IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/spr/ssefpa/v17y2025i3d10.1007_s12571-025-01524-w.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

How do different food policies impact food insecurity and health? A review and meta-analysis

Author

Listed:
  • GeckHong Yeo

    (Dream Big, Ace EL with Dr. Yeo
    National University of Singapore)

  • Jennifer E. Lansford

    (Duke University)

  • Anna Gassman-Pines

    (Duke University)

  • Charissa S. L. Cheah

    (University of Maryland)

Abstract

To achieve the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal 2 on food and nutrition security by 2030, greater attention to effective food policies that reduce food insecurity and improve health is warranted. This systematic review and meta-analysis examined the impact of different types of government food policies (financial aid, food aid, technical support, capacity building, and land tenure management/food production) on food insecurity and health in numerous countries, and moderators involving study design, cultural context, and country economic advancement. Based on 148 studies and 273 effect sizes, we found that land tenure management/food production and a combination of policies were most effective in reducing food insecurity and in improving health. Study design moderated effects of food policies on food insecurity. Cultural contexts and country economic advancement moderated the effects of different types of food policies on food insecurity and health. This study has important implications for informing effective food policies in improving food insecurity and health by identifying the most effective types of food policies and the cultural and country economic contexts in which different types of food policies are most effective.

Suggested Citation

  • GeckHong Yeo & Jennifer E. Lansford & Anna Gassman-Pines & Charissa S. L. Cheah, 2025. "How do different food policies impact food insecurity and health? A review and meta-analysis," Food Security: The Science, Sociology and Economics of Food Production and Access to Food, Springer;The International Society for Plant Pathology, vol. 17(3), pages 687-702, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:ssefpa:v:17:y:2025:i:3:d:10.1007_s12571-025-01524-w
    DOI: 10.1007/s12571-025-01524-w
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s12571-025-01524-w
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: Access to the full text of the articles in this series is restricted.
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1007/s12571-025-01524-w?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. C. Larochez-Dupraz & M. Huchet-Bourdon, 2016. "Agricultural support and vulnerability of food security to trade in developing countries," Food Security: The Science, Sociology and Economics of Food Production and Access to Food, Springer;The International Society for Plant Pathology, vol. 8(6), pages 1191-1206, December.
    2. Arteaga, Irma & Heflin, Colleen, 2014. "Participation in the National School Lunch Program and food security: An analysis of transitions into kindergarten," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 47(P3), pages 224-230.
    3. Joseph Henrich & Steve J. Heine & Ara Norenzayan, 2010. "The Weirdest People in the World?," RatSWD Working Papers 139, German Data Forum (RatSWD).
    4. Andrew Allee & Lee R. Lynd & Vikrant Vaze, 2021. "Cross-national analysis of food security drivers: comparing results based on the Food Insecurity Experience Scale and Global Food Security Index," Food Security: The Science, Sociology and Economics of Food Production and Access to Food, Springer;The International Society for Plant Pathology, vol. 13(5), pages 1245-1261, October.
    5. Guanghua Han & Yida Zhai, 2024. "The association between food insecurity and social capital under the lockdowns in COVID-hit Shanghai," Urban Studies, Urban Studies Journal Limited, vol. 61(1), pages 130-147, January.
    6. Younas Khan & Umar Daraz & Štefan Bojnec, 2023. "Enhancing Food Security and Nutrition through Social Safety Nets: A Pathway to Sustainable Development," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(19), pages 1-13, September.
    7. Viechtbauer, Wolfgang, 2010. "Conducting Meta-Analyses in R with the metafor Package," Journal of Statistical Software, Foundation for Open Access Statistics, vol. 36(i03).
    8. Joseph J. Molnar, 1999. "Sound Policies for Food Security: The Role of Culture and Social Organization," Review of Agricultural Economics, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association, vol. 21(2), pages 489-498.
    9. Christopher B. Barrett, 2021. "Overcoming Global Food Security Challenges through Science and Solidarity," American Journal of Agricultural Economics, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 103(2), pages 422-447, March.
    10. Pedro Andrés Garzón Delvaux & Sergio Gomez y Paloma, 2018. "Access to common resources and food security: Evidence from National Surveys in Nigeria," Food Security: The Science, Sociology and Economics of Food Production and Access to Food, Springer;The International Society for Plant Pathology, vol. 10(1), pages 121-140, February.
    11. Berchin, Issa Ibrahim & Nunes, Nei Antonio & de Amorim, Wellyngton Silva & Alves Zimmer, Gabriel Alfredo & da Silva, Franciani Rodrigues & Fornasari, Vitória Haendchen & Sima, Mihaela & de Andrade Gue, 2019. "The contributions of public policies for strengthening family farming and increasing food security: The case of Brazil," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 82(C), pages 573-584.
