The main objective of the project is to provide evidence-based scientific knowledge for the formulation and promotion of innovation strategies and policy options that improve individual and aggregate levels of food systems’ sustainability. The emphasis is on finding ways to enhance collaboration within and between coexisting food systems.
Implemented in
- Africa
- Latin America / Caribbean
Sector of activity
Food & Beverage
Type of initiative
Policy Frameworks & Tools, Research, Analysis, Assessment
Type of lead actor
Scientific and Technical
Start date
28/02/2017
Submitted on:
28/02/2017Objectives
The project is aimed at analysing the outcomes and trade-offs of different coexisting food systems in terms of their individual and aggregate contributions to food security, the right to food and other related human rights, reduction of poverty and inequality, environmental performance, and social-ecological resilience. This concept of food sustainability based on five principles (Figure 1) forms the normative background that guides the identification of innovations and policy options for making food systems more sustainable, in terms of both their internal structures and their coexistence and interactions.
The main objective of the project is to provide evidence-based scientific knowledge for the formulation and promotion of innovation strategies and policy options that improve individual and aggregate levels of food systems’ sustainability. The emphasis is on finding ways to enhance collaboration within and between coexisting food systems.
Activities
As collected through the One Planet Reporting
Output level
Outreach and communication for SCP
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Challenges for the tranformative new science of sustainable food systems -Session at ICRD 2017 conference
Challenges for the tranformative new science of sustainable food systems -Session at ICRD 2017 conference
Regions
Europe and Central Asia
Lead organization
Prof. Dr. Stephan Rist, Dr. Johanna Jacobi
Objective
The conference brought together researchers from all over the world working on different topics related to sustainable development.
Achievements
The first rsults of our project could be shared with a mainly scientific audience who, with critical questions, contributed to the improvement of the data and information management of novel information on food sustainability.
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Broadening 'pesticidovivilange' with alternatives to food production without pesticides - Reply to 'Toward Pesticidovigilance', A.M. Milner, I.L. Boyd, Science 357, 6357 (2017)
Broadening 'pesticidovivilange' with alternatives to food production without pesticides - Reply to 'Toward Pesticidovigilance', A.M. Milner, I.L. Boyd, Science 357, 6357 (2017)
Regions
Global / All regions
Lead organization
Georgina Catacora-Vargas
Objective
raise awareness in the sicentific community that there are alternatives to mainstream ideas such as "sustainable intensification" or "land sparing"
Achievements
we are glad that we wre given the chance to publish an answer to an article that goes into a good direction, but not far enough to overcome the "status quo" of pesticide use in agriculture
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3ra VERSIÓN DEL PREMIO PLURINACIONAL DE CIENCIA Y TECNOLOGÍA: Winner of the thematic área: "Saberes Locales y Conocimientos Ancestrales de los Pueblos Indígena Originario Campesino" for the article "Desde nuestras ciencias al diálogo intercientífico para la sustentabilidad alimentaria y el desarrollo sustentable" written by Freddy Delgado, Stephan Rist, Johanna Jacobi, Mayra Delgado.
3ra VERSIÓN DEL PREMIO PLURINACIONAL DE CIENCIA Y TECNOLOGÍA: Winner of the thematic área: "Saberes Locales y Conocimientos Ancestrales de los Pueblos Indígena Originario Campesino" for the article "Desde nuestras ciencias al diálogo intercientífico para la sustentabilidad alimentaria y el desarrollo sustentable" written by Freddy Delgado, Stephan Rist, Johanna Jacobi, Mayra Delgado.
Regions
Global / All regions
Lead organization
Ministry of Science and Technology
Objective
A book chapter introducing the relevance of transidiciplinary dialogues for food sustainability
Achievements
We received a prize from the Bolivian Government for our book chapter on the link of transdisciplinarity and food sustainability
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Policy brief on pesticides used in food production in Bolivia
Policy brief on pesticides used in food production in Bolivia
Regions
Latin America / Caribbean
Lead organization
Universidad Mayor de San Simon
Objective
The policy brief summed up our results on hazardous pesticides which we observed in soybean production (35 kg / ha / a), many of which are prohibited in other countries and some even in Bolivia. Other studies showed similar results n fruit and veegtable production so we decided to elaborate this policy brief to provide a general information basis on what is registered in Biliva that is considered hazardous internationally (72%) and provide recommendations on improving this situatuion.
