scholarly journals Food Loss and Waste Actions: Experiences of the Costa Rican Food Loss and Waste Reduction Network

Foods ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (10) ◽  
pp. 2358
Author(s):  
Carolina Bolaños-Palmieri ◽  
María Fernanda Jiménez-Morales ◽  
Julián Rojas-Vargas ◽  
Manrique Arguedas-Camacho ◽  
Laura Brenes-Peralta
Keyword(s):  
Costa Rica ◽  
Food Systems ◽  
Stakeholder Analysis ◽  
Costa Rican ◽  
Innovation Ecosystem ◽  
Sustainable Food ◽  
Food Loss ◽  
Research And Innovation ◽  
Entry Points ◽  
Collaborative Platform

Food Loss and Waste (FLW) reduction and prevention can be crucial entry points to achieve sustainable food systems. However, the complexity of this problem poses the need for multistakeholder and multidimensional approaches. The Costa Rican FLW Reduction Network has been working since 2014 as a collaborative platform that brings together different sectors and disciplines to promote a change through communication and awareness, alliances, and research and innovation. The purpose of our study was to share the experience of Costa Rica in regards to the applied FLW actions and its catalytic effect on FLW innovation. The study was developed through a multimethod approach that included case studies, stakeholder analysis and literacy analysis to provide an overall assessment of the strategy as input for further efforts in this matter. The main findings indicate that collaborative actions among institutions and sectors are vital in promoting FLW reduction; however, FLW innovation is still at an inception phase where financial resources and policy barriers remain as aspects to address. In conclusion, the Costa Rica FLW Network represents an asset to trigger ongoing and future actions, and approaches like an integrated innovation ecosystem must be promoted.

scholarly journals Food loss and waste in food services from educational institutions in Costa Rica

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura Patricia Brenes-Peralta ◽  
Julián Rojas-Vargas ◽  
Yanory Monge-Fernández ◽  
María Fernanda Jiménez-Morales ◽  
Manrique Arguedas-Camacho ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Costa Rica ◽  
Food Systems ◽  
Food Service ◽  
Costa Rican ◽  
Educational Institutions ◽  
The Sustainable Development ◽  
Food Loss ◽  
Awareness Campaigns ◽  
General Terms

One-third of the worldwide food production is lost or wasted, generating impacts in the food systems. However, data indicates that one in nine people suffer from undernourishment or shortage of food in the world. Furthermore, this problem generates adverse impacts in the environment and the economy. Costa Rica is not exempt from this phenomenon; therefore, in compliance with target 12.3 of the Sustainable Development Goals, the country initiated actions through the Costa Rican Food Loss and Waste Reduction Network and one of its members, the Costa Rican Network of Sustainable Educational Institutions (REDIES). This latter committed itself to quantify the food loss and waste (FLW) in the canteens from a pilot group of their members. The objective of this case study was to determine the FLW in the restaurants of five institutions to generate data experience that allows to create indicators and useful information in the search for strategies against food waste. The amount of FLW was measured using the standardized methodology explained in the Guide for this purpose, published by the Costa Rican Network. In general terms, most FLW in this case study comes from the amount of food leftovers. Consequently, it is concluded and recommended to focus on awareness campaigns, quality and portioning to address the issue, and to consider that each institution must place emphasis through its reduction plan with respect to the findings generated in each food service or canteen. 

scholarly journals Agroecological principles and elements and their implications for transitioning to sustainable food systems. A review

2020 ◽  
Vol 40 (6) ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexander Wezel ◽  
Barbara Gemmill Herren ◽  
Rachel Bezner Kerr ◽  
Edmundo Barrios ◽  
André Luiz Rodrigues Gonçalves ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Food Systems ◽  
Animal Health ◽  
Rural Poverty ◽  
Synthesis Process ◽  
Extensive Literature ◽  
Economic Diversification ◽  
Sustainable Food Systems ◽  
Sustainable Food ◽  
Resource Governance ◽  
Entry Points

