scholarly journals Women’s participation in the local food system and implications for their dietary quality in rural Northern Ghana: A qualitative study

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sawudatu Zakariah-Akoto ◽  
Richhmond Aryeetey ◽  
◽  
◽  
Keyword(s):  
Rural Communities ◽  
Food Systems ◽  
Food System ◽  
Local Food ◽  
Economic Value ◽  
Inductive Reasoning ◽  
Dietary Quality ◽  
Northern Ghana ◽  
Cultural Norms ◽  
Local Food System

Abstract Background Women’s activities within local food systems are linked with their dietary quality. Their ability to achieve a nutritious diet is often limited by socio-cultural norms, which have not been adequately studied. This study examined socio-cultural norms linked with rural food systems and their adverse effects on women’s diets. Methods The study was conducted in two rural communities, Yilkpene and Kpachilo, in Northern Ghana between May and July 2016. Sixteen key informant interviews (KII) with community and institutional leaders, and eleven focus group discussions (FGDs) with community members were used to explore the nature of the food system, (production, processing, distribution, preparation and consumption), and how it is influenced by socio-cultural norms. Transcribed interviews were coded and analysed thematically, using inductive reasoning. Results The components of the food system in both communities were constructed, primarily, around men. Quantities, quality, and varieties of produce, distribution/marketing, and intra-household allocation were strongly dominated by male perceptions and practices about access and ownership of productive resources, and roles and responsibilities of household members. Men dominated in the production of cereals, and legumes, while women mainly produced/harvested vegetables and fruits, and limited quantities of legumes that have low economic value. Men sell their produce at higher market prices, at urban markets; women rarely sell their vegetables; it is preserved and stored for home consumption. Women’s produce were often sold at farm gates or local markets at lower prices, for income to supplement household diets. Men are responsible for allocating staple foods used in the household for meal preparation to women; women are expected to provide other ingredients needed to accompany the supply of staple food provided by men. Although women prepare household meals, men receive lion’s share of nutrient-dense portions of meals. Conclusion The local food system is heavily dominated by gender-driven socio-cultural norms, which constitute a barrier to women achieving dietary adequacy. Interventions are needed to improve women’s diets; such interventions should deliberately address these culturally-established barriers, in contexts where subsistence farming is the main source of livelihood.

scholarly journals A REPLICABLE MODEL FOR VALUING LOCAL FOOD SYSTEMS

2015 ◽  
Vol 47 (4) ◽  
pp. 441-461 ◽  
Author(s):  
STEVEN R. MILLER ◽  
JOHN MANN ◽  
JUDITH BARRY ◽  
TOM KALCHIK ◽  
RICH PIROG ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Simulation Model ◽  
Food Systems ◽  
Food System ◽  
Local Food ◽  
Economic Value ◽  
Local Food Systems ◽  
Processed Foods ◽  
Local Food System ◽  
Economic Contribution ◽  
Consistent Approach

AbstractWe use the underlying data of the IMPLAN Pro 3.0 regional economic simulation model to estimate the current economic contribution of Michigan's local food system and explore the chain of transactions giving rise to consumption of locally sourced goods from producer to processor to consumption. The proposed methodology includes both unprocessed and processed foods in the estimation of the local food system's economic value. The model also provides a replicable and consistent approach to estimating the value of local food systems within regional and state economies.

scholarly journals Framing a Sustainable Local Food System—How Smaller Cities in Southern Germany Are Facing a New Policy Issue

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. 1712 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jana Baldy
Keyword(s):  
Food Systems ◽  
Food System ◽  
Local Food ◽  
Local Level ◽  
Policy Issue ◽  
Local Food Systems ◽  
System Transformation ◽  
Agenda 21 ◽  
Southern Germany ◽  
Local Food System

