Vietējās pārtikas sistēmas un
lauksaimniecības un lauku ilgtspēja
Local Food Systems and Sustainability of
Agriculture and Rural Areas
Ligita Melece
, Dr. oec.
Latvijas Valsts Agrārās ekonomikas institūta nod. vad.,
vadošā pētniece
Vidzemes augstskolas docente
Head of Department of Quality and Environment
Protection, Latvian State Institute of Agrarian Economics
Assoc. Prof. of University of Applied Sciences
Ligita.Melece@lvaei.lv
Konference „Mārketings un investīcijas” 2012. gada 22. marts
Content
food systems and local or alternative food systems;
changes and opportunities of agricultural and agrifood sector
and rural areas;
Food System
C
oncept of «Food System» is used to describe following complex
and interrelated activities:
agricultural and food production;
processing;
marketing;
consumption;
Local Food System
Local Food System;
Local Food Chain;
Alternative Food System;
Alternative Food Networks;
Alternative Agricultural and Food System or Alternative
Agrifood Network, that incorporate:
organic food;
local food;
regional food;
alternative food.
Changes of Agricultural Producing and
Rural Environment
Causes:
New technologies; Intensification;
Increase of farm area;
Desertification and soil degradation
(loss of soil fertility);
Urbanization process in Europe (75%
of people live in cities; will be 80% untill 2020);
Globalization of agribusiness and
food system and the impact of large corporations;
Economic and financial crisis;
Demographic and social crisis in the
developed countries.
Consequences:
Cuts of employment in agricultural sector; Decreasing farm numbers, particularly small; Aging and declination of rural population; Outflow of labor force;
Income reduction.
Possibilities:
RDP- environmental measures;
Development of new branches and types of
business;
Rural environment as living space for
employees of creative and other sectors and pensioners;
The aspects of local (regional) food
Economical - the local economy, farms, residents;
Social - employment, strengthening of local community
(communities), improving the demographic situation, etc.;
Cultural - cultural and national heritage, crafts, cultural
landscape, rural landscape, etc.;
Environmental - shorter food chains, environment and
natural resources, sustainable farming, including organic;
The Effect / impact of
Globalisation and Concentration
Local food systems can help to secure a fair income for farmers
and restore the balance of powers in the food supply chain.
Gglobalization and increased concentration of food distribution
have led to a gap between rises:
in production costs (3.6 % a year since 1996);
in consumer prices (3.3 % a year); and
in prices for farmers (2.1 % a year).
Necessary to create systems that improve the negotiation
powers of farmers, such as short distribution circuits.
Two Directions of Food Production
The first
is food production in midle and large-scale enterprises
(industrialization and efficient production) mainly for international
and regional (EU, former USSR countries, etc.) markets.
To ensure this type of production, companies need to implement the
following measures:
industrialization;
consolidation and modernization;
increase of competitiveness and innovation;
focus on regional and global markets;
quality (ISO 9000, ISO 22 000) and environmental (ISO 14001, EMAS),
control systems;
Two Directions of Food Production
The second direction
for further development of the food sector is
food production on farms, small and micro-scale enterprises, that
comply with principles of sustainable and environmentally friendly
food chain and produce value-added food products mainly for the local
market.
The main conditions for such food production are:
local and artisan (individually) produced food, including organic;
organic food and market development;
local food markets and distribution;
culinary tourism;
Trends of Local Food in
Europe and Worldwide
Food Miles
A consumer report published in 2003 by The Guardian newspaper in the UK found that a selection of 20 fresh food items purchased from British supermarkets had travelled an average of 5,000 miles each; in North America, an average fresh food transport distance of 1,000-1,500 miles is often cited.
Food Quality
The taste qualities of local food are better because of products are fresh and ripe, and not chemically treated for transportation and storage.
Sustainable agro-industrial development
Higher demand for locally produced food increase the diversification of farming and helps to maintain soil fertility and biodiversity.
The local economy
Trends of Local Food in
Europe and worldwide
Local or regional food (EU initiative to create logo and distribution
limitations 30-50 km);
Craftsmen or
artisan food
and
specialty food
;
Movement of
Farmer market
.
Year 2009
70 cheese producers in Ireland 100 cheese producers in Holland
2000 specialty food producers in New Zealand
Every £10 spent at a local food business = worth £25 to the local area
Every £10 spent at a supermarket = just £14 to the local area
Types of the Short Food Chains
Community Supported Local Food System
Farmers markets;
Farm stands – in farms, roadsides etc. places (with coffee drinking and
eating places);
Restaurants and cafeteries (supply);
Institutions and companies (schools, hospitals, working places, nursing
homes etc.)
Agro tourism;
Weekly food boxes (seasonal);
Pick-up-own-farms;
Artisan or Speciality Food in Ireland
Rural Tourism & Artisan Food: Know the Opportunities
Artisan / Speciality Food
Source: http://www.teagasc.ie/ruraldev/progs/artisan_food/artisan_food_in_ireland.asp
Artisan food:
unique; traditional; individual; superior taste;masterfully prepared / produced (craft) – artisan item.