    12. A. E. Ades & A. J. Sutton, 2006. "Multiparameter evidence synthesis in epidemiology and medical decision‐making: current approaches," Journal of the Royal Statistical Society Series A, Royal Statistical Society, vol. 169(1), pages 5-35, January.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Oxley, Florence A.R. & Wilding, Kirsty & von Stumm, Sophie, 2024. "DNA and IQ: Big deal or much ado about nothing? – A meta-analysis," Intelligence, Elsevier, vol. 107(C).
    2. van Aert, Robbie Cornelis Maria, 2018. "Dissertation R.C.M. van Aert," MetaArXiv eqhjd, Center for Open Science.
    3. Onurcan Yilmaz & Sinan Alper, 2019. "The link between intuitive thinking and social conservatism is stronger in WEIRD societies," Judgment and Decision Making, Society for Judgment and Decision Making, vol. 14(2), pages 156-169, March.
    4. Schaerer, Michael & du Plessis, Christilene & Nguyen, My Hoang Bao & van Aert, Robbie C.M. & Tiokhin, Leo & Lakens, Daniël & Giulia Clemente, Elena & Pfeiffer, Thomas & Dreber, Anna & Johannesson, Mag, 2023. "On the trajectory of discrimination: A meta-analysis and forecasting survey capturing 44 years of field experiments on gender and hiring decisions," Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, Elsevier, vol. 179(C).
    5. Hans IJzerman & Janneke A Janssen & James A Coan, 2015. "Maintaining Warm, Trusting Relationships with Brands: Increased Temperature Perceptions after Thinking of Communal Brands," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 10(4), pages 1-13, April.
    6. repec:cup:judgdm:v:14:y:2019:i:2:p:156-169 is not listed on IDEAS
    7. Ning Sun & Sai Tang & Ju Zhang & Jiaxin Wu & Hongwei Wang, 2022. "Food Security: 3D Dynamic Display and Early Warning Platform Construction and Security Strategy," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(18), pages 1-16, September.
    8. Alba Carrillo & María Rubio-Aparicio & Guadalupe Molinari & Ángel Enrique & Julio Sánchez-Meca & Rosa M Baños, 2019. "Effects of the Best Possible Self intervention: A systematic review and meta-analysis," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 14(9), pages 1-23, September.
    9. Mallory, Allen B. & Ford, Jodi L. & Anderson, Avery M., 2025. "Differences in sexual behaviors between sexual minority and heterosexual female youth with a substance use disorder who are experiencing homelessness," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 171(C).
    10. Whitney S Beck & Ed K Hall, 2018. "Confounding factors in algal phosphorus limitation experiments," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 13(10), pages 1-19, October.
    11. Tianyi Qiu & Yu Shi & Josep Peñuelas & Ji Liu & Qingliang Cui & Jordi Sardans & Feng Zhou & Longlong Xia & Weiming Yan & Shuling Zhao & Shushi Peng & Jinshi Jian & Qinsi He & Wenju Zhang & Min Huang &, 2024. "Optimizing cover crop practices as a sustainable solution for global agroecosystem services," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-14, December.
    12. Sibilla Di Guida & Ido Erev & Davide Marchiori, 2014. "Cross Cultural Differences in Decisions from Experience: Evidence from Denmark, Israel and Taiwain," Working Papers ECARES ECARES 2014-16, ULB -- Universite Libre de Bruxelles.
    13. Hind Dib‐slamani & Gilles Grolleau & Naoufel Mzoughi, 2021. "Is theft considered less severe when the victim is a foreign company?," Post-Print hal-03340844, HAL.
    14. Xindong Xue & W. Robert Reed & Robbie C.M. van Aert, 2022. "Social Capital and Economic Growth: A Meta-Analysis," Working Papers in Economics 22/20, University of Canterbury, Department of Economics and Finance.
    15. Shi, Yun & Cui, Xiangyu & Zhou, Xunyu, 2020. "Beta and Coskewness Pricing: Perspective from Probability Weighting," SocArXiv 5rqhv, Center for Open Science.
    16. Kyriaki Remoundou & Drichoutis Andreas & Phoebe Koundouri, 2010. "Warm glow in charitable auctions: Are the WEIRDos driving the results?," DEOS Working Papers 1028, Athens University of Economics and Business.
    17. Stephen L. Cheung & Agnieszka Tymula & Xueting Wang, 2022. "Present bias for monetary and dietary rewards," Experimental Economics, Springer;Economic Science Association, vol. 25(4), pages 1202-1233, September.
    18. Bart Verkuil & Serpil Atasayi & Marc L Molendijk, 2015. "Workplace Bullying and Mental Health: A Meta-Analysis on Cross-Sectional and Longitudinal Data," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 10(8), pages 1-16, August.
    19. Francesca Pilotto & Ingolf Kühn & Rita Adrian & Renate Alber & Audrey Alignier & Christopher Andrews & Jaana Bäck & Luc Barbaro & Deborah Beaumont & Natalie Beenaerts & Sue Benham & David S. Boukal & , 2020. "Meta-analysis of multidecadal biodiversity trends in Europe," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 11(1), pages 1-11, December.
    20. repec:cup:judgdm:v:15:y:2020:i:6:p:972-988 is not listed on IDEAS
    21. Arteaga, Irma & Heflin, Colleen & Gable, Sara, 2016. "The impact of aging out of WIC on food security in households with children," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 69(C), pages 82-96.
    22. Plante, Charles & Lassoued, Rim & Phillips, Peter W.B., 2017. "The Social Determinants of Cognitive Bias: The Effects of Low Capability on Decision Making in a Framing Experiment," SocArXiv u62cx, Center for Open Science.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:spr:ssefpa:v:17:y:2025:i:3:d:10.1007_s12571-025-01524-w. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.springer.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.