Achievements
Though the Bolivian government in their official answer denied that there is any problem with hazardous pesticides in the country, we were invited to numerous presentation, even by three ministries. The topic appeared in several national newspapers and is not dying down since.
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Peer reviewd paper Linking sustainable diets to the concept of "food system sustainability" publisihed in Journal on Food, Agriculture and Society
Peer reviewd paper Linking sustainable diets to the concept of "food system sustainability" publisihed in Journal on Food, Agriculture and Society
Regions
Africa
Latin America / Caribbean
Lead organization
University of Bern
Objective
To make an explicit link between sustainable food systems and sustainable diets
Achievements
The publication broght us in contact with different new partners who enter food system sustainabiltiy more from the consumption side and thus has broadened our global "food sustainability network"
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Tagesanzeiger, Interview mit Dr. Elisabeth Bürgi: Die Schweiz kann mutiger werden
Tagesanzeiger, Interview mit Dr. Elisabeth Bürgi: Die Schweiz kann mutiger werden
Regions
Europe and Central Asia
Lead organization
Dr. Elisabeth Bürgi, Centre for Development and Environment, university of Bern
Objective
In the interview with a major Swiss daily newspaper, Dr. Elisabeth Bürgi explains that Switzerland has the opportunity to incentivize sustainable and fair trade imported food through favorable trade tarifs, and should use this opportunity to make an imporant step forwards towards sustainable trade
Achievements
"Nachhaltige Ernährungssysteme können sich weltweit nur dann entwickeln, wenn wir erkennen, dass jene der reichen Länder und jene der Entwicklungsländer zusammenhängen und gemeinsam nachhaltig gestaltet werden müssen"
Training for SCP
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A food sustainability event in Yatirenda, a Guaraní community in the Bolivian Chaco
A food sustainability event in Yatirenda, a Guaraní community in the Bolivian Chaco
Regions
Latin America / Caribbean
Lead organization
CDE, Agruco, and the women of the village of Yatirenda
Objective
The research project "Towards Food Sustainability" of the Swiss National Science Foundation is an affiliated project of the SFS Programme. It investigates, among others, a food system of the Guaraní people in the Bolivian Chaco and its rapid transformation: Many Guaraní men work in agribusiness or oil companies, while women continue to cultivate traditional food crops around their homes. To organize an event for knowledge-sharing, we invited the women of the Yatirenda community to prepare traditional dishes.
Achievements
Most of the more than 25 dishes presented were based on maize, beans and squash, traditionally combined in highly productive and resilient Milpa-systems all over the Americas. We discussed the importance of the indigenous food system due to its inherent diversity and social-ecological integrity with the Guaraní women. A representative of the international General Guaraní Assembly stressed the need for documenting and preserving traditional Guaraní knowledge on production, processing and consumption to maintain access to healthy food face to increasing pressure on community lands e.g. from soy bean production.
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Zertifikatskurs Universität "Nachhaltigkeit für Nord un Süd - Die Umsetzung der globalen Nachhaltigkeitsziele. Schwerpunkt nachhaltiger Handel und Ernährungssysteme
Zertifikatskurs Universität "Nachhaltigkeit für Nord un Süd - Die Umsetzung der globalen Nachhaltigkeitsziele. Schwerpunkt nachhaltiger Handel und Ernährungssysteme
Regions
Europe and Central Asia
Lead organization
Centre for Development and Environment
Objective
Lernziele Die Teilnehmenden ... … kennen die globalen Nachhaltigkeitsziele der UNO-Agenda 2030, deren Potenzial und Grenzen … verstehen den Begriff der „politischen Kohärenz für Nachhaltige Entwicklung" … verstehen das Konzept der „Ernährungsnachhaltigkeit", das von SDG 2 aufgenommen wird (Hunger beenden, Ernährungssicherheit, nachhaltige Landwirtschaft), und können globale Zusammenhänge aufzeigen … können die „Ernährungsnachhaltigkeit" zu weiteren SDGs in Bezug setzen (Armutsziel, Klimaziel, Ressourcenziel) und sehen effektive Handlungsmöglichkeiten auf nationaler und internationaler Ebene … erfahren, wie sich globale und lokale sowie staatliche und private Akteure gegenüberstehen und kennen die Schwierigkeiten, Interessenskonflikte aufzulösen … können die Debatte um illegitime Finanzflüsse und die Diskussion um die Verantwortung transnationaler Konzerne einordnen … erhalten eine Übersicht über wichtige internationale Regelwerke zu Umwelt, Wirtschaft, Gesellschaft und Menschenrechten und verstehen deren Relevanz für die Nachhaltigkeitsagenda.
