from the Journal of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Community Development |
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Food democracy can empower people to actively make decisions about food production, distribution, and community food sharing. Residents of Monteverde, a Costa Rican cloud forest town, has created initiatives to enhance local production and distribution to increase access to ecologically sound and healthy food. Monteverde also attracts up to 230,000 tourists annually, situation that can complicate community efforts to provide local food for residents while also creating additional market interest in local agroecological products.
The research shared in the newly published article, Food democracy as food security strategy: The case of a Costa Rican tourism town, applies the dimensions of the food democracy framework to evaluate whether local food initiatives help address the challenges restaurants face when purchasing local, sustainable food. The Monteverde community’s community garden, local food distribution business, local origin certification, and farmer-to-farmer agroecological knowledge-sharing are strategies to reclaim control and enhance the food system so that more benefits accumulate within the community.
While restaurateurs and tourists both recognize the benefits of local, sustainable food, barriers remain to bring tourists into the fold of food citizenship. This research demonstrates that restaurant owners can articulate the economic, social, and environmental benefits of purchasing local food, which demonstrates a strong foundation for food democracy principles. Building robust participatory food democracies requires avenues for multiple actors to communicate their challenges and concerns in order to inform cohesive action plans.
KEY FINDINGS
- Nearly all of the restaurateurs surveyed in Monteverde reported the benefits of buying locally and articulated at least one of those benefits: supporting the local economy, supporting the community, purchasing fresher or higher quality products, and being better for the environment.
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While 58% of restaurateurs surveyed in Monteverde reported purchasing at least some products locally, they still import most products from outside the region, citing high prices and lack of year-around availability as barriers.
- Tourists in the area demonstrated a high level of interest in consuming local foods, with 95% interested in learning more about the origin of local foods and the majority willing to pay more for local food.
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Community food security initiatives in Monteverde have promoted the food democracy dimension by diversifying the economy and helping residents and tourists identify local products and services, while also addressing challenges such as lack of information about products, supporting fair prices, enabling knowledge sharing, and contributing to sustainable food production.
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR POLICY, PRACTICE, AND RESEARCH To further these collaboration efforts, the authors recommend (1) strengthening producer-to-restaurant networks, (2) enhancing the communication of local food production benefits and responsibilities to restaurateurs, and (3) promoting the locally made certification for restaurants.
SHARE ON YOUR SOCIALS
Local food democracy actions invite restaurateurs and tourists to the table in Monteverde, Costa Rica. Read more about collaborative work involving community members and tourists in this new @JAFSCD article. #fooddemocracy #foodcitizen #Monteverde #CostaRica #agritourism Read for free: https://doi.org/10.5304/jafscd.2024.133.019
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Photo above: Monteverde farmer-to-farmer knowledge sharing in action. Photo provided by Mary Little.
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Postdoctoral Fellow with Hunger Solutions Institute
Hunger Solutions Institute (HSI) in the College of Human Sciences seeks a Postdoctoral Fellow to conduct research on SNAP nutrition incentive programs. The fellow will process large datasets for reporting and research purposes and conduct independent research on how households spend SNAP nutrition incentives. Experience working with large, complex datasets — such as scanner data or other point-of-sale data — is desired. See the Auburn University employment site for details. |
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Pakistan is at a critical juncture in its sustainability journey. This newly published commentary, Pakistan's path to sustainability: Advancements in cleaner production, a circular economy, and climate-smart solutions, explores the multifaceted approach necessary to tackle the nation’s environmental, economic, and societal challenges within the framework of cleaner production, a circular economy, and climate-smart solutions.
Environmental issues loom large in Pakistan and globally, with rising air and water pollution, land degradation, and the increasing threat of climate change. To combat these challenges, adopting cleaner production technologies and circular economy practices across industries is imperative. The circular economy is an economic model that aims to minimize waste and make the most efficient use of resources by keeping products and materials in use for as long as possible through reuse, repair, remanufacturing, and recycling. It seeks to design out waste and pollution, regenerate natural systems, and transition toward renewable energy sources.
Pakistan is embracing circular principles, particularly in the agricultural sector, where circular agriculture practices are ensuring food security and sustainability. The nation’s broad aspirations and goals regarding the circular economy are centered around sustainable development and environmental stewardship. The government is committed to promoting principles of a circular economy to address environmental challenges, enhance resource efficiency, and promote economic growth. SHARE ON YOUR SOCIALS
Pakistan is embracing circular principles—particularly in the agricultural sector—where circular agriculture practices are ensuring food security and sustainability. #Pakistan #circularity #foodsystems #agriculture #sustainability Read the @JAFSCD commentary for free: https://doi.org/10.5304/jafscd.2024.133.021
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Photo above: Anoushka Concepcion, the Connecticut Sea Grant and UConn Extension educator, holds wild sugar kelp while on a boat in Long Island Sound. Photo provided by the authors. |
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News from JAFSCD Partner the University of Vermont
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The Food Systems Research Summit returns to the University of Vermont this fall!
The Summit will be held September 16–17, 2024, in Burlington, Vermont. JAFSCD is a sponsor and we will be there! See a sneak peek of the agenda below.
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