Food Systems
- Food systems encompass the entire range of actors and their interlinked value-adding activities involved in the production, aggregation, processing, distribution, consumption and disposal of food products.
- Activities in the food system also include the provision of inputs and services in the extended value chain, which support (or constrain) the flow of goods through the different stages of the core value chain.
- The FAO food system wheel depicts the different elements of the food system and the interactions between the various levels.
Current food systems are unsustainable – the need to redesign our food systems
- account for nearly one-third of global GHG emissions
- consume large amounts of natural resources
- result in biodiversity loss
- result in negative health impacts (due to both under- and over-nutrition)
- do not allow fair economic returns and livelihoods for all actors, in particular for primary producers.
The EC Farm to Fork strategy
- For a fair, healthy and environmentally-friendly food system
- It aims to accelerate the transition to a sustainable food system that should:
- have a neutral or positive environmental impact
- help to mitigate climate change and adapt to its impacts
- reverse the loss of biodiversity
- ensure food security, nutrition and public health, making sure that everyone has access to sufficient, safe, nutritious, sustainable food
- preserve affordability of food while generating fairer economic returns, fostering competitiveness of the EU supply sector and promoting fair trade
Case-study: A regenerative supply chain alternative for palm oil
- Dr. Bronner’s is an American personal care company that relies on a high volume of agricultural raw ingredients to manufacture its soaps, toothpastes, and lotions, including palm oil
- Palm oil is sourced from tropical areas, with global supply chains that are commonly associated with destructive environmental practices and the exploitation of local communities
- Dr. Bronner’s decided to build an ethical and nature-positive source of palm oil on its own – the Serendipalm project began
