China
Africa
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Food as Infrastructure
Published in Spiro N. Pollalis, Planning Sustainable Cities, 2016
The promotion of local agricultural products and the support of local farms are equally important. As already mentioned, it is estimated that the average grocery store item in the United States travels 1,500 miles between production and consumption.10 Local food supply can reduce cost and energy resources needed for transportation and the consequent greenhouse gas emissions and pollution. Besides travel distance, it is also important for a food supply system to promote the products of organic and sustainable agriculture. The goals of sustainable agriculture are: “Enhance environmental quality and the natural resource base upon which the agriculture economy depends. Make the most efficient use of non-renewable resources and onfarm resources and integrate, where appropriate, natural biological cycles and controls. Sustain the economic viability of farm operations. Enhance the quality of life for farmers and society as a whole.”11
Bringing farmers and consumers closer together
Published in Stephen R. Gliessman, V. Ernesto Méndez, Victor M. Izzo, Eric W. Engles, Andrew Gerlicz, Agroecology, 2023
Stephen R. Gliessman, V. Ernesto Méndez, Victor M. Izzo, Eric W. Engles, Andrew Gerlicz
Localness depends on physical proximity. When the people who consume food are not far from the people who produce it, that food system is local. Local food systems are identified with a place and contribute to the environmental, social, economic, and cultural development of the communities in that place.
Changes in Food Acquisition Source, Behaviors, and Perceptions During Early Months of COVID-19 Pandemic: Differences Between Those Living in and Not Living in Low Income Low Food Access Urban Areas
Published in Journal of Hunger & Environmental Nutrition, 2023
Joelle N. Robinson-Oghogho, Kaitlyn Harper, Punam Ohri-Vachaspati, Roni Neff
Overall, respondents also decreased many in-person food acquisition behaviors and increased use of other food sources such as grocery delivery, meal-kit services, and use of food programs. These findings are consistent with other research regarding increased use of grocery delivery services since the pandemic.46 Our analysis also suggests greater use of delivery services, food programs, and CSAs among people living in LILA zip codes. This may point to delivery services and alternative programs as potential ways to address gaps in geographic distributions of food retail locations and improve food access in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, future disasters, and non-disaster times. Policymakers may consider how to ensure these evolving food acquisition avenues are implemented to increase equity in food access, such as allowing SNAP funds to be used to cover the cost of delivery fees, providing technical assistance to smaller grocers, and expanding implementation of online purchasing options to other food programs such as WIC (Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children). Increased use of food programs and direct-from-farm food sources such as CSAs also highlights the importance of strengthening local food systems and providing support to independent food sources.47
Why agricultural production in sub-Saharan Africa remains low compared to the rest of the world – a historical perspective
Published in International Journal of Water Resources Development, 2020
Vibeke Bjornlund, Henning Bjornlund, Andre F. Van Rooyen
The colonial period consolidated agricultural production in each colony in a few export commodities, intervened in emerging property markets, and discouraged cottage industries. Export supplied the growing industries in the North Atlantic at the lowest possible price by using marketing boards to control export, vesting all land in the colonial powers, and applying coercion. This resulted in different agricultural development pathways in western and eastern Africa. In western Africa, most production remained in the hands of African farmers, as they were the most economic producers, but coercion was used in many places to overcome farmers’ reluctance due to the low prices. In eastern Africa, settler farmers and plantations were more common. However, without government support and coercion to force Africans to provide cheap labour, they could not compete with African farmers. Many settlers failed, and colonial governments had to rely on African farmers to maintain exports and revenue. These processes locked SSA into producing a few export commodities and prevented the diversification and development of agricultural and marketing systems focused on local development and regional markets. The lack of regional food distribution systems perpetuated the dependence on volatile global commodity markets and continues to threaten local food security. Where it was available, education entrenched Western ideology, governance, science and values.
Feasibility of eLearning Nutrition Education and Supplemental Locally-Grown Produce Dissemination Model: Perspectives from Key Stakeholders
Published in Journal of Hunger & Environmental Nutrition, 2021
Sarah A. Stotz, Jennifer Jo Thompson, Vibha Bhargava, Andrea Scarrow, Hannah Cheek, Deborah Harvey, Jung Sun Lee
The stakeholder feedback focused on community-capacity building, workload balance, and enhancing participant engagement and motivation within the program. Stakeholders were enthusiastic about their community pulling existing resources together to benefit the health of their medically underserved population, and researchers noted this “collaborative service” concept resonated with the mission statements of the stakeholder organizations. As supported by the literature, stakeholders specifically noted the idea of being close to the food source as something that would engage the participants and improve their connections to local resources.8 The literature suggests food sovereignty, the rights of people and communities to define and control their own food systems,20 and connection to local food sources is increasingly important to consumers, has potential to strengthen local economies, and contributes to public health.21–23 Examples of connections between local farmers and other community organizations include mobile produce markets to serve individuals with transportation challenges24 and farm-to-school efforts.22 Specific examples of building low-income consumer and local farmer collaborative capacity include developing farmers markets in low-income communities,25 allowing SNAP benefits as a form of payment at farmers markets,26,27 and subsidized community supported agriculture efforts.28 As supported by the benefits of local community capacity building and food sovereignty, these types of programs have potential to keep local dollars within a community.29