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Food is one of the physiological needs that have an immediate impact on healthy aging. However, the persistent poverty problem in Hong Kong has increasingly made it difficult for low-income older persons to meet their basic needs. This paper examines to what extent poor older persons suffer from food insecurity and how their food insecurity is related to the different types of resources they have. Based on the data collected through a questionnaire survey and in-depth interviews, the study found that about 20% of low-income older persons experienced food insecurity, and male, older seniors, and those in a larger household with lower socio-economic status were particularly vulnerable. Among the resources that older people can utilize, public assistance and social services were found to be more conducive to food security than social capital. The implementation of a food voucher scheme and the facilitation of food distribution and social eating are suggested.

Our chapter evaluates the impact of invasive plant species (IPS) on ensuring human food, food security, and food safety. From a survey of 80 IPS, about 58 are directly involved in human food and nutrition. Identified species are categorised into grains (8), vegetables (27), fruits (10), oil (2), and food additives (11); flour and beverages can be complementary sources of human food, providing sufficient nutrients, antioxidants, and phytochemicals for human health. An IPS contains 30 g of carbohydrates, 11 g of protein, 2.1 g of fat, 0.12 g of vitamins, and 0.93 g of minerals. Meanwhile, everyday food consists of 35.43, 11.57, 15.14, 0.15, and 1.07 g of carbohydrates, protein, fat, vitamins, and minerals, respectively. About 100 g of rice contains 78.24 g of carbohydrates, 7.94 g of proteins, 0.25 g of fat, 0.01 g of vitamins, and 0.13 g of minerals. In contrast, 100 g of Kodo millet contains 66.19, 8.92, 2.55, 0.04, and 0.25 g, respectively. This chapters explores a range of beneficial uses for IPS, for instance IPS can indirectly benefit human by improving soil health through manuring, composting, biormediation and erosion control, and they can also act as pollutant purifiers in soil and water. Additionally, IPS can act as indirect sources of protein for humans by providing quality fodder to domestic animals. Multiple utilisation techniques are explored which are more sustainable, affordable, and environmentally friendly measures to control IPS than conventional control measures. Diversified sectors can sustainably manage resources through contributions to medicine, food, fuel, energy, and community participation. It is also revealing that IPS use depends on the social perspectives of different countries or regions. These measures will ensure sufficient safe and nutritious food, increase social safety to outweigh its negative effects, and thus achieve 11 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

In India, no state or union territory has been spared by the pandemic, especially in the second wave, but the spread of infections has been disproportionate, and the policy response and outcomes have been varied. This chapter examines the inequalities in the incidence (using number of infections and deaths as a measure) and severity (using relative severity ratio as a measure) of the pandemic across states and union territories of India over time. There are observed differences in the infections, deaths, and severity indicators — higher for the richer states compared to the relatively poor regions — and are explained using socioeconomic, meteorological, and geographical factors. The interplay between affluence and the concomitant urbanization, environmental risks, and comorbidities, which have been found to be associated with higher fatality rates, cannot be ruled out. The COVID-19 pandemic has had a devastating impact on the global economy and the food systems, posing a significant threat to the food security of people across the world. India’s food markets have been significantly impacted by the spread of COVID-19, facing both demand and supply shocks, thus impacting the quantity of food available at wholesale and retail markets and the price at which it sells. There is also evidence of rising food expenditure shares across income deciles and social groups in rural and urban India. Considering the plight of small and marginal farmers when introducing agricultural market reforms and boosting aggregate demand, especially among the deprived, could possibly reduce the pandemic-driven food insecurity in the country. As there is continuing uncertainty about how the COVID-19 epidemic will pan out in the near future, the need for enforcement of safety protocols emphasizing prevention, dissemination of accurate information regarding treatment, promotion of vaccination through community engagement and collaboration between the government and civil society organizations is vital.