Alternative food systems and Local food systems

2. The Idea
Food has closer proximity
between consumer and producer.
Local resources and industry are
exchanged to build a sustainable
food system.

3. Proximity
Social: Producer and consumer know each other
and the product. Trust is built as quality is assured.
Geographical: Product is local to the consumer.
Economic: Money circulates in a local area therefor
all transactions are public and transparent.

4. How is it different?
0 The Conventional Food system is based on economies
of scale, industrialization, global trade, efficiency and
Lower consumer costs.
0 BUT this system exploits the people and the
environment/planet.
i. Overseas production due to cheap labour, few laws or
regulations.
ii. Due to scale of production heavy use of mechanised
agriculture therefore use of cheap fossil fuels.
iii. Chemical fertilisers and pesticides damage local area.

5. Short Food Supply Chains (SFSC)
0 A short supply chain removes
intermediaries.
0 Resistance to the Conventional
food system.
0 Producers get to decide their own
marketing strategies and in turn
receive a better value for their farm
(economic and otherwise).
0 Fewer people involved
0 Direct marketing
Farmer
Consumer

6. Working systems
0 Farmers Market
Producers transport their produce to local areas and sell directly
to their clients.
0 Community Supported Agriculture (CSA)
Local based economic model of agriculture and distribution.
Both producer and consumer share in the risk and reward of the
farm.
0 Farm to School
Schools buy and feature locally made products and take
students to the farmers so they are educated about what they
eat

7. Advantages of Farmers Markets
0 Less transportation, less cost, less
refrigeration, less storage time.
0 More profit for the farmer.
0 Consumers get fresher foods
0 Simple and free from the burden of
an organizations politics.
0 Promotes a distinct local culture
and is healthy for business
0 Revitalizes a community, great
social atmosphere.
0 No burden of parking etc.
0 Better variety.

8. CSA
0 An association or network that
supports local farms.
0 Payment is done at the beginning of
the growing season for an expected
yield.
0 Produce is delivered periodically
during harvest directly to the
consumer.
0 Scale can vary from green houses to
entire plots of land.
0 Commonly traded items are;
Honey, milk products, eggs,
vegetables and even meat.

9. Advantages of CSA
0 Stronger consumer, stakeholder and
producer interaction, involvement and
relationships.
0 Everyone shares the risk
0 The more a farm embraces whole-farm,
whole-budget support, the more it can
focus on quality and reduce the risk of
food waste or financial loss.
0 More environmentally friendly practices
can be initiated

10. Terms associated with LFS
0 Slow food
i. An alternative to fast food chains
ii. Preservation of local cuisine and culture.
iii. Emphasis on developing a local food systems
iv. Crops and livestock that normally exist in the
local ecosystem.
v. Educate and lobby
0 Food sovereignty
i. Idea that local producers and consumers
should controle the market and policy.
ii. Protects agricultural areas from over importing.

11. Disadvantages
0 Can lead to narrow inward-looking attitudes or local
food patriotism.
0 Price premiums and local food cultures can be elitist
and exclusive.
0 Maybe impractical.

12. Thank
You! 