Browsing by Author "McLachlan, M."

Now showing 1 - 4 of 4
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    Food security in South Africa : first steps toward a transdisciplinary approach
    (SpringerLink, 2013-02) Drimie, S.; McLachlan, M.
    The Stellenbosch University Food Security Initiative provides a platform on which a range of research projects has been developed, spanning different faculties and departments, including the health sciences, agricultural sciences, engineering, and the social sciences. Drawing on a selection of these projects, some of which are published in a special section of this issue of Food Security, the paper highlights key emerging findings and their implications for future work in this field in South Africa. It incorporates a range of perspectives on food security in the country, highlighting different dimensions of the subject. The paper argues that a systemic approach is required to address food insecurity in South Africa, combining rigorous disciplinary and interdisciplinary research with effective approaches to research-policy linkages and social learning. The review concludes that such an approach should be institutionalised at Stellenbosch University to inform the emergence of a resilient food system for the region in the 21st Century.
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    The nutrient intake of children aged 12–36 months living in two communities in the Breede Valley, Western Cape province, South Africa
    (Taylor & Francis, 2015) Balogun, T. A.; Lombard, M. J.; McLachlan, M.
    Objective: The objective of this study was to describe the current macro- and micronutrient intake of children (both boys and girls) in two selected communities in the Breede Valley, Worcester. Design: This was a quantitative cross-sectional study. Setting: The study focused on two disadvantaged communities in Worcester (Avian Park and Zweletemba) in the Breede Valley, Western Cape province. Subjects: The study subjects were 248 children (Avian Park, n = 117; Zweletemba, n = 131) aged 12–36 months. Method: The macro-and micronutrient intake of the children was determined using a validated, interviewer-administered quantitative food frequency questionaire, and compared against the estimated average requirement (EAR) and adequate intake (AI) of nutrients. The nutrient adequacy ratio was calculated, as well as percentage deviation from the EAR and AI. Results: More than 20% of the children had a calcium and folate intake that deviated by more than 50% below the EAR in both communities and for both genders. More participants in Zweletemba had an intake that deviated by more than 50% above the EAR and AI, compared to Avian Park, for carbohydrate, thiamine, niacin and iron. Conclusion: With the exception of folate, calcium and selenium, the average reported nutrient intake of the children (boys and girls) in both the communities was adequate.
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    The role of wild vegetable species in household food security in maize based subsistence cropping systems
    (SpringerLink, 2013-02) Mavengahama, S.; McLachlan, M.; De Clercq, W.
    Wild vegetables (WV) are an important source of food in the maize based subsistence farming sector of rural South Africa. Their main role is as relish as they are used as an accompaniment for staple cereal based diets. They are generally reported to be rich in micronutrients. Although they may be consumed in small quantities, they influence the intake of cereal staples, manage hunger and play a central role in household food security for the poorer rural groups. Mixing several WV species in one meal contributes to dietary diversity in terms of more vegetable types as well as in terms of choice of relish. For some very poor families WV are substitutes for some food crops. The seasonal occurrence of these vegetables leaves many families without a food source during the off-season. Wild vegetables increase agro-biodiversity at the household level. This agrobiodiversity helps in buffering against the accumulation and multiplication of pests and diseases and provides important cover for the soil. Further research on agronomic, social and economic dimensions is required to understand the roles of WV in subsistence farming systems in South Africa.
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    Urban food insecurity : a neglected public health challenge
    (Health & Medical Publishing Group, 2013) Battersby, J.; McLachlan, M.
    No abstract available.