Food From Somewhere: How To Strengthen Territorial Markets As Cornerstones Of Food Security And Resilience

Generated Summary

This document, “Food from Somewhere: How to Strengthen Territorial Markets as Cornerstones of Food Security and Resilience,” explores the significance of territorial markets in fostering food security and resilience. It employs a broad approach, encompassing various market forms and channels, with a focus on their role in providing equitable access to food and supporting livelihoods. The study, led by the International Panel of Experts on Sustainable Food Systems (IPES-Food), utilizes data from diverse sources, including academic literature, civil society reports, and case studies. The research emphasizes the contributions of territorial markets, such as public markets, direct-to-consumer channels, and community-supported agriculture, to food security, equity, and environmental sustainability. The methodology involves a global review, and highlights key findings from regional dialogues, emphasizing the need to strengthen these markets as a cornerstone of future food systems. The report also provides insights into the barriers faced by these markets and identifies strategies to promote their development and integration into food policy and market governance.

Key Findings & Statistics

• Nearly 30% of the world is food insecure, and 42% of people are unable to afford a healthy diet.
• With around 600 million people projected to be facing hunger in 2030, the world’s ‘zero hunger’ goal is further away than ever.
• Civil society assessments have estimated that over 70% of the world’s population is fed by small-scale producers.
• Small-scale and family farmers produce 80% of the food supply in sub-Saharan Africa and Asia.
• 80% of cities’ food needs are supplied within a 500 km radius.
• Urban and peri-urban agriculture involves 50% of Latin American and 40% of African city dwellers.
• Half of fruits and vegetables are sold in open air markets in Mexico.
• Community-supported agriculture is supplying 1 million Europeans.
• 25 million Italians buy directly from farmers.
• Farmers’ markets quadrupled in the US over recent decades.
• Less than a quarter of the calories produced globally cross borders.
• Global chains account for only 15-20% of total food consumption in Asia and sub-Saharan Africa.
• In Dhaka, Bangladesh, 95 % of the city’s urban poor purchase most of their food from 400 public markets, which feed some 25 million people every day.
• In the Indian state of Kerala, the local government enlisted the all-women Kudumbshree network to run 1,000 temporary ‘hotels’ that would provide 70,000 subsidized meals every day.
• In Brazil, 45% of emergency food supply initiatives were based on local supply chains, and over 85% were at least partly agroecological.
• Thai ‘green’ farmers’ markets offer producers higher margins than big retailers and account for some 60-80% of their income.
• Some $80 million of sales have been facilitated, and 175,000 acres of Black-owned land secured, over decades of cooperative-led organizing among Black farmers in the US south.
• In Mexico, open-air markets account for 50% of all fruit & vegetables that are sold through retail.

Other Important Findings

• Territorial markets play a crucial role in making food accessible and affordable to low-income populations, helping to shield them from global price volatility.
• Close-to-home supply chains and markets are robust and highly adaptable in the face of shocks – critical qualities that were showcased through the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Territorial markets underpin the livelihoods of millions of food producers, generally providing them with decent prices and steady incomes.
• Territorial markets also play a key role in sustaining food cultures and the associated knowledge and benefits.
• Close-to-home supply chains and markets build trust, connections, solidarity, and social capital.
• Close-to-home markets and supply chains boost climate-resilience and environmental sustainability by providing outlets for low-input, biodiverse, small-scale food production.
• Territorial markets are generally based on short chains, which reduce food miles.
• The report highlights the role of state purchasing and marketing initiatives, including public procurement and distribution systems, in supporting territorial markets and local food systems.
• The role of digital sales is also discussed, recognizing both opportunities and risks.
• The report also identifies key challenges, including the need to address inequalities, the scarcity of appropriate infrastructure and finance, unfavourable regulations, corporate co-optation, and systemic biases.
• The research emphasizes that, given the challenges faced by territorial markets, there is a need for strategic interventions in the form of policy and funding shifts to support them.

Limitations Noted in the Document

• The report acknowledges the complexity of territorial markets and the uneven availability of data, posing a challenge to deliver an exhaustive resilience analysis.
• The findings are based on emerging literature, participatory assessments, and case studies, which are not always consistent or directly comparable.
• The study notes the varying interpretations of the term ‘territory,’ which may lead to ambiguities in defining the boundaries of territorial food systems.
• The report does not address all aspects of food provisioning, focusing primarily on markets and supply chains, and not fully accounting for all the actors involved.
• The assessment acknowledges that there are gaps in comparative and comprehensive data, particularly at a global level, which may limit the generalizability of certain findings.

Conclusion

The central message is the critical role territorial markets play in building resilient and equitable food systems. The analysis shows that these markets are crucial for food security and access, especially for low-income populations, and contribute significantly to the livelihoods of producers. They are often more adaptable during crises compared to corporate chains, and are deeply rooted in local communities and cultures. The study underscores the importance of these markets, recognizing their ability to provide affordable and healthy foods, support local economies, and promote ecological sustainability. The document highlights the urgent need to counteract the trend of corporate value chains, which often undermine the benefits of territorial markets, and calls for strategic interventions at various levels to support them. Key recommendations include rebalancing financial flows to support territorial markets, enhancing data collection and definitional frameworks, promoting networking and representation mechanisms, and building participatory governance. The report also emphasizes the importance of positioning territoriality as a key element of food system transformation, with the need for a paradigm shift that centers food security, sovereignty, and ecological health. The report advocates for increased investments in scale-appropriate infrastructure, training programs, and research and development. The conclusion underscores the need to address barriers such as inequalities and unfavorable regulations. In conclusion, the document stresses the necessity of supporting territorial markets through appropriate policies and funding. By supporting these initiatives, it is possible to create a food system that ensures benefits for all members of society, while delivering food security, equity, and a sustainable environment.