AbstractThere is consensus that the global food system is not delivering good nutrition for all and is causing environmental degradation and loss of biodiversity, such that a profound transformation is needed to meet the challenges of persistent malnutrition and rural poverty, aggravated by the growing consequences of climate change. Agroecological approaches have gained prominence in scientific, agricultural and political discourse in recent years, suggesting pathways to transform agricultural and food systems that address these issues. Here we present an extensive literature review of concepts, definitions and principles of agroecology, and their historical evolution, considering the three manifestations of agroecology as a science, a set of practices and a social movement; and relate them to the recent dialogue establishing a set of ten iconic elements of agroecology that have emerged from a global multi-stakeholder consultation and synthesis process. Based on this, a consolidated list of principles is developed and discussed in the context of presenting transition pathways to more sustainable food systems. The major outcomes of this paper are as follows. (1) Definition of 13 consolidated agroecological principles: recycling; input reduction; soil health; animal health; biodiversity; synergy; economic diversification; co-creation of knowledge; social values and diets; fairness; connectivity; land and natural resource governance; participation. (2) Confirmation that these principles are well aligned and complementary to the 10 elements of agroecology developed by FAO but articulate requirements of soil and animal health more explicitly and distinguish between biodiversity and economic diversification. (3) Clarification that application of these generic principles can generate diverse pathways for incremental and transformational change towards more sustainable farming and food systems. (4) Identification of four key entry points associated with the elements: diversity; circular and solidarity economy; co-creation and sharing of knowledge; and, responsible governance to enable plausible pathways of transformative change towards sustainable agriculture and food systems.

scholarly journals Transforming Research and Innovation for Sustainable Food Systems—A Coupled-Systems Perspective

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (24) ◽  
pp. 7176 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kristiaan P. W. Kok ◽  
Alanya C. L. den Boer ◽  
Tomris Cesuroglu ◽  
Marjoleine G. van der Meij ◽  
Renée de Wildt-Liesveld ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Food Systems ◽  
Food System ◽  
Systems Approach ◽  
Second Order ◽  
Coupled Systems ◽  
Sustainable Food ◽  
Systems Perspective ◽  
Research And Innovation ◽  
Policy Environments ◽  
Systems Transformation

Current research and innovation (R&I) systems are not equipped to fully serve as catalysts for the urgently needed transformation of food systems. Though research on food systems transformation (first order: ‘what?’) and transformative research (second order: ‘how to’) are rapidly gaining traction in academic and policy environments, current efforts fail to explicitly recognize the systemic nature of the challenges associated with performing transformative second-order research. To recognize these manifold and interlinked challenges embedded in R&I systems, there is a need for a coupled-systems perspective. Transformations are needed in food systems as well as R&I systems (‘how to do the “how to”’). We set out to conceptualize an approach that aims to trigger double transformations by nurturing innovations at the boundaries of R&I systems and food systems that act upon systemic leverage points, so that their multisystem interactions can better support food system transformations. We exemplify this coupled-systems approach by introducing the FIT4FOOD2030 project with its 25 living labs as a promising multilevel boundary innovation at the cross-section of R&I and food systems. We illustrate how this approach paves the way for double systems transformations, and therefore for an R&I system that is fit for future-proofing food systems.

scholarly journals Sustainable Food Supply Chains: Is Shortening the Answer? A Literature Review for a Research and Innovation Agenda

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (23) ◽  
pp. 9831
Author(s):  
Yuna Chiffoleau ◽  
Tara Dourian
Keyword(s):  
Literature Review ◽  
Supply Chains ◽  
Food Supply ◽  
Food Systems ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Sustainable Food ◽  
Food Supply Chains ◽  
Research And Innovation ◽  
Systems Research ◽  
Wide Range

Short food supply chains (SFSCs) are increasingly garnering attention in food systems research, owing to their rising popularity among consumers, producers and policy-makers in the last few decades. Written with the aim to identify research gaps for the Horizon Europe research and innovation programme, this literature review provides a state of play of the definition and characterisation of SFSCs, and of their sustainability. Drawing on hypotheses about SFSC sustainability elaborated in an expert network in France, this review summarises a wide range of papers from various disciplines in the SFSC literature, written in English or French, while specifically highlighting the empirical results derived from European projects. Though the literature tends to generally agree on the social benefits of SFSCs, their economic and environmental impacts typically elicit more heterogeneous outcomes, while their health/nutrition and governance dimensions remain under-explored. Based on this review, recommendations for a future research and innovation programme are outlined, addressing the contribution of SFSCs to agrifood system transition and resilience in the current context of the Covid-19 crisis and of the Green New Deal objectives.

scholarly journals Conceptualizing Responsibility in Food Research and Innovation to Promote Healthy and Sustainable Food Systems

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lada Timotijevic ◽  
Charo Elena Hodgkins ◽  
Matthew Peacock ◽  
Monique Maria Raats
Keyword(s):  
Food Systems ◽  
Limited Attention ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Crop Breeding ◽  
Sustainable Food Systems ◽  
Sustainable Food ◽  
New Approach ◽  
Research And Innovation ◽  
Food Research ◽  
Joint Decisions

