.52 for the socio-territorial scale, and 17.5 for the economic scale indicate that the short commercialization circuits observed in the area consist of a sustainable system that allows for the social and economic improvement of producers in the rural Andean area of Pillaro canton, as well as the improvement of the natural environment.

Agricultural production outlines the constant antagonism between the quest to achieve the highest yields and the need to preserve the physical/chemical properties of soils. The constantly increasing global demand for food prompts producers to apply more agrochemicals in order to increase their production, generating soil degradation, which is a costly and complex issue to solve. Based on this context, we targeted a variety of objectives such as (a) to evaluate the effectiveness of lagoon sediments in soil recovery; (b) to analyze the effect of sediment on the yield of the coriander crop; and (c) to determine soil reclamation costs. The experiment was developed in the province of Imbabura, located in northern Ecuador. For this, we occupied a surface area per plot of 3 m2 and used a completely randomized block experimental design. Four doses of sediment were applied, being mixed with soil. The benefits of the use of lagoon sediments are evidenced in the nutritional quality of the soil after its application, determined by the physical and chemical analysis that reveals an increase of 3.9 ppm of the initial N, even after vegetative consumption. Similarly, the best electric conductivity (E.C) was 0.85 mS/cm, which promoted a higher crop yield compared to the control treatment, becoming an innovative alternative for soil recovery. This activity allowed reconciliation of the intensive agriculture with soil conservation.

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The purpose of the paper is to analyse the initiatives aimed at raising awareness of local communities on the importance of protecting and promoting distinct goods for sustainable food, culture, arts, and tourism, at EU level, to balance globalized food trends. The study carries out a comparative analysis at the level of three European Regions of Gastronomy: Coimbra Region, Sibiu Region and South Aegean Region. The key areas of the Region of Gastronomy Award program: raising citizen awareness about the food they eat, the value of local products and the need to innovate to protect local products. The benefits of such initiatives and their contribution to empowering local communities and to better quality of life were identified and highlighted.