Forum global sur la sécurité alimentaire et la nutrition (Forum FSN)

Dear all,

The Contribution below is on how how cities could get involved in addressing food security and nutrition.

Getting Cities Involved in Food Security and Nutrition

Jackson Kago & Remy Sietchiping[1]

Background

The subject of how to feed the cities is increasingly gaining momentum with increasing urbanisation. Food security is both a rural and urban issue. In addition, urbanisation and globalisation is increasingly dictating the kind of activities that are taking place in rural areas including the kind of agricultural products that are grown this has a significant effect on food security. A significant proportion of the World population is moving to urban areas are from rural areas, further increasing the food demand in cities while also leading to the depopulation of some rural areas which has contributed to the diminution of the number of farmers in some countries. Another significant phenomenon is the transformation of the city edges in an unplanned and uncoordinated manner in some developing countries; with cities extending into peri-urban and rural areas in the process encroaching into fertile land. The pressures on land as a result of the diminishing land base caused by overuse, manmade/natural phenomena, population growth and lack of good land governance; creates intense competition for different uses including urbanization and requirements to meet human survival. Management of land use in these peri-urban areas is critical to balance city expansion so that it does not compromise food production. (UN-Habitat, 2016)

Urban-rural linkages and City Region Food Systems provide a good framework to systematically address food systems challenges. The key issue is how urban-rural linkages affects the whole food chain from food production, distribution to consumption in the context of cities and towns, as well as in rural areas?

Thus the interconnectivity between food security, agriculture and urbanization remains relevant. The positive transformative potential of urbanization and strengthened urban-rural linkages in achieving sustainable development has been seen to inter alia, contribute to:  eradication of poverty, social inclusion, inclusive economic growth, enhancing access to basic urban services, supporting inclusive housing, enhancing job opportunities, productivity, creating and sharing benefits, and creating a safe and healthy living environment. It is also useful in uplifting the livelihoods of youth and people in vulnerable situations in the context of