Since Agenda 21, the local level has become important in terms of facing global challenges through local action. One of these is ensuring the sustainability of the food system. In German politics, this is a relatively new issue even at the local level. Nevertheless, two smaller cities in southern Germany have decided to change their local food systems towards sustainability. Hence, this paper deals with questions of how local actors are framing the food system and what this means for increasing sustainability. The analysis of qualitative interviews and participant observations based on frame analysis provides deeper insights into understandings of local food systems by actors. This paper aims to explore how framings of problems, solutions and motivations provide or restrict opportunities to increase local food system sustainability. Terms like sustainability or awareness are framed differently. Using the same term to mean different things can have negative effects on the acceptance of policymaking referring to food system transformation. Besides, this paper shows that omissions within the framing counteract the development of sustainable local food policy. Hence, it is important to reflect the political implications of absent framings as well to facilitate mutual understanding and consequently, food system change.

Social enterprise, sustainability and community in post-earthquake Christchurch

2017 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 149-165 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tracy Berno
Keyword(s):  
Food Systems ◽  
Food System ◽  
Local Food ◽  
Community Resilience ◽  
Social Entrepreneurs ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Local Food System ◽  
Building Community ◽  
Post Disaster

Purpose Since 4 September 2010, the greater Christchurch region has endured a series of destructive earthquakes. As a result, food resilience, as a component of community resilience, has become highly relevant. This paper aims to explore the role of social entrepreneurs and the local food system in building community resilience. Design/methodology/approach Using a quasi-case study method, four social enterprise food initiatives are presented to illustrate conceptually how these local food systems contribute to community resilience in the post-earthquake context in Christchurch. Findings The results suggest that a generation of social entrepreneurs have emerged, giving rise to networked local food system initiatives that share the common goals of building multiple and unique forms of capital (human, social, natural, financial and physical). In doing so, they have contributed to creating conditions that support community resilience as both a process and an outcome in post-earthquake Christchurch. Research limitations/implications This research included only four enterprises as the case study, all located in central Christchurch. As such, the results are indicative and may not represent those found in other contexts. Practical implications The research suggests that social entrepreneurs make a significant contribution to both enhancing food security and building community resilience post-disaster. How policy infrastructure can empower and enable entrepreneurs’ post-disaster warrants further consideration. Social implications Collectively, the four enterprises included in the research were found to have created local solutions in response to local problems. This embeddedness with and responsiveness to the community is a characteristic of resilient communities. Originality/value Post-earthquake Christchurch is a living laboratory in relation to understanding community resilience. The processes by which it is occurring, how it is sustained over time and the shapes it will take in the future in such a dynamic environment are not yet understood. This paper contributes to understanding local food systems as part of this process.

scholarly journals Food hubs play an essential role in the COVID-19 response in Hawai‘i

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-18
Author(s):  
Saleh Azizi Fardkhales ◽  
Noa Lincoln
Keyword(s):  
Food Systems ◽  
Performance Metrics ◽  
Food System ◽  
Local Food ◽  
Community Food Security ◽  
Local Food System ◽  
Food Hubs ◽  
Challenges And Opportunities ◽  
System Resilience ◽  
Multiple Challenges

Community food security and food systems resili­ence have received much emphasis in the last two decades, at least partially in response to mounting challenges and pressures on the global food system. While empirical research shows strong evidence that direct-to-consumer relationships in the food system predominantly serve affluent commu­nities, during the COVID-19 pandemic local food providers have become a necessity through their provision of essential services, such as hunger relief and home deliveries for vulnerable populations. In this paper, we examine the challenges and opportunities of food hubs—innovations in local food systems that help connect small farmers with local markets—during the COVID-19 pandemic using quantitative and qualitative data from practitioners on the ground. The hubs were not necessarily equipped or experienced in the response needed, but they quickly adapted to the situation and demonstrated success during the pandemic, as illustrated by 200–300% growth in performance metrics such as revenues generated, employees retained, customers served, and farmers supported. The performance of the hubs in response to the multiple challenges accompanying the pandemic demonstrates their key role in food system resilience through features of diversity, functional redundancy, and connectivity, suggesting that disaster preparation should consider local food hubs a necessary service. We provide policy suggestions for supporting their role in local food system resilience beyond the pandemic.

