GD205: Food Systems
Week 1
Readings
Conceptualizing food systems for global environmental change research (Ericksen, 2008)
https://reader.elsevier.com/reader/sd/pii/S0959378007000659?
token=B582D52C138338D7A9ED2590757445E00777B9AD27E2D19E07EFCE3D9CF0C9244F521FD34
BEC58560F304FDA6B254557&originRegion=eu-west-1&originCreation=20211006160358
Food security: when all people at all times have physical and economic access to sufficient, safe and
nutritious food to meet their dietary needs for an active and healthy life (World food summit, 1996).
Increases in the efficiency and productivity of food systems have resulted in successes around the
world in reducing the prevalence of hunger and improving nutrition.
Global environmental, social, political and economic changes bring stresses onto food systems and
food security.
Food systems: the interactions between and within biogeophysical and human environments which
determine a set of activities from consumption to production. The outcomes of these activities
contribute to food security, environmental security, and social welfare.
Challenges of modern food systems:
Increased demands on water availability for irrigation (Molden and Fraiture,2004),and increase in
pollution from agriculture inputs and soil los (Pretty et al., 2005), and a large increase in energy
demands throughout the food production sectors (Matson et al., 1997).
There has been an increase of raw products being processed and packaged into food products for
added value, and there is now very expanded distribution of food due to globalisation and improved
transport. Food now travels very long distances (Pretty et al., 2005) and the role and number of
supermarkets is rapidly increasing.
There has also been a dietary transition towards more meat due to a growth in income. Some areas
suffer from malnutrition, and some from obesity due to the inequitable distribution of the quality
and quantity of food (Popkin, 2004). This is exacerbated by the growing urban populations of whom
rely almost completely on purchasing food (Kennedy et al., 2004).
Trends in global food security
Growth in income, agricultural productivity, along with the political will to intervene and prevent
famine has improved food security for many in Asia and Latin America; although there are still local
and regional distributional inequalities (Corral et al., 2000).
On the other hand, in Sub-Saharan Africa food insecurity still exists. This is due to natural hazards
like droughts but also long term economic factors like market failure and poverty, along with
political instability and institutional weakness and conflicts (Devereux and Maxwell, 2001).
The difference in having access to food as opposed to only food availability has to be acknowledged.
Access is determined by how well financial and political assets are converted int food. Growth in
urban areas emphasises the importance of access and incomes (Ruel et al., 1998).
Modern food processing has resulting in less healthy foods because although popular contain fats,
added chemicals and high levels of salt and sugar.
Raw food undergoes transformations and travel long distances before reaching retain markets so
global dietary concerns focus less on undernutrition, but more on obesity and food safety.
Global environmental change and food system performance
,GD205: Food Systems
Food systems contribute to environmental change, so increased demand for food with the
increasing population will have consequences on global environmental change processes.
Food provisioning can lead to effects on the ecosystem. For example, if mangroves are cut down to
make space for fish farms, although more food will be provided, mangroves provide flood control
and breeding ground for native fish species.
Food systems framework
Producing food includes all activities involved in the production of raw food materials. This includes
the process of obtaining inputs such as land/labour, breeding animals, planting crops/obtaining
young animal stock, caring for crops and harvesting/slaughtering.
Distributing food includes the transport, and is heavily influenced by transportation infrastructure,
trade regulations and storage requirements.
Retailing is influenced by where markets are located and advertising.
Consuming food involves everything form deciding what to select and then preparing, eating and
digesting.
Choices may depend in income level, culture/traditional preferences, social value, education and
health status.
3 major components of food security: access, availability, utilisation.
Food availability: the type, quality and quantity of food accessible to consume
Food access: the ability to obtain access to the type, quality and quantity
Food utilisation: individual/ household capacity to consume and benefit from food.
Access to food
Depends on affordability (purchasing power), allocation (mechanisms governing when, where, and
how food can be accessed by consumers) and preference (social or cultural norms and values that
influence consumer demand for certain types of food)
Info on the other 2 on page 7.