70 producers
Speciality food:
product of higher quality; premium pricing;
unique; regional;
wider application than artisan food.
Artisan Food
“Artisan” is a term used to describe food produced by non-industrialized
methods, often handed down through generations but now in danger of being
lost. Tastes and processes, such as fermentation, are allowed to develop slowly
and naturally, rather than curtailed for mass-production.
There is no single definition of artisan food, but artisan producers:
should understand and respect the raw materials with which they work; they should know where these materials come from and what is particularly good about them;
should have mastered the craft of their particular production and have a historical, experiential, intuitive and scientific understanding of what makes the process that they are engaged in successful;
should know what tastes good and be sensitive to the impact of their production on people and the environment;
get better over time and probably never stop improving or tweaking their practice, learning from other people and their own mistakes.
The first European Declaration on
Food Sovereignty
(DECLARATION OF NYÉLÉNI)Declaration on Food Sovereignty (DECLARATION OF NYÉLÉNI)
27 February 2007 Nyéléni Village, Sélingué, Mali
Declaration of the Forum for Food Sovereignty, Nyéléni 2007
Over 500 delegates from 80 countries committed
declaration to expanding and
consolidating a strong European movement for Food Sovereignty.
Six basic pillars principls of Declaration on Food Sovereignty include:
1. Focuses on Food for People.
2. Values Food Providers.
3. Localises Food Systems or Chains.
4. Puts Control Locally.
5. Builds Knowledge and Skills.
6. Works with Nature.
European Declaration on Food Sovereignty
Nyeleni Europe 2011: European Forum for Food Sovereignty Krems, August 21st
Changing how food is produced and consumed :
Resilient food production systems, which provide healthy and safe food for all people in Europe, also preserving biodiversity and natural resources and ensuring animal welfare.
Support multitude of smallholder farmers, gardeners and small-scale fishers who produce local food as the backbone of the food system.
Struggle against the use of GMOs.
Promote the consumption of high quality local and seasonal foods and no highly processed food
Changing how food is distributed:
Work towards the decentralization of food chains;
Intensified relations between producers and consumers in local food webs to counter the expansion and power of supermarkets.
Building blocks for people to develop their own food distribution systems and allow farmers to produce and process food for their communities.
Promote supportive food safety rules and local food infrastructure for smallholder farmers.
European Declaration on Food Sovereignty
Nyeleni Europe 2011: European Forum for Food Sovereignty Krems, August 21st
Valuing and improving work and social conditions in food and
agriculture systems:
Struggle against the exploitation and the degradation of working and social conditions in food system, as well as those of seasonal and migrant worker.
Society must give greater value to the role of food producers and workers in our society.
Reclaiming the right to our Commons:
Struggle against the commodification, financialisation and patenting of our commons, such as: land; farmers’, traditional and reproducible seeds; livestock breeds and fish stocks; trees and forests; water; the atmosphere; and knowledge.
Access to these should not be determined by markets and money. Responsibility to use our Commons sustainably, while respecting the rights of mother earth.
Our Commons should be managed through collective, democratic and community control.
European Declaration on Food Sovereignty
Nyeleni Europe 2011: European Forum for Food Sovereignty Krems, August 21st
Changing public policies governing our food and agricultural
systems:
Change public policies and governance structures that rule our food systems – from the local to the national, European and global levels – and to delegitimise corporate power.
Public policies must be coherent, complementary and promote and protect food systems and food cultures.
Guarantee legal frameworks that: guarantee stable and fair prices for food producers; promote environmentally-friendly agriculture.
Ensure that speculation on food is banned.
No harm is done to existing local or regional food systems and food cultures – either by dumping or by landgrabbing in Europe, particularly Eastern Europe.
Review Common Agriculture and Food Policy. Removal of the EU Biofuels Directive.
Global governance of international agricultural trade located in the FAO and not the WTO.
EU Initiatives
Lenie Dwarshuis- van de Beek
The EU’s Assembly of Regional and Local Representatives, Brussels, 27 January 2011
There is a skewed balance of power in the agricultural and food sectors which
is putting the survival of agriculture at risk.
Around
80%
of world food production is sold locally, but in the EU the figure
is just
20%
, because of the focus on large-scale, industrialised food
production.
The new challenges we face such as preventing global shortages of food,
fodder and energy, and reducing the environmental damage of food
production, strengthen the argument for a reappraisal of local food production
as part of the Common Agricultural Policy.
Initiative setting up a monitoring plan at regional level, giving local and
regional authorities the responsibility to register and assess local food
products and grant them a local food logo.