scholarly journals Making Food-Systems Policy for Local Interests and Common Good

2021 ◽  
Vol 6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Colene J. Lind ◽  
Monica L. Reeves
Keyword(s):  
State Government ◽  
Common Good ◽  
Food Systems ◽  
Food System ◽  
Meaning Making ◽  
Local Food ◽  
Local Level ◽  
Political Actors ◽  
Local Food System ◽  
Rhetorical Argumentation

The unjust distribution of poor health outcomes produced via current United States food systems indicates the need for inclusive and innovative policymaking at the local level. Public health and environmental organizers are seeking to improve food environments from the ground up with locally driven policy initiatives but since 2010 have increasingly met resistance via state-government preemption of local policymaking power. This analysis seeks to understand how political actors on both sides of preemption debates use rhetorical argumentation. In doing so, we offer insights to the meaning-making process specific to food systems. We argue that advocates for local food-system innovations are forwarding understandings of food and community that contradict the policy goals they seek. We offer suggestions for local food and environmental advocates for adjusting their arguments.

scholarly journals THE ROLE OF SMALL FARMS IN LOCAL FOOD SYSTEMS

2019 ◽  
Vol XXI (4) ◽  
pp. 600-611
Author(s):  
Katarzyna Żmija ◽  
Marta Czekaj ◽  
Dariusz Żmija
Keyword(s):  
Food Systems ◽  
Food System ◽  
Local Food ◽  
Local Food Systems ◽  
Small Farms ◽  
Safety Control ◽  
Local Food System ◽  
Food Quality And Safety ◽  
Oriented Activity

The goal of this paper is to recognize the desired prospective role of small farms in local food systems as well as identify the directions of future-oriented activity for its implementation. The empirical data for the study was provided as a result of workshops hosted in the Rzeszowski subregion in 2019, attended by the stakeholders of the local food system. The methodology of the studies was based on the concept of foresight research, using the backcasting technique. For the purpose of formulating the visions of the desired prospective role of small farms in local food systems, the workshops participants determined their potential future roles in the subsystem of production, processing and consumption of food in the subregion, while, above all, recognizing them in reference to production, processing and providing the consumer with food of the highest quality. The aforementioned roles have been determined as being under-implemented. The recommended areas of activities for increasing the share of small farms in local food systems were identified as: legislation, institutional conditions, consultancy, financial support and farm cooperation, food quality and safety control, promotion of local food products and consumer education.

scholarly journals Improving Food Systems: A Participatory Consultation Exercise to Determine Priority Research and Action Areas in Viet Nam

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 ◽  
Author(s):  
Trang Nguyen ◽  
Marrit van den Berg ◽  
Jessica E. Raneri ◽  
Tuyen Huynh
Keyword(s):  
Priority Setting ◽  
Food Systems ◽  
Food System ◽  
Local Food ◽  
Local Level ◽  
Research Priorities ◽  
Local Food System ◽  
Systems Research ◽  
Trade Offs ◽  
Multi Stakeholder

With increased burden of malnutrition on global health, there is a need to set clear and transparent priorities for action in food systems at a global and local level. While priority settings methods are available for several adjacent domains, such as nutrition and health policies, setting priorities for food system research has not been documented and streamlined. The challenges involve food systems' multisector, multi-stakeholder and multi-outcome nature. Where data exists, it is not easy to aggregate data from across food system dimensions and stakeholders to make an informed analysis of the overall picture of the food system, as well as current and potential food system trade-offs to inform research and policy. Once research priorities are set, they risk staying on paper and never make their ways to concrete outputs and outcomes. In this paper, we documented and assessed the inclusive process of setting research priorities for a local food system, taking Vietnamese food systems as a case study. From this exercise, we examined how priority setting for food systems research could learn from and improve upon earlier priority setting research practices in other domains. We discussed the lessons for research and policies in local food systems, such as the need for a concrete follow-up plan accompanying the priority setting process.