3 elements of food utilisation are nutritional value (daily requirements met), social value (social and
cultural aspects of consumption), and food safety (any dangers e.g., chemicals/ disease added)
Other food system outcomes
Geography effects the natural capital e.g., tropical forest have high levels of species diversity but low
levels of soil carbon and nutrients
Food systems framework is useful to identify points for changing undesirable outcomes, through the
analysis of drivers and activities that result in those outcomes. In Ericksen (2007) the vulnerability of
food systems is described as a state when food systems are disrupted and dial to deliver food
security, whether it is due to shock, structural issues, conflict, or environmental degradation; so
adaptation strategies need to be adapted to lessen vulnerability
Pragmatic: dealing with things sensibly and realistically in a way that is based on practical rather than
theoretical considerations
There are inevitable trade-offs between social welfare, economic growth and environmental
sustainability (Vosti and Reardon, 1997)
Stockholm university
,GD205: Food Systems
https://www.stockholmresilience.org/research/research-news/2016-06-14-how-food-connects-all-
the-sdgs.html
all the sustainable development goals are directly or indirectly connected to sustainable and healthy
food. There is no food security for the future without recognising the exponential hockey stick
growth of the exploitation of the ocean. 40% of global land surface used for food, this will go to 70%
due to additional calories that will be needed in the future.
Lecture notes
System: procedures/ an organised scheme
Everything in the world is part of at least one system or overlapping system
There can be physical (buildings) and social (people) side to systems e.g. within university
Human ecosystem made up of biota, physical environment, social structures and constructed
environment
Systems are important because if something interferes with one thing (changing the system), then
everything within the system is at risk of being effected.
acknowledging the importance of systems and their roles within society and the
environment. If something (big or small) interferes with anything within a
system, the entire system is at risk of being affected. This highlights the
significance of systems as a whole because without maintaining some form of
organisation, significant change can occur within the system(s).
what is a systems approach?
Everything is complex, so to engage with the world we need to understand and engage with the
complexity
Systems approach is useful in food because there’s lots of different elements to it.
It’s important to know the actors within the food system e.g., in the supply chain/network, there are
farmers, wholesalers and retailers. Value chain/network analysis shows the value that each supplier
receives e.g., the farmer would get a lot less than the retailer.
Food system components
Conceptual approach considers: can be applies within a defined geography, scale or subsystem
- All the actors involved
- All the activities involved – production, logistics, consumption, recycling
- Interactions between actors
- Drivers of practices – ecological factors e.g., demographics, incentives, policies, technologies
that push/shape the system
- Outcomes of all this – economic (incomes), social (nutrition and health), and environmental
(impacts/modifications)
Economic systems, biological systems, social systems and political systems
Double burden of malnutrition
‘currently, nearly half of the world’s population does not eat a properly nutritious diet’ (WEF 2017:4)
, GD205: Food Systems
‘almost every country in the world is facing a serious nutrition-related challenge’ (Hawkes, Fanzo and
Udomkesmalee 2017:17)
Global death toll from famines has gone down overall between
1870s and 2010s (IFPRI,2018); but it has been fluctuating
How are we going with hunger right now?
(Food and agricultural organisation, 2014) has shown that the
number of undernourished people is increasing.
The UN think 840 million people will be classified as hungry by
2030 if the current trend continues.
Undernourished: dietary energy consumption less than a pre-determined national threshold:
required to conduct sedentary or light activities
In 2020, 8.9% of the population inadequate nutrition before covid 19 (FAO 2020:xvi)
In 2019, 21.3% (144 million) of children under 5 y/o were stunted, 5.6% (38.3 million) overweight.
(FAO 2020:xvi)
Almost 1/3rd of women of reproductive age worldwide suffer from anaemia, which puts the nutrition
and health of many children at risk (FAO 2019)
Even in the richest and most developed countries in the world, there are still people who don’t get
enough calories and that are undernourished.
A lot of country with conflict within it leave many unable to access food.
Global food production has continue to expand (Pretty & Bharucha 2014: 1574)
The price mechanism balances supply and demand; you must adjust price accordingly
Lack of nutrition often stems from the lack of access to food (financial and physical)
Seas in the way, lack of good roads, barriers to distribution, rate trade tariffs and import rules, prices
(global food crisis) all affect the access to food
What types of urban space are the most important?