EU Initiatives
Lenie Dwarshuis- van de Beek
The EU’s Assembly of Regional and Local Representatives, Brussels, 27 and 28 January 2011
The development of local food systems is particularly relevant for local and
regional authorities.
Public procurement involves up to 16 % of the gross domestic product of the
EU. Article 6 of the Treaty establishing the European Community (1997)
requires the integration of all environmental and social objectives into all EU
policies.
Public procurement can simultaneously be sustainable procurement, when used
to support wider social, economic and environmental objectives in ways that
offer long-term benefits.
From this point of view, governments’ huge spending power could be used as a
lever for the development of local food systems.
EU Initiatives
Lenie Dwarshuis- van de Beek
The EU’s Assembly of Regional and Local Representatives, Brussels, 27 and 28 January 2011
Directive 2004/18/EC of the European Parliament and the Council of 31 March
2004 on the coordination of procedures for the award of public works contracts,
public supply contracts and public service contracts states that the principle of
freedom of movement of goods must be respected at all times, which means that
local suppliers cannot be favoured.
However, the regulation allows specific conditions and criteria to be
incorporated in the call for tenders concerning public supply contracts, which
may include particular aspects and features
such as freshness or production
circumstances
.
This possibility allows local suppliers to be selected.
EU Initiatives
Dacian Cioloş
Brussels, 12 May 2011
As part of his widespread consultation on the future of the CAP, highlights the many benefits of local food systems on rural development.
The short chains between producer and consumer promote local jobs and help local businesses acquire a larger market – but they also bring social advantages, as short distribution channels help bring greater interaction between farmers and consumers, thus allowing food producers to react more effectively to demands for sustainable production methods.
The reduction in ‘food miles’ they bring means fewer emissions, helping Europe to meet its climate change ambitions as well.
Encourage:
for creation of a pan-European set of guidelines that would help local and regional authorities wishing to integrate local food systems within their regional development programmes to do so effectively;
Added Value of Food Quality
animal welfare;
regional product;
fair prices;
social or care farming (social innovation);
social criteria (family farms; good working conditions);
biodiversity;
cultural aspects.
Social or Care Farming
Social or care or green care farming is the therapeutic use of farming
practices:
Utilize the whole or part of a farm; Provide health, social or educational care services for one or a range of vulnerable groups of people, including those with mental health problems, people suffering from mild to moderate depression, adults and children with learning disabilities, children with autism, those with a drug or alcohol addiction history, disaffected young people, adults and people on probation;
Provide a supervised, structured programme of farming-related activities, including animal husbandry (livestock, small animals, poultry), crop and vegetable production, woodland management etc.;
Provide services on a regular basis for participants;
Clients can also be self-referred as part of the direct payments scheme, or be referred by family members.
Social Farming
Source: http://www.euclidnetwork.eu/data/files/SocialInnovation/editsocialfarming.pdf
Country
Number of farms
Netherlands
839
Italy
675
Slovenia
15
Germany
220
Flanders
308
Ireland
106
Consumers’ Information
EU Logo of Organic Farming
http://ec.europa.eu/agriculture/organic/eu-policy/logo_lv
The EU organic farming logo offers consumers’ confidence about the origins and qualities of their food and drink and its presence on any product ensures compliance with the EU organic farming Regulation.
From July 2010 the EU organic logo is obligatory for all organic pre-packaged food products within the European Union. It is also possible to use the logo on a voluntary basis for non pre-packaged organic goods produced within the EU or any organic products imported from third countries.
Creating of Consumers’ Confidence
and Information
Ecoproduct
EU logo Latvian logo
(unclear formulation andapplication)
EU Ecolabel has added value - a reduced impact on the environment, and respects strict performance standards. The scheme is currently open to all products and services, except for food, drink, pharmaceuticals products and medical devices.
EU environment logo.
Could receive Latvian products and services. At present in Latvia are textiles, carpets and office paper under this logo.
Reference on Regulations of organic farming and processing;
Certification in accordance with Regulations of organic agri-food requirements done with others;
Catalogue of products are not in accordance with Regulations of EU;
Not clear principles and rules for certification of products, e.g. souvenirs; sauna caps etc. Non conformity with EU principles.
Share of organic products in the
food market, %
Source: Loes, A.K., Nolting, B. (2011). Increasing organic consumption through school meals—lessons learned in the iPOPY project
Country
Share of organic
products in the
food market, %
Italy
3.0
Finland
1.0
Germany
3.4
Norway
1.3
Possibilities for Defending Interests of Individual
Comersants and Micro Enterprises ( Local and
Artisan Food)
Participation in existing EU and Latvia’s NGO and movements ( LAOCC*;
“Slow Food” etc.) and establishing new specific NGO;
Local and regional authorities or governments and LALRG**;
NGO-s of regions and branches;
Lobbing (positive);
Collaboration with FVS;
Public involvement,
inter alia
consumers;
Legislation initiatives.
* Latvian Agricultural Organization Cooperation Council