Delia Grace “Food Security and Nutrition in an Urbanizing World” June 06, 2017 Brussels, Belgium The International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), SNV Netherlands Development Organization, and Welthungerhilfe are jointly organizing a one-day event in Brussels on the eve of the European Development Days to explore the challenges and opportunities of urbanization from a variety of perspectives.

1. 1
Why informal markets should no
longer be neglected
Food Security and Nutrition in an Urbanizing World
Thon Hotel EU, Rue de la Loi 75, Brussels, Belgium
Delia Grace,
Flagship Leader CRP Agriculture 4 Nutrition & Health, IFPRI
Program Leader International Livestock Research Institute

2. Overview
Who feeds the cities?
Four myths about the informal food sector
– Informal will fade away
– Informal consumers don’t care about safety
– Informal is risky and formal is safe
– More rules mean better practice
Ways forward
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4. 4

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8. 8

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10. 10

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12. 12

13. 13

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16. Overview
Who feeds the cities?
Four myths about the informal food sector
– Informal will fade away
– Informal consumers don’t care about safety
– Informal is risky and formal is safe
– More rules mean better practice
Ways forward
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17. 17

18. 18
Most fresh foods are produced and
sold in the informal sector
Kenya 80%
Tanzania 98%
W. Africa 90%
India 83%
Assam 97%
Nicaragua 86%
Dairy sector % informal
Benefits of wet
markets
Cheap, fresh,
Local breeds,
Accessible,
Small amounts
(kidogo)
Sellers are trusted,
Credit may be
provided
(results from PRAs with consumers in
Safe Food, Fair Food project)

19. Informal is not set to fade away
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
2010 2040
Formal
Informal
Own production
Structure of food marketing system in east and south Africa in 2010
and projected 2040 Tschirley et al., 2014

20. Growing concern about food safety
• Many/most reported concern
over food safety (40-97%)
• Willing to pay 5-10% premium
for food safety
• Buy 20-40% less during animal
health scares
• Younger, wealthier, town-
residing, supermarket-shoppers
willing to pay more for safety
Jabbar et al., 2010

21. Formal not necessarily safe, nor
informal risky
Fahrion et al., 2013

22. 22
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
Poor total bacteria Unacceptable total
bacteria
Unacceptable
faecal bacteria
Unaccpetable
Staph
Unacceptable
listeria
Any unacceptable
Supermarket
Wet market
Village
Pork in Vietnam
Fahrion et al., 2013

23. 23
More rules may mean worse practice
Average of
17.25 risk
mitigation
strategies
used
Farmers who
believed UA
was legal used
more
strategies
Grace et al., 2008

24. Overview
Who feeds the cities?
Four myths about the informal food sector
– Informal will fade away
– Informal consumers don’t care about safety
– Informal is risky and formal is safe
– More rules mean better practice
Ways forward
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25. ToCs of change for A4NH food safety in
informal markets
https://dx.doi.org/10.1177/1356389015605198

26. • Branding & certification of milk
vendors in Kenya & Guwahti,
Assam led to improved milk safety.
• It benefited the national economy
by $33 million per year in Kenya
and $6 million in Assam
• 70% of traders in Assam and 24%
in Kenya are currently registered
• 6 milllion consumers in Kenya and
1.5 million in Assam are benefiting
from safer milk
Johnson et al., 2015

27. Ways forward
• Improved understanding of multiple benefits and risks associated
with informal food markets
• Understanding how policy has, is and could affect agri-food sector
transition
• Support interventions shown to work such as professionalising the
informal sector

28. Acknowledgements
 The research featured in this presentation was funded the CGIAR
research program on agriculture for nutrition and health, the Department
for International Development UK, the Australian Centre for International
Agricultural Research, the International Development Research Centre,
the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation led by the International Food
Policy Research Institute and other donors
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