There are a number of system dynamics concepts that could be used to ensure the report is useful to practitioners. Fundamentally, agroecology is about processes in a system (verbs) more so than things (nouns). So it is important to keep in mind that we are talking about food flow, not simply food production or consumption. Understanding food flow allows us to see local and regional differences and make systemic changes to improve food access. Food flow varies greatly by region, depending on the type of production sector in proximity to markets; the size of markets; government subsidies for transportation, water, and labor; location in relation to mountains, lakes and seas, etc.. It is possible to meter food flow, much like blood flow is monitored throughout a body, and is a key metric.
Governance of food flow is accomplished by different entities with different goals and frames of reference. Much of food flow management (governance) is dependent on ownership. Farmers are looking at the farm land under their control and ownership, while vertically integrated food companies are looking at the business enterprises under their control and ownership. While we have very clear diagrams depicting natural processes, these human governance processes lack the same clarity. Diagraming ownership, capital flow and other measures of systemic power in food systems is needed.
The role of civic government in food access has ebbed and flowed in relation to varying scales of ownership and control in the private sector. There are times when it is advisable to engage public resources to tweek food flow to acheive public benefits. Identifying this threshold may be accomplished by considering settlement dynamics in combination with food flow. Such an overlay may produce a kind of moire pattern.
We can see that there is a need to optimize both diversity and efficiency throughout the system to improve food flow. For many businesses, this requires a shift in mindset because maximizing efficiency within their enterprise has been their management focus - efficiency in fuel and labor costs primarily. It is important to remember that optimization is different than maximization and that both diversity and efficiency must be optimized concurrently. Measurement that identifies this sweet spot is key.
There are a number of critical thresholds that must be met for agroecological systems to better function and food flows to be improved. Optimizing dIversity at the genetic, farm, and landscape level makes it possible to optimize efficiencies in food flow, such as fuel spent delivering product to rural and urban settlements. Optimizing diversity in farming allows farmers to make logical decisions based on localized limits, such as soil type and quality, water availability, slope % and aspect, pest pressure, vulnerability to extreem weather, etc.. These decisions are made in the context of market access and economic viability. Measuring market access is key.
Diversity in the size of supply chains and webs adds resilience to the system. supports small business ownership, and promotes business start ups. Decent work in farming depends on the ability of small local direct and wholesale supply chains to emerge and grow as farmers age over time. The same is true of entrepreneurs in other parts of the food system. Decent work rests on the availability of jobs, and is enhanced when one is self-employed, whether through simple or cooperative ownership. Supporting small supply chains to become economically viable is necessary to ensure that hired labor is paid fairly for work performed. This is particularly important in the youth labor market. A measure of success would be that youth are paid sufficiently for their labor so that they may accumulate the capital necessary to start a small business in some aspect of the food system.
This is all part of food sovereignty. An excellent example of how this functions at the public and private level is the Ontario Food Terminal. On a smaller scale, the Oneida Nation of Wisconsin is balancing community food provisioning with enterprise development on the land they hold in common. Other proofs of concept show the diversity of approach and the importance of civic engagement to incubate small supply chains.
Michelle Miller