Achievements
See "objective"
Knowledge resource and technical tool
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Publication: Catacora-Vargas G, Llanque Zonta A, Jacobi J, Delgado Burgoa F. 2016. Soberanía alimentaria: reflexiones a partir de diferentes sistemas alimentarios de Santa Cruz, Bolivia. NERA 32 (19): 170-194.
Publication: Catacora-Vargas G, Llanque Zonta A, Jacobi J, Delgado Burgoa F. 2016. Soberanía alimentaria: reflexiones a partir de diferentes sistemas alimentarios de Santa Cruz, Bolivia. NERA 32 (19): 170-194.
Regions
Latin America / Caribbean
Lead organization
Agruco, University of Cochabamba
Objective
To analyse the contribution of different food systems to food soeveignty in the Canta Cruz Department of Bolivia
Achievements
We showed that the agroindustrial food system based on soybeans had the lowest contribution to food sovereognty, and an agroecological food system we analyzed had the highest. The results raise questions about conflicts and coexistence narratives between different types of food systems
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Contribution to Report of the Special Rapporteur on the Human Right to Food (Hilal Elver) "Adverse Impacts of Pesticides on the Human Right to Food"
Contribution to Report of the Special Rapporteur on the Human Right to Food (Hilal Elver) "Adverse Impacts of Pesticides on the Human Right to Food"
Regions
Global / All regions
Lead organization
Special Rapporteur on the Human Right to Food (Hilal Elver)
Objective
The centre for Development and Environment contributed to the report by the Special Rapporteur on the Human Right to Food (Hilal Elver) by providing information on pesticide use form project data from Bolivia
Achievements
The information on pesticide use in Bolivia was included in the report but individual contributions were not acknowledged
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Peer-reviewed article "Agroecosystem Service Capacity Index – A methodological approach" published in Landscape Online
Peer-reviewed article "Agroecosystem Service Capacity Index – A methodological approach" published in Landscape Online
Regions
Africa
Latin America / Caribbean
Lead organization
University of Bern
Objective
Evaluations of fod system sustainabiltiy in terms of the landscpaes they create
Achievements
We hope that the method contributes to linking food system decisions to landscape decisions, but it is too early to know who applies it and where
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Peer-reviewed article "Actor-specific perceptions of risks and strategies for resilience building in different food systems in Kenya and Bolivia" published in Regional Environmental Change
Peer-reviewed article "Actor-specific perceptions of risks and strategies for resilience building in different food systems in Kenya and Bolivia" published in Regional Environmental Change
Regions
Africa
Latin America / Caribbean
Lead organization
University of Bern, University of Nairobi
Objective
we sought to compile and understand the risk perceptions of different actors in food systems as possible drivers of resilience building along food value chains. To do so, we gathered data from six case studies of different food systems in Kenya and Bolivia.A better understanding of how risks are perceived and by whom, and respective strategies employed, may provide important lessons for policies on risk reduction and building sustainable and resilient food systems.
Achievements
The research indicates that food system actors at the production level are particularly at risk, highlighting the need for political focus and creation of structural opportunities for resilience building on their behalf. Indeed, production is likely the most important—though not the only, and not in isolation—stage upon which to focus efforts towards resilience building. This could include promotion of conservation agriculture, and, going further, emphasis on social-ecological systems thinking, agroecology, social organization, and social protection. Certain civil society and government efforts in Bolivia and Kenya point in this direction, but remain in an embryonic stage, lacking the necessary budget and political commitment for full realization.
