المنتدى العالمي المعني بالأمن الغذائي والتغذية

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    • 1. The V0 draft introduces a conceptual framework informed by key principles established in previous HLPE-FSN reports (HLPE, 2017; HLPE, 2020).

      After a first reading, the conceptual framework seems adequate, comprehensive and broad enough to have a global perspective towards the objectives of the report. However, I found some elements where I believe the perspective tends to weaken, in my opinion:

      • When addressing the question of “urban foodsheds” it seems to me to be an incomplete perspective, given that urban food systems are supplied in a deregulated global framework and with presence of large food corporations and supermarket chains. A first quantitative approach to this phenomenon could be done analyzing food import data from different countries and regions (based on food import information from faostat), as well as the market share of supermarket chains (modern channel) in each of the countries (based on information from market consultations). The tendency on each of the food sectors to concentrate on fewer and fewer players, configuring concentrated markets, leads to a company supplying all cities in a country, regardless of where its production is located. Increases in the scale of transportation have made it possible to “reduce distances” and dismantle supply basins or foodsheds;
      • Urban areas are in many times metropolitan areas comprises by different government levels, especially in the biggest cities, therefore usually national policies does not have much impact on the urban and peri-urban food systems. National policies usually deals with some issues that affect food systems (external trade, regulations, competition policies, etc.) local policies usually deals with transportation, retail, wholesale, there is a more accurate implication on local policies, rather than in national policies for urban and peri-urban food systems in my opinion.

      3. Are the trends/variables/elements identified in the draft report the key ones to strengthen urban and peri-urban food systems? If not, which other elements should be considered?

      The contrast/comparison between formal-modern vs informal-traditional food systems is a key aspect that I believe that might be strengthen. Except the European countries, and the US, among others, that rely around 70-80% on the modern retail channel, all the countries will rely on mix systems, in different amounts. In this sense, I suggest to update the Figure 4.2, particularly to capture an overview in the post COVID-19 context. Which kind of system provides a more accurate articulation of the supply towards food security in different sizes of cities? There are several trade-offs to explore that are key aspects for the report, I believe. One very complex to approach and crucial for food supply is scale of operation, that affect logistics, retailing and wholesaling offering important benefits, especially in big urban areas. Public infrastrucutre for retail and wholesale allows the increase of scale of operation, preserving competition. On the contrast, this kind of systems affects competition and the integration of SMEs and small farmers, among other relevant issues. In this sense, as a way to explore strategies in mix systems, I believe that is important to stress that informal markets when are permanent and have fix structures are able to compete with supermarkets, relying in the most valuable asset that is the physical presence of stores in the cities.

      Regarding the “supermarketization” of food retail in cities, I would add that supermarket companies are transforming their operation developing stores that compete with convenience stores. Therefore, they increase their scale of operation with different type of stores, affecting competition. This is called omni-channel strategy by the supermarket sector, and I believe the best example to understand it is the through the recent trajectory of the French company Carrefour. In this sense, I suggest to consider analyzing both chapters 4.3.3. and 4.3.4. as an integrated chapter that focus on large scale retailing operators, beside the type of stores they have.

      4. Is there additional quantitative or qualitative data that should be included?

      As mentioned before, an analysis of food imports could bring a clear idea on the foodshed of the different urban areas in different countries. Also, global supermarket market data could anchored the role of the main global actor across each country.

      To clarify and emphasize the links between urbanization processes and food systems (page 25) you could update the kind of analysis that is presented on the Appendix 1 (page 23) of the “Background paper by the OECD Secretariat” of the 2015 Latin American Competition Forum. Session III - Competition Issues in the Groceries Sector: Focus on Conduct (link). This kind of analysis establishes a clear pattern where supermarket chains -as the main retail global actor- expand in relation with the urbanization rate, income and middle-class size in each country, configuring urban food systems and food security.

      I´ve explored the supermarket operation in several publications, especially the development of the omni-channel strategy in the Buenos Aires Metropolitan, Argentina, and the territorial expansion and accesibility due to urban income and density, it´s accesible on this link.

      5. Are there any redundant facts or statements that could be eliminated from the V0 draft?

      This statement could be revised: “Relatedly, food systems in much of the Global South have been shaped by policy prescriptions that orient them towards production for export and reliance on imports, which undermines the potential of local production for local consumption. This raises important questions addressed in the report about the power of individual cities to shape their food systems in the context of global trade regimes.” (pag. 16)

      Those countries oriented towards food production and exports are more intensively linked to the dynamic of the global markets, mostly in terms of food prices, affecting food security. Food import countries are more likely due to limitations on the amount of land, inputs, etc.

      Check citacions:

      • Clapp for instance is mentioned with three different years (2021, 2022, and 2023) and in the bibliography it´s only included Clapp, J., Moseley, W. G., Burlingame, B., & Termine, P. (2022). Viewpoint: The case for a six-dimensional food security framework. Food Policy, 106, 102164. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodpol.2021.102164
      • Kloppenberg et al., 1996 is note included in the bibliography
      • Ferreyra and Roberts, 2018 is note included in the bibliography

      6. Could you suggest case studies and success stories from countries that were able to strengthen urban and peri-urban food systems? In particular, the HLPE-FSN would seek contributions on:

      I would suggest exploring the experience and results of the Grocery Code Adjudicator, the supermarket regulation from the UK, and those policies towards developing wholesale and retail public markets, potentially the south european experiences (Spain, France, Portugal)