Should the food system 2.0 be a local food system?

Marielle Dubbeling, Director RUAF Foundation

THE RUAF FOUNDATION• International network of Resource centers on Urban Agriculture and Food systems:

www.ruaf.org

• Since 1999, working in and around 40+ cities

• To support local and regional government and other partners in development of urban agriculture and food systems policies and programmes

-Planning resilient urban food systems-Food security and social inclusion-Short food chains and local economy-Resource recycling-City adaptation to climate change

Problems with the current food system

Problems with the current food system

Problems with the current food system

More Greek families facing food insecurity and hunger

Problems with the current food system

A rol for localised food systems?

UN Habitat May 2015:

Is this based on evidence?

Milan Urban Food Policy Pact October 2015:So far 115 cities have signed the Milan Urban Food Policy Pact calling for more sustainable and resilient urban food systems, including urban and peri-urban agriculture and short supply chains

Can cities provide 10% of its fresh vegetables (and other food) requirements from within their own boundaries?

-Toronto: largest city in Canada; 2.5 million population-2317 ha of food production area needed to meet current demand if all production was organic to fulfill other municipal environmental objectives

-1073.5 ha of land could be available from existing farms, lands currently zoned for food production, certain areas zoned for industrial uses and over 200 small plots (0.4-2 ha)-1243.5 ha of rooftop space would also be required

-The land/rooftop space available suggests, however, that there would be difficulties meeting requirements for extensive crops such as sweet corn, squash, potatoes, cabbage, carrots and asparagus (MacRea et all, June 2010)

Cleveland, USA -Increasing amount of vacant plots; lack of access to healthy food; hunger and obesity

Scenario 1: use of 80% of every vacant lot: 22-48% of demand for fresh fruits and vegetables depending on intensity production practices; 25% poultry and eggs and 100% honey

Scenario 2: use of 80% of all vacant lots and 9% of every occupied residential lot : 31-68% of demand for fresh fruits and vegetables depending on intensity production practices; 94% poultry and eggs and 100% honey

Scenario 3: as scenario 2+ 62% of all industrial and commercial rooftops: 46-100% of demand for fresh fruits and vegetables depending on intensity production practices; 94% poultry and eggs and 100% honey

Cleveland, USA -Three scenarios can attain overal levels of self-reliance between 4.2-% and 17.7% by weight and

-between 1.8 and 7.3% by expenditure in total food and beverage consumptiom (compared to actual 0.1%)

-And result in 29-155 M USD being retained in the local economy.

Requirements:- Active commitment city governments and planners- Public engagement- Financial investment- Revision of land use and buidling codes- Labour

New York Sate, USAAn analysis done for New York State (NYS) in 2004, revealed that: -New Yorkers spend over USD $43 billion dollars annually for food.

-If New York food producers—both farmers and food manufacturers—captured just 10% of NYS consumer food expenditures, they would increase NYS food system revenues by over USD $8 billion dollars.

-If New Yorkers increased consumer food expenditures by 10% for food produced by New York farmers and another 10% for food manufactured in New York, that money could fuel local and regional economic development by generating USD $16.5 billion in total income and over 17,000 jobs through regional multiplier effects. (Herrera, 2004).

Almere, The NetherlandsAim: produce in Agromere 20% of the daily food basket of 350.000 inhabitants

Design Agromere: 180 ha urban farming (88 ha animal husbandry; 25 ha fruits and vegetables; 62 ha arable farming; 5 ha horticulture)

Estimated climate impact? Reduction of:

-16 million km food transport-Energy use of 11.000 households-GHG emission of 2.000 Dutch inhabitants

Almere

Agromere

Examples of city practices

“We see the importance of preserving and expanding areas for local food production. The municipality has included a new land use category in our urban development plan being ‘land used for primary production’. We have currently doubled the peri-urban agricultural protection zone from 400-800 ha”– Mónica Fein, Mayor, Rosario (August 2014)

Examples of city practices “We cannot build a sustainable city if it feeds itself in an unsustainable way. This could create health problems, societal problems or a wasteland beyond our borders. Ghent launched its local food policy in 2013, in order to create more visible, shorter supply chains; support sustainable food production and consumption; increase social added value of food projects and avoid, limit and reuse food waste”. Tine Heyse, Deputy Mayor City of Ghent, July 2015

Examples of city practices With regards to food production, SMASAN supports family farming in neighboring municipalities, expanding its range of action and strengthening linkages with them, as Belo Horizonte itself does not posses a rural area. This strategy allows to organise small producers and their direct marketing, to the benefit of both producers and consumers. Marcelo Lana Franco, Adjunct Municipal Secretary Food and Nutrition Security, Municipality of Belo Horizonte, Sep 2015

However… a study from Senegal and Peru (2-15)

In both countries local food chains are complementary rather than an alternative to imported food, as is the case in many countries.

Consumers, and low-income rural or urban consumers in particular, look mainly at food quantity and price (affordability).

Global products may be perceived as safer as they comply with sanitary controls, while local chains, mainly operating in informal markets, do not. Consumers also have food preferences based on taste and ease of preparation; convenience is important as they tend to work more outside the home and have less time and space to cook.

However… a study from Senegal and Peru (2-15)

Governments tend to prefer large formal food chains as they bring in investments and much-needed taxes to provide public services such as infrastructure. In the Peruvian case, even public food procurement agencies prefer to buy canned milk from one of the big national formal dairy firms rather than sourcing locally from small scale producers who, it is said are unable to guarantee product quality.

Senegal and Peru both support local food chains through diverse market mechanisms (import regulations, promotion of gastronomy and local diets) while at the same time supporting agro-export diversification in new products and new market destinations.

http://pubs.iied.org/pdfs/16595IIED.pdf

• All food that can be produced locally should be locally produced

• There is a need for political will and use of planning instruments

• Need for consumer awareness and education

Should the food system 2.0 be a local food system?

Harmonise city expansion with protection and preservation of peri-urban areas for food production and other uses

Compensate for loss of agricultural land (India: “zero-loss” programme)

Key issues and support needs

Key issues and support needsRecognize UPA as a legitimate urban land use/ Land use mapping and classification

Integrate UPA into urban development, master, land use and zoning plans for neighbourhood, park and industrial areas

Integrate UA in housing and building programmes. However what are financial and energy costs?

Need for more intensive production technologies, without harming the environment and ensuring food safety: research, training and assistance needed

Optimize rural-urban linkages from a regional food systems perspective

Promote consumer awareness, education, buy-local campaigns

• Do you know where the food you eat comes from? Do you care?

It is far too easy to point the finger at governments and corporations as the source of the problem. While consumers may be responsible for the ills of modern food, they are also centrally positioned in the possibility of a better future. There is a need for political will and use of planning instruments. In 2014 the 250,000 families campaign was launched in Ecuador where responsible consumer-citizens would amass about USD 300 million a year in investing in locally produced, organic, fairly grown, traditional food, connecting where possible directly to producers. Colectivo-Ecuador, May 2014

Changes can start with YOU!

THANK YOU For more information: www.ruaf.org