chapter 3 inventory of local food systems

Project CP/59 - “Instruments and institutions to develop local food systems”
2.7. Conclusions
We described and tested eight indicators that capture the economic, social and
ecological impacts of different food systems. In general, it is very difficult to obtain the
data that are needed for the calculation of these indicators. This is due to the small size
of the local food system sector, but also the disaggregated nature of the required data
what makes it very time consuming for respondents to retrieve such data.
As the importance of LFS compared to MFS is small, one should be in search of a mean
to introduce the benefits of the LFS in the MFS, without losing the values of the LFS. No
point is made when both systems are only competing one another, while they are
grounded in different philosophies, both with their sympathizers. The differences in
LM3, product value in the consumer price and absolute price differences both to
producer and consumer all point the conclusions in favour for the LFS, when results in
relative values are taken into account. However, when one includes the market share of
both systems, the absolute conclusions on country level turn out differently. This
grounds the following remark: the real challenge is not necessarily to be found in a way
to turn the entire food market in LFS, but an even bigger challenge is to find the way to
introduce the positive values and impacts of the LFS in the MFS and vice versa. A very
important aspect in the latter is communication on product-properties, including
producer, processor and price information.
On a social level, the modalities of social networks may on the one hand influence the
amount and the nature of appreciation a farmer gets. However, on the other hand the
difference between long and short supply chain farmers is not necessarily reflected in
their surrounding social networks where knowledge is exchanged, communities are
built, problems are shared and farmers back up for one another. In this respect it is more
important to support personal attitude from farmers towards any network, rather then
exclusively support local networks.
SPSD II - Part I - Sustainable production and consumption patterns - Agro-Food 58