Proposal of a Bioregional Strategic Framework for a Sustainable Food System in Sicily

Abstract

The alignment of food systems with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is generally envisaged to make a positive impact on sustainability. This paper outlines some critical environmental and socio-economic indicators for Sicily in order to compare and explore the outcomes of two juxtaposing key drivers in a scenario planning exercise, where the extremities are Industrial versus Regenerative Agriculture/Agroecology and a Proactive versus Reactive government response. The most rational and less risky scenario becomes the most sensible sustainable development option, around which a 2030 vision is projected for a bioregional sustainable food system for Sicily, which is aligned with the SDGs and related policies. To accomplish the 2030 vision, a holistic education-led developmental approach is outlined with a supporting bioregional strategic framework, whose key milestone deliverables are projected through a backcasting process. This paper therefore highlights the importance of consistency and alignment of a development vision with its strategic framework and ensuing implementation, failing which, the holistic bioregional approach is compromised by activities that are shown to negatively impact environmental and socio-economic indicators. For this reason, all public and private sector development plans and associated resources ought to be aligned with a bioregional strategic plan for a sustainable food system for Sicily.

Factors Affecting the Nutritional, Health, and Technological Quality of Durum Wheat for Pasta-Making: A Systematic Literature Review

“…Thus, the authors concluded that now more than ever, multidisciplinary approaches involving agronomists, breeders, ecologists, food technologists, and economists will be critical for planning more sustainable and high-quality durum wheat production systems [ 232 , 233 ].…”

Designing an Urban Food System for Achieving Circular Economy Targets: A Conceptual Model

“…On the other hand, Vieira et al [13] define UFS as FS that encompasses activities and actors relating to cities' food supply and their interactions with the surrounding natural and built environments, socio-economic dynamics, and governance. With the growing recognition of the importance of FS in climate change and sustainable development around the world, other different types of FS have been introduced into academia and policymaking, such as sustainable food systems [14], [15], city region food system [16], [17], resilient food system [18], etc.…”

Sustainable Agri-Food Systems: Environment, Economy, Society, and Policy

“…Examples include the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) [365,366], The European Food and Nutrition Action Plan 2015-2020 [367], the Milan Urban Food Policy Pact [342], Nepalʹs Multisectoral Nutrition Plan (MSNP) 2013-2017 [349], Healthy food and beverage policy of the City of Hamilton (Ontario, Canada) [360], the Good Food Purchasing Policy (GFPP) in Los Angeles (USA) [368], the Local Food Strategy of Ghent (Belgium) [351]. Particular attention has also been paid to the linkages between sustainability transitions in agri-food systems and the achievement of the SDGs, especially SDG 2 "Zero Hunger" [35,36,[369][370][371][372][373][374]. Other articles have addressed synergies and/or trade-offs between policies and their instruments [312,375,376].…”

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