Dumpster diving is the practice of sourcing discarded food from supermarket bins or ‘dumpsters’. The practice of dumpster diving to source food has emerged in a number of affluent countries reflecting systemic inefficiencies in food distribution and waste management that are common across high-income countries. Addressing these issues is critical for achieving global targets such as SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) and SDG 12.3 (halving food waste). This research aims to identify 1) which demographic characteristics are associated with dumpster diving practices, and 2) which attitudes and concerns are associated with dumpster diving practices. The current research analysed data of the Food and You 2 (2023-24), an Official Statistics survey. Using the data from respondents across the UK (n = 5861), a series of binary logistic regression models identified 1) the socio-demographic, socio-economic and geography related characteristics, and the 2) attitudes and concerns associated with dumpster diving practices. We demonstrate that those who have a long-term health condition, children in the household, use food banks or live in urban areas are more likely to have started sourcing food from supermarket bins. Conversely, those who are concerned about food poisoning and being able to eat healthily are less likely to have started dumpster diving. This research provides an evidence base for policy makers to take urgent action in providing increased support and an alternative food source for vulnerable groups. Although this study focuses on the UK, the findings have broader relevance for global food security. • Dumpster diving is a prevalent practice in the UK with 4.7% of adults having started sourcing food from bins or waste areas in the previous 12 months. • Those who have a long-term health condition, children in the household, or use food banks are more likely to have started dumpster diving. • Concern about food poisoning and being able to eat healthily are barriers to dumpster diving. • The prevalence of dumpster diving reflects systemic inefficiencies in food distribution and waste management across high-income countries.

Global food insecurity currently affects over 30 % of the world's population, highlighting the need to understand how agricultural systems can be optimized to reduce resource pressures while maintaining productivity. Irrigation is critical for crop production in semi-arid and arid regions such as the Mediterranean, yet it accounts for substantial freshwater use and energy consumption, with associated environmental impacts. In this study, we assess the impacts of crop reallocation on irrigation water, energy demand, and direct CO 2 emissions across the Mediterranean. Using a spatially explicit optimization framework integrated with hydrological modelling, we evaluate 32 crops grouped into nine categories, explicitly accounting for irrigation water sources and methods. Our results indicate that optimized crop distributions could reduce irrigation water demand by up to 80 % (70 km 3 /year), lower energy requirements by up to 85 % (72 × 10 6 GJ/year), and cut direct CO 2 emissions by up to 84 %, without reducing overall food production. Beyond resource savings, we explore the economic and social implications of crop reallocation, noting that less water-intensive crops may be less profitable or culturally less accepted, underscoring the need for supportive policies and incentives. The framework is adaptable to other water-stressed regions, enabling the assessment of trade-offs between water, energy, and carbon under locally specific conditions. By providing a quantitative evaluation of the potential environmental and resource impacts of alternative cropping strategies, this study offers a robust tool for understanding how agricultural systems can be managed to improve sustainability, resilience, and resource efficiency under climate and water constraints. • Water- and energy-savings estimated for crop reallocation strategy •About 80 % of the blue water savings in irrigation across the Mediterranean region •Irrigation energy use and CO₂ emissions cut by ∼85 % and ∼84 % •Crop yields preserved despite large-scale crop reallocation

Supporting agrifood system transformation to improve outcomes around climate, nutrition, and inclusion requires that institutions and governments work together. International financial institutions play a pivotal role in shaping global development by providing billions of dollars in loans and grants to borrowing countries for large-to-medium scale projects in the agrifood sector. While projects are agreed upon between institutions and borrowing countries, there are significant challenges in tracking outcomes originating across projects. We used large language models to analyze the agrifood systems outcomes reported in 916 international financial institution project design documents approved by agency boards from 2015 to 2022. The results reveal a lack of environmental and climate change outcomes in the regions most impacted by climate change and little focus on women's empowerment, inclusivity, and agency. • Major investments by international financial institutions often fall short of supporting agrifood system transformation outcomes. • Investments do not reveal bold climate action by IFIs. • International Financial Institution projects are not designed to significantly advance nutritional outcomes. • Inclusion, particularly women's empowerment, needs to be strengthened in all agricultural projects. • Artificial intelligence promotes better accountability in agrifood systems assessment processes.

Smallholder farmers are key to achieving a more resilient and inclusive process of rural transformation in the developing world. This article reflects on trends in farm size and the implications for the viability of small-scale producers across the developing world within the context of resilient and inclusive rural transformation. While the farmland consolidation expected under structural transformation has occurred in high income countries, average farm sizes are decreasing across developing regions. Clearly, more is driving farm size than simply economic growth. Most smallholders struggle for viability in terms of earning a living income from farming alone. However, viability needs to be viewed through a broader perspective that considers the role of smallholder farming within diversified household livelihood and risk mitigation strategies and their social and environmental contributions, such as ecosystem services. Recognizing the multiple social and economic roles played by small farms helps explain the continued persistence and relevance of smallholders in the face of structural transformation in much of the developing world. Investment and policy and programmatic support focusing on both on-farm and off-farm interventions within a territorial approach are crucial to strengthening the role of smallholders in resilient and inclusive rural transformation. • Average farm size has decreased in most developing regions from 1960 to 2010. • Farmland consolidation has not occurred in most developing regions despite economic growth. • Most smallholders are pluriactive. • Small holder farms provide income, ecosystem services and serve as insurance. • Investments both on and off-farm are needed to improve smallholder livelihoods.