Outcome level
Education on SCP
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Two new PhD studies: 1) Emily Brandao, Brazil: Food Sustainability in the Brazilian Semiarido. 2) Emily Mutea, Kenya: Impacts of different forms of smallholder households' interactions with different food systems on access to land and water, poverty, inequality and food insecurity in NW-SW Mt. Kenya
Two new PhD studies: 1) Emily Brandao, Brazil: Food Sustainability in the Brazilian Semiarido. 2) Emily Mutea, Kenya: Impacts of different forms of smallholder households' interactions with different food systems on access to land and water, poverty, inequality and food insecurity in NW-SW Mt. Kenya
Regions
Africa
Europe and Central Asia
Latin America / Caribbean
Lead organization
Centre for Development and Environment, University of Bern
Objective
To conduct two new food sustainilty assessments
Achievements
Two PhD scholarships of the Swiss government achieved PhD proposals under elaboration
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Transformative Pilot Action: Certification course on sustainable foos systems for urban agroecological farmers in Sucre, Bolivia
Transformative Pilot Action: Certification course on sustainable foos systems for urban agroecological farmers in Sucre, Bolivia
Regions
Latin America / Caribbean
Lead organization
University of Bern
Objective
The objective of this "Transformatve Pilot Action" is to support the development of viable value chians related to urban agroecological food production. A professional title ("Tecnico Auxiliar") in "Sustainable Food Systems" will help the sector to develop, the contents were designed according to speccific needs for information and strategies defined by the farmers' group
Achievements
The first 5-months-course hast started in December 2018 with 35 participants
SCP changes in practice
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Transformative Pilot Action for improving food system sustainability in Kalbeon Village, norther Ghana
Transformative Pilot Action for improving food system sustainability in Kalbeon Village, norther Ghana
Regions
Africa
Lead organization
Millar Open University, Ghana University of Bern, Switzerland CETRAD, Kenya
Objective
Improve the food system's sustainbiltiy by improving its value chains: Local processing for food and shea (markets)
Achievements
Appears to be a much-needed measure defined by the villagers and evaluated for its sustainability by Millar Open University. Mr Samuel Akolgo, the leader of the Community Immersion team explained that in the Kalbeo Community, a number of problems were uncovered, however, the members of the community, especially women had requested for the installation of a grinding mill in the area to boost economic activities. Ms Eva Agana, a lecturer at the MITDS, which is also called the Millar Open University, who spoke on behalf of Professor Millar, noted that the University was unique as compared to other universities as the institute considered the indigenous aspect of development and incorporating them into their development set up. She indicated that as result of erratic rainfall and climate change issues, food security had been a major challenge in recent times and called for pragmatic measures to address that. This, she said, could only be achieved when women are empowered through the provision of sustainable industrialisation interventions including; the multipurpose grinding mill to work with and improve their livelihoods. She said the project was intended to reduce the labour intensity in the shea production chain and make them to produce quality shea for both local and international markets. She disclosed that the project was also part of a two-year community based sustainable food programme being implemented in two communities in the region in collaboration with the University of Bern in Switzerland and University of Nairobi in Kenya. Madam Amisina Azuure, a leader of the women group in the community thanked Professor Millar and the students for the support over the years and pledged on behalf of the members of the community to regularly maintain it as well as put it into good use to better their lots
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Transformative Pilot Action "Smallholder Dairy Value Chain in Umande Ward, Laikipia"
Transformative Pilot Action "Smallholder Dairy Value Chain in Umande Ward, Laikipia"
Regions
Africa
Lead organization
CETRAD
Objective
Enhancing food security and wealth creation of smallholder farmers through improved dairy production and market integration
Achievements
Outputs of the activity: 1. A comprehensive tailor made training materials for dairy farmers and first level extension service providers 2. Farmer trainings and TOTs 3. A standard housing structure to secure a 3000 litres capacity cooler plant with its associated accessories and support infrastructure. 4. Over 100 acres of fodder lots 5. At least one farmers exchange visits 6. Three basic and strategically placed collection/distribution centres 7. A well-functioning and promising 'table banking' platform
Impact and Results
A transdisciplinary approach means organizing a process of knowledge co-production between researchers and food system stakeholders; this will include production of target or normative knowledge (expressed here in the five principles of food sustainability), systems knowledge (i.e. understanding of food systems in terms of the proposed research questions), and transformation knowledge (i.e. identification of innovations and policy options for improving food systems’ sustainability). Empirical research on the impacts of interactions between different food systems has been carried out by more than 30 researchers from Bolivia, Kenya and Switzerland, based on six case studies in Bolivia and Kenya, and in the future in four secondary case studies in other countries of South America and Africa. Production of transformation knowledge is closely related to the project’s strategy of communication and implementation of research results. It is organized around the development of a “Food Sustainability Assessment Framework (FoodSAF)” that can be used by non-scientific actors to find innovations and policy options for making food systems more sustainable.