Small/medium cities and Asian countries grow fast
Week 1
Readings
Conceptualizing food systems for global environmental change research (Ericksen, 2008)
https://reader.elsevier.com/reader/sd/pii/S0959378007000659?
token=B582D52C138338D7A9ED2590757445E00777B9AD27E2D19E07EFCE3D9CF0C9244F521FD34
BEC58560F304FDA6B254557&originRegion=eu-west-1&originCreation=20211006160358
Food security: when all people at all times have physical and economic access to sufficient, safe and
nutritious food to meet their dietary needs for an active and healthy life (World food summit, 1996).
Increases in the efficiency and productivity of food systems have resulted in successes around the
world in reducing the prevalence of hunger and improving nutrition.
Global environmental, social, political and economic changes bring stresses onto food systems and
food security.
Food systems: the interactions between and within biogeophysical and human environments which
determine a set of activities from consumption to production. The outcomes of these activities
contribute to food security, environmental security, and social welfare.
Challenges of modern food systems:
Increased demands on water availability for irrigation (Molden and Fraiture,2004),and increase in
pollution from agriculture inputs and soil los (Pretty et al., 2005), and a large increase in energy
demands throughout the food production sectors (Matson et al., 1997).
There has been an increase of raw products being processed and packaged into food products for
added value, and there is now very expanded distribution of food due to globalisation and improved
transport. Food now travels very long distances (Pretty et al., 2005) and the role and number of
supermarkets is rapidly increasing.
There has also been a dietary transition towards more meat due to a growth in income. Some areas
suffer from malnutrition, and some from obesity due to the inequitable distribution of the quality
and quantity of food (Popkin, 2004). This is exacerbated by the growing urban populations of whom
rely almost completely on purchasing food (Kennedy et al., 2004).
Trends in global food security
Growth in income, agricultural productivity, along with the political will to intervene and prevent
famine has improved food security for many in Asia and Latin America; although there are still local
and regional distributional inequalities (Corral et al., 2000).
On the other hand, in Sub-Saharan Africa food insecurity still exists. This is due to natural hazards
like droughts but also long term economic factors like market failure and poverty, along with
political instability and institutional weakness and conflicts (Devereux and Maxwell, 2001).
The difference in having access to food as opposed to only food availability has to be acknowledged.
Access is determined by how well financial and political assets are converted int food. Growth in
urban areas emphasises the importance of access and incomes (Ruel et al., 1998).
Modern food processing has resulting in less healthy foods because although popular contain fats,
added chemicals and high levels of salt and sugar.
Raw food undergoes transformations and travel long distances before reaching retain markets so
global dietary concerns focus less on undernutrition, but more on obesity and food safety.
Global environmental change and food system performance
,GD205: Food Systems
Food systems contribute to environmental change, so increased demand for food with the
increasing population will have consequences on global environmental change processes.
Food provisioning can lead to effects on the ecosystem. For example, if mangroves are cut down to
make space for fish farms, although more food will be provided, mangroves provide flood control
and breeding ground for native fish species.
Food systems framework
Producing food includes all activities involved in the production of raw food materials. This includes
the process of obtaining inputs such as land/labour, breeding animals, planting crops/obtaining
young animal stock, caring for crops and harvesting/slaughtering.
Distributing food includes the transport, and is heavily influenced by transportation infrastructure,
trade regulations and storage requirements.
Retailing is influenced by where markets are located and advertising.
Consuming food involves everything form deciding what to select and then preparing, eating and
digesting.
Choices may depend in income level, culture/traditional preferences, social value, education and
health status.
3 major components of food security: access, availability, utilisation.
Food availability: the type, quality and quantity of food accessible to consume
Food access: the ability to obtain access to the type, quality and quantity
Food utilisation: individual/ household capacity to consume and benefit from food.
Access to food
Depends on affordability (purchasing power), allocation (mechanisms governing when, where, and
how food can be accessed by consumers) and preference (social or cultural norms and values that
influence consumer demand for certain types of food)
Info on the other 2 on page 7.
