The aim of the present research is to provide a comprehensive review about the current challenges related to food security and hidden hunger. Issues are presented according to major factors, such as growing population, changing dietary habits, water efficiency, climate change and volatile food prices. These factors were compiled from reports of major international organizations and from relevant scientific articles on the subject. Collecting the results and presenting them in an accessible manner may provide new insight for interested parties. Accessibility of data is extremely important, since food security and its drivers form a closely interconnected but extremely complex network, which requires coordinated problem solving to resolve issues. According to the results, the demand for growing agricultural products has been partly met by increasing cultivated land in recent decades. At the same time, there is serious competition for existing agricultural areas, which further limits the extension of agricultural land in addition to the natural constraints of land availability. Agricultural production needs to expand faster than population growth without further damage to the environment. The driving force behind development is sustainable intensive farming, which means the more effective utilization of agricultural land and water resources. Current global trends in food consumption are unsustainable, analyzed in terms of either public health, environmental impacts or socio-economic costs. The growing population should strive for sustainable food consumption, as social, environmental and health impacts are very important in this respect as well. To this end, the benefits of consuming foods that are less harmful to the environment during production are also to be emphasized in the scope of consumption policy and education related to nutrition as opposed to other food types, the production of which causes a major demand for raw materials.

The great environmental impact of increasing animal product consumption requires the willingness to reduce or to substitute meat consumption. A possible substitute product, plant-based meat substitute, is made from plants and offers a sensory experience similar to conventional meat. In this narrative review, we focus on the consumer acceptance of plant-based meat alternatives. We searched for peer-reviewed studies in SCOPUS and Web of Science (WoS) up to December 2021. Of all 111 records identified, 28 were eligible, and, thus, included in this narrative review. The results imply that established consumer behavior has complex socio-economic implications for the adoption of plant-based meat substitutes. Plant-based meat was consistently rated more favorably than other meat substitute products, but sensory and nutritional implications still exist. Environmental and health-related factors may contribute to the market spread of plant-based meat substitutes, but these factors alone are not sufficient. Furthermore, so far there is no information available about how the hypothetical measurements used in the studies (such as willingness to pay) will translate to real life consumer behavior. Despite these barriers, there is certainly a great market potential for plant-based meat alternatives, which is expected to be more pronounced in the future, with increasing environmental and health awareness.

Research background: Digital technologies aim to enhance efficiency, competitiveness, and sustainability. Despite ongoing efforts, Hungary is encountering various challenges in digitalization. This research seeks to investigate the potential of digital technologies in addressing these challenges, with a particular focus on precision agriculture technologies (PA). Purpose of the article: This study explores the utilization of digital technologies among 81 agricultural and food companies in Hungary. The study evaluates the use of advanced and less advanced digital technologies and their impact on rural areas. Additionally, the research seeks to understand the economic and social impacts resulting from the adoption of these technologies, focusing specifically on precision farming. Methods: The study uses advanced clustering methods to categorize agricultural companies based on their use of digital technology. The research employed the two-step clustering method, which has been recognized for its robustness in clustering mixed-level variables. Findings & value added: Farmers and food producers generally have low adoption rates of advanced digital technologies, preferring common but less advanced tools. This is mainly due to high investment costs, economies of scale, limited experience and expertise, and a lack of willingness to cooperate among farmers. The respondents could be classified into two groups: one group is aware and even understands advanced technology, but rarely uses it. In contrast, the other group is largely unaware of these technologies. The results indicate that a lack of knowledge and expertise can significantly impede the adoption of advanced technologies in agriculture. Policymakers must develop a mix of policies that collectively reduce the economic barriers to technology adoption while engaging stakeholders who may not fully understand the benefits of advanced technologies.

Excessive consumption of animal-based protein has led to a significant negative impact on the environment and human health. Companies producing alternative protein end-products aim to produce substitute products that are similar to conventional animal-based products with less environmental impact. In this research, 955 alternative protein companies were analyzed using descriptive methods. The results revealed a significant increase in the number of companies after 2015, indicating high industry potential and an increasing global focus on sustainability. Plant-based products dominated the production structure because they were more appealing to consumers and may reach price parity sooner. Current food systems are unsustainable. Thus, although some factors still hinder the market uptake of alternative proteins, a shift towards a more sustainable food system is inevitable in the future.

Az egészséges táplálkozás kulcsfontosságú az egészségmegőrzésben. Megfelelő termék marketing hatására akkor is nő egy termék fogyasztása, ha annak vélt vagy valós egészségtelen tulajdonságai közismertek. A kutatást általános iskolás gyermekek és szüleik körében végeztük el kérdőíves felméréssel. Az eredmények kiértékelésére statisztikai összehasonlító próbákat használtunk. Az eredményeink alapján a gyermekek fontosnak ítélték a táplálkozás szerepét az egészséges életmódban. Magát az egészséges étkezést főként a zöldség- és gyümölcsfogyasztással azonosították, tehát a klasszikus berögződések jelen voltak a gyermekekben. Összefüggés volt kimutatható a televízió nézés és a reklámok befolyásoló szerepe között, számos diák fogyasztott már egészségtelen terméket a reklámok hatására. Az, hogy a gyermek beleszólhatott-e a vásárlás során a megvásárolt termékek körébe, kapcsolatban állt a szülők életkorával. A szülők esetében az életkoruk és az iskolai végzettségük, valamint az iskolai végzettségük és a jövedelmük között is szignifikáns kapcsolat volt.