A ground-breaking document from a UN committee on food security recognises for the first time that local markets channel the bulk of food consumed in the world, and recommends policies that support them.
The Committee on World Food Security (CFS), a UN intergovernmental forum, has approved a set of policy recommendations that break new ground in recognising the importance of local, or 'territorially embedded' markets in the global food system.
Sustain member the UK Food Group welcomed the report. It recognizes, for the first time in an international forum, that the territorially embedded markets where most small-scale producers trade (and which are often ignored by data collectors and policy makers) in fact channel the bulk of food consumed in the world, and perform a range of other functions as well.
Compared with formal agricultural value chains, they are more remunerative for small-scale producers and for rural economies, since the proceeds are retained in the territories and are available for redistribution rather than being whisked off to global destinations. The recommendations underscore the need for public policies to support and extend these markets.
Civil society groups involved with the Committee have produced an analytical guide to help make the recommendations more understandable and accessible, so advocacy groups can use them.
Read more here about Sustain's policies for a greener, fairer food system.
Published Thursday 27 October 2016
Sustain: Sustain The alliance for better food and farming advocates food and agriculture policies and practices that enhance the health and welfare of people and animals, improve the working and living environment, enrich society and culture and promote equity.
