Toward resilient food systems through increased agricultural diversity and local sourcing in the Carolinas

MacFall, Janet S.; Lelekacs, Joanna Massey; LeVasseur, Todd; Moore, Steve; Walker, Jennifer

doi:10.1007/s13412-015-0321-1

Cited by 21 publications

(15 citation statements)

References 38 publications

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“…These discussions involved debates on vulnerabilities and resilience of different production models and supply chains, e.g., large-scale vs. small-scale and local or domestic vs. global [48]. Here, large-scale means big enterprise farms ranging from 200-1000 hectares in size and mainly engaged in global chains by producing foods or agricultural raw materials consumed in another country.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Diverse farming systems reduce dependency on a single farm commodity, e.g., spice trees, and provides additional benefits in terms of biodiversity-supported ecosystem services-pollination of crops to increase yields and biological control of crop pests and diseases (Altieri and Nicholls 2020b). Diversified mixed cropping systems offer yield stability with low external inputs, improve resilience as diverse agri-systems are able to cope better under environmental and ecological shocks, and reduce the cost of agriculture via provisioning of ecosystem services (MacFall et al, 2015). Promoting diversified agroecosystems is key for building resilience in food production systems, especially in small-scale systems, which occupy over 30% of global arable land and produce up to 70% of the food consumed [62].…”

Section: Diversifying Farm Systemsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Impacts of COVID-19 on Diverse Farm Systems in Tanzania and South Africa

et al. 2021

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Emerging information on the interactions between the COVID-19 pandemic and global food systems have highlighted how the pandemic is accentuating food crises across Africa. Less clear, however, are how the impacts differ between farming systems. Drawing on 50 key informant interviews with farmers, village leaders and extension officers in South Africa and Tanzania, we identify the effects of COVID-19 and associated measures to curb the spread of the disease on farming production systems, the coping mechanisms adopted by farmers, and explore their longer-term plans for adaptation. We focus on a diverse range of production systems, from small-scale mixed farming systems in Tanzania to large-scale corporate farms in South Africa. Our findings highlight how COVID-19 restrictions have interrupted the supply chains of agricultural inputs and commodities, increasing the storage time for produce, decreasing income and purchasing power, and reducing labour availability. Farmers’ responses were heterogeneous, with highly diverse small-scale farming systems and those less engaged with international markets least affected by the associated COVID-19 measures. Large-scale farmers were most able to access capital to buffer short-term impacts, whereas smaller-scale farms shared labour, diversified to subsistence produce and sold assets. However, compounded shocks, such as recent extreme climate events, limited the available coping options, particularly for smaller-scale and emerging farmers. The study highlights the need to understand the characteristics of farm systems to better equip and support farmers, particularly in contexts of uncertainty. We propose that policy actions should focus on (i) providing temporary relief and social support and protection to financially vulnerable stakeholders, (ii) job assurance for farmworkers and engaging an alternative workforce in farming, (iii) investing in farming infrastructure, such as storage facilities, digital communication tools and extension services, and (iv) supporting diversified agroecological farming systems.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Diversifying Farm Systemsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Impacts of COVID-19 on Diverse Farm Systems in Tanzania and South Africa

et al. 2021

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…These discussions involved debates on vulnerabilities and resilience of different production models and supply chains, e.g., large-scale vs small-scale and local or domestic vs global [39]. Here, large-scale means big enterprise farms ranging from 200-1000 hectares in size and mainly engaged in global chains by producing foods or agricultural raw materials consumed in another country.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Diverse farming systems reduces dependency on single farm commodity, e.g., spice trees, and provides additional benefits in terms of biodiversity-supported ecosystem services -pollination of crops to increased yields and biological control of crop pests and diseases (Altieri and Nicholls 2020b). Diversified mixed cropping systems offer yield stability with low external inputs, improve resilience as diverse agri-systems are able to cope better under environmental and ecological shocks, and reduce the cost of agriculture via provisioning of ecosystem services (MacFall et al 2015). Promoting diversified agroecosystems is key for building resilience in food production systems, especially in small-scale systems which occupy over 30% of global arable land and produce up to 70% of the food consumed [48].…”

Section: Diversifying Farm Systemsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Impacts of COVID-19 on Diverse Farm Systems in Tanzania and South Africa

Tripathi¹,

Smith²,

Sait³

et al. 2021

Preprint

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Emerging information on the interactions between the COVID-19 pandemic and global food systems has highlighted how the pandemic is accentuating food crises across Africa. Less clear, however, are how the impacts differ between farming systems. Drawing on 50 key informant interviews with farmers, village leaders and extension officers, in South Africa and Tanzania, we identify the effects of COVID-19 and associated measures to curb the spread of the disease on farming production systems, the coping mechanisms adopted by farmers, and explore their longer-term plans for adaptation. We focus on a diverse range of production systems, from small-scale mixed farming systems in Tanzania, to large-scale corporate farms in South Africa. Our findings highlight how COVID-19 restrictions have interrupted the supply chains of agricultural inputs and commodities, increasing the storage time for produce, decreasing income and purchasing power, and reducing labour availability. Farmers’ responses were heterogeneous, with highly diverse small-scale farming systems and those less engaged with international markets least affected by the associated COVID-19 measures. Large-scale farmers were most able to access capital to buffer short-term impacts, whereas smaller-scale farms shared labour, diversified to subsistence produce and sold assets. However, compounded shocks, such as recent extreme climate events, limited the available coping options, particularly for smaller-scale and emerging farmers. The study highlights the need to understand the characteristics of farm systems to better equip and support farmers, particularly in contexts of uncertainty. We propose that policy actions should focus on (i) providing temporary relief and social support and protection to financially vulnerable stakeholders, (ii) job assurance for farmworkers, and engaging an alternative workforce in farming, (iii) investing in farming infrastructure, such as storage facilities, digital communication tools, and extension services, and iv) supporting diversified agroecological farming systems.

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“…. ] increase local food security by having food more reliably available where it is needed and by contributing to local resilience through community economic development" [19]. Considering the mere quantities of food produced, a world without trade would result in a lower total amount of available food due to yield differences [20].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Measures to Increase Local Food Supply in the Context of European Framework Scenarios for the Agri-Food Sector

et al. 2021

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The issue of local food supply has attracted considerable political and public attention, due to the changing preferences of consumers, who have more awareness about ecological sustainability, in particular, but also due to recent developments concerning the COVID-19 pandemic. In order to identify measures facilitating local food value chains, which are resilient to different nationwide and global future developments, the aim of our analysis was to set the identified measures derived from the local roadmap of the city of Graz in the context of European scenarios for the agri-food sector in 2035. The results show that certain measures are applicable under all of the described scenarios, such as the food policy council, whereas some measures—for example, open food labs—are less suitable or need to be adjusted to fit the purpose within changing framework conditions. Setting specific measures for a city region in the broader context of European agri-food scenarios provides a systemic perspective, thus making the multiple links and influences more visible.

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Toward resilient food systems through increased agricultural diversity and local sourcing in the Carolinas

Cited by 21 publications

References 38 publications

Impacts of COVID-19 on Diverse Farm Systems in Tanzania and South Africa

Impacts of COVID-19 on Diverse Farm Systems in Tanzania and South Africa

Impacts of COVID-19 on Diverse Farm Systems in Tanzania and South Africa

Measures to Increase Local Food Supply in the Context of European Framework Scenarios for the Agri-Food Sector

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