scholarly journals Local food systems and their development in Latvia

2014 ◽  
Vol 36 (3) ◽  
pp. 588-598
Author(s):  
Ligita Melece
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Rural Communities ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Food Systems ◽  
Food System ◽  
Social Issues ◽  
Local Food ◽  
Local Food Systems ◽  
Environmental Implications ◽  
Suitable Tool

The issues related to local food systems and their wider social, cultural, economic and environmental implications have flourished amongst scholars and policymakers over the last decades. The hypothesis of study, which this paper is based upon, is that local (alternative) agrifood or food systems will be a suitable tool for further development of sustainable agrifood sector, as well as development of rural communities and rural areas. The tasks of study are: to clarify the concept of local food systems; to investigate the food system relationship with further sustainable development of rural communities; and to review initiatives and activities for developing the local food systems in Latvia. The used research methods are mainly qualitative: analysis and synthesis, logical and abstract constructive and expert, etc. Although there is no consensus among scholars regarding the definition of the local food system, nevertheless, the local food systems or alternative food networks are no less important and suitable tool for solving environmental, economical (farmers’ and rural inhabitants’ income increasing) and social issues, and they facilitate further sustainable development of rural areas and communities. Some activities and projects as examples of development and implementation of local food systems in Latvia are explained and results of projects’ implementation are given, for example: Project “Local Identity Product” Project „Local Products Development in Middle Baltics”; Project “Marketing Campaign for Development of Rural Tourism Products in all Regions of Latvia and their Promotion” etc.

scholarly journals Activating the local food system in emergency food response

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-3
Author(s):  
Andy Ollove ◽  
Samiha Hamdi
Keyword(s):  
Food Access ◽  
Food Systems ◽  
Food System ◽  
Local Food ◽  
Local Food Systems ◽  
Small Farmers ◽  
Local Food System ◽  
Food Response ◽  
History Of ◽  
Local Farmers

Resilient local food systems are a necessary component to keep our communities healthy, especially during times of emergency. With a history of supporting local farmers and food access in less-resourced communities, Fresh Approach was in a prime position at the time of shelter-in-place orders to pivot our efforts to emergency food relief in this time of uncertainty. By collaborating and mobilizing resources, Fresh Approach was able to strengthen existing connections with small farmers, build new relationships with other food access nonprofits, and support families in need by providing them with farm-fresh, local, and healthy produce. We outline how these partnerships and collective efforts have fortified a resilient and transformative food system in our area.

scholarly journals Municipal activities in local food systems: case study of Zemgale region

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dace Kaufmane ◽  
◽  
Liga Paula ◽  
Kaspars Naglis-Liepa ◽  
Liga Proskina ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Rural Communities ◽  
Environmental Sustainability ◽  
Food Systems ◽  
Food System ◽  
Local Food ◽  
Actor Network Theory ◽  
Business Environment ◽  
Local Food Systems ◽  
Special Events ◽  
Support Measures

According to the Actor Network Theory, the local food system is a set of interconnected processes and social agents including municipalities as a business environment. In the context of rural studies, support for local food producers is important for local communities. By content analysis of the information available on the websites of Zemgale region’s municipalities and the opinions of municipal specialists on local support measures for entrepreneurs, the aim of the paper was to identify the activities of municipalities in local food systems. Within a context of local food systems, the authors revealed that municipalities in Zemgale region provide support activities in two main directions: food businesses and tourism activities. The analysis of business support measures showed that local food producers in municipalities are promoted and supported in a number of ways through branding, special events and trade facilitation, seminars and annual awards. Activities in the field of tourism revealed cooperation, involving local food producers in the tourism system and ensuring the recognition of local food products to a wider group of consumers. Integrating local food businesses into tourism routes and thematic activities, in other words making locally produced food an integral part of the tourism product, develops small and medium-sized enterprises that contribute to the socio-economic resilience and environmental sustainability of rural communities, local innovations and creativity. In Zemgale, municipal activities for support of local food producers in the context of COVID-19 crisis are strengthening rural communities thus supporting and helping entrepreneurs to adapt to changes.

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