3 elements of food utilisation are nutritional value (daily requirements met), social value (social and
cultural aspects of consumption), and food safety (any dangers e.g., chemicals/ disease added)
Other food system outcomes
Geography effects the natural capital e.g., tropical forest have high levels of species diversity but low
levels of soil carbon and nutrients
Food systems framework is useful to identify points for changing undesirable outcomes, through the
analysis of drivers and activities that result in those outcomes. In Ericksen (2007) the vulnerability of
food systems is described as a state when food systems are disrupted and dial to deliver food
security, whether it is due to shock, structural issues, conflict, or environmental degradation; so
adaptation strategies need to be adapted to lessen vulnerability
Pragmatic: dealing with things sensibly and realistically in a way that is based on practical rather than
theoretical considerations
There are inevitable trade-offs between social welfare, economic growth and environmental
sustainability (Vosti and Reardon, 1997)
Stockholm university
,GD205: Food Systems
https://www.stockholmresilience.org/research/research-news/2016-06-14-how-food-connects-all-
the-sdgs.html
all the sustainable development goals are directly or indirectly connected to sustainable and healthy
food. There is no food security for the future without recognising the exponential hockey stick
growth of the exploitation of the ocean. 40% of global land surface used for food, this will go to 70%
due to additional calories that will be needed in the future.
Lecture notes
System: procedures/ an organised scheme
Everything in the world is part of at least one system or overlapping system
There can be physical (buildings) and social (people) side to systems e.g. within university
Human ecosystem made up of biota, physical environment, social structures and constructed
environment
Systems are important because if something interferes with one thing (changing the system), then
everything within the system is at risk of being effected.
acknowledging the importance of systems and their roles within society and the
environment. If something (big or small) interferes with anything within a
system, the entire system is at risk of being affected. This highlights the
significance of systems as a whole because without maintaining some form of
organisation, significant change can occur within the system(s).
what is a systems approach?
Everything is complex, so to engage with the world we need to understand and engage with the
complexity
Systems approach is useful in food because there’s lots of different elements to it.
It’s important to know the actors within the food system e.g., in the supply chain/network, there are
farmers, wholesalers and retailers. Value chain/network analysis shows the value that each supplier
receives e.g., the farmer would get a lot less than the retailer.
Food system components
Conceptual approach considers: can be applies within a defined geography, scale or subsystem
- All the actors involved
- All the activities involved – production, logistics, consumption, recycling
- Interactions between actors
- Drivers of practices – ecological factors e.g., demographics, incentives, policies, technologies
that push/shape the system
- Outcomes of all this – economic (incomes), social (nutrition and health), and environmental
(impacts/modifications)
Economic systems, biological systems, social systems and political systems
Double burden of malnutrition
‘currently, nearly half of the world’s population does not eat a properly nutritious diet’ (WEF 2017:4)
, GD205: Food Systems
‘almost every country in the world is facing a serious nutrition-related challenge’ (Hawkes, Fanzo and
Udomkesmalee 2017:17)
Global death toll from famines has gone down overall between
1870s and 2010s (IFPRI,2018); but it has been fluctuating
How are we going with hunger right now?
(Food and agricultural organisation, 2014) has shown that the
number of undernourished people is increasing.
The UN think 840 million people will be classified as hungry by
2030 if the current trend continues.
Undernourished: dietary energy consumption less than a pre-determined national threshold:
required to conduct sedentary or light activities
In 2020, 8.9% of the population inadequate nutrition before covid 19 (FAO 2020:xvi)
In 2019, 21.3% (144 million) of children under 5 y/o were stunted, 5.6% (38.3 million) overweight.
(FAO 2020:xvi)
Almost 1/3rd of women of reproductive age worldwide suffer from anaemia, which puts the nutrition
and health of many children at risk (FAO 2019)
Even in the richest and most developed countries in the world, there are still people who don’t get
enough calories and that are undernourished.
A lot of country with conflict within it leave many unable to access food.
Global food production has continue to expand (Pretty & Bharucha 2014: 1574)
The price mechanism balances supply and demand; you must adjust price accordingly
Lack of nutrition often stems from the lack of access to food (financial and physical)
Seas in the way, lack of good roads, barriers to distribution, rate trade tariffs and import rules, prices
(global food crisis) all affect the access to food
What types of urban space are the most important?
Small/medium cities and Asian countries grow fast