Responsibility is crucial to governance and key to achieving legitimacy within complex systems, yet there is limited attention to how it should be conceptualized within the context of food research and innovation (R&I). Understanding how diverse stakeholders in food R&I conceptualize responsibility is vital because it shapes the way problems are identified, goals are set and solutions are put in place. We report on empirical research with diverse stakeholders across Europe to understand and map the dimensions of responsibility for food R&I to support healthy and sustainable food systems. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 32 stakeholders working in R&I in the cutting-edge domains of: cultured meat as a substitute for livestock meat; new crop breeding of potatoes; and a new approach to obesity reduction that focuses on weight acceptance. Drawing from the empirical evidence collected, we developed a classification system that reflects various conceptualizations of stakeholders' responsibility for food R&I to support healthy and sustainable food systems. Our thematic analysis revealed four overlapping rationales of responsibility—accountability, impact, reflexivity, and responsiveness, and characterized them in terms of: who the researcher is responsible to; whether the assessments of responsibility focus on R&I processes or impact; whether responsibility implies societal engagement; and how responsibility is assessed—retrospectively or prospectively. The article provides a basis for systematic application of these criteria to the specific instances of food R&I governance and for future joint decisions, about the ways to allocate responsibilities.

Disruptive innovation and operationalization in local and sustainable food systems: Examining the University of Toronto-Local Food Plus partnership

2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 120-139
Author(s):  
Lori Stahlbrand
Keyword(s):  
Food Systems ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Food System ◽  
Local Food ◽  
Disruptive Innovation ◽  
Government Support ◽  
Sustainable Food ◽  
University Of Toronto ◽  
The University

This paper traces the partnership between the University of Toronto and the non-profit Local Food Plus (LFP) to bring local sustainable food to its St. George campus. At its launch, the partnership represented the largest purchase of local sustainable food at a Canadian university, as well as LFP’s first foray into supporting institutional procurement of local sustainable food. LFP was founded in 2005 with a vision to foster sustainable local food economies. To this end, LFP developed a certification system and a marketing program that matched certified farmers and processors to buyers. LFP emphasized large-scale purchases by public institutions. Using information from in-depth semi-structured key informant interviews, this paper argues that the LFP project was a disruptive innovation that posed a challenge to many dimensions of the established food system. The LFP case study reveals structural obstacles to operationalizing a local and sustainable food system. These include a lack of mid-sized infrastructure serving local farmers, the domination of a rebate system of purchasing controlled by an oligopolistic foodservice sector, and embedded government support of export agriculture. This case study is an example of praxis, as the author was the founder of LFP, as well as an academic researcher and analyst.

The Role of Research and Innovation in the Transformation of Agri-Food Systems

2018 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 60-63
Author(s):  
Mariana Sandu ◽  
Stefan Mantea
Keyword(s):  
Technological Progress ◽  
Food Systems ◽  
Food System ◽  
Agricultural Research ◽  
Research And Innovation ◽  
And Performance ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Determinant Factor ◽  
Rapid Transformation

Abstract Agri-food systems include branching ramifications, which connect in the upstream the input suppliers with farmers, and downstream farmers, processors, retailers and consumers. In the last decades, at the level of the regions, food systems have undergone rapid transformation as a result of technological progress. The paper analyzes the changes made to the structure, behavior and performance of the agri-food system and the impact on farmers and consumers. Also, the role of agricultural research as a determinant factor of transformation of agri-food system is analyzed. The research objective is to develop technologies that cover the entire food chain (from farm to fork) and meet the specific requirements of consumers (from fork to farm) through scientific solutions in line with the principles of sustainable agriculture and ensuring the safety and food safety of the population.

Parity without Equality

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer M. Piscopo
Keyword(s):  
Costa Rica ◽  
Party System ◽  
Political Representation ◽  
Costa Rican ◽  
Women In Politics ◽  
Negative Consequences ◽  
Economic Problems ◽  
Crisis Of Representation ◽  
Female Legislators ◽  
Female President

Jennifer M. Piscopo examines how the crisis of representation in Costa Rica has placed a ceiling on gender equality in representation. The restructuring of the Costa Rican party system and party fragmentation has made electing multiple candidates from any one ballot more difficult. Top spots have become even more prestigious and more likely to be allocated to men, which reduces women’s electoral chances. Corruption scandals, party breakdown, citizen frustration, and economic problems tainted the administration of the nation’s first female president, Laura Chinchilla. Female legislators have often worked to promote women’s issues and feminist policies, but Chinchilla eschewed feminism, even though several of her policies did benefit women. Overall, her failed presidency may create difficulties for other women seeking top political offices and could have negative consequences for views of women in politics. These challenges notwithstanding, Piscopo concludes that Costa Rica remains at the vanguard of women’s political representation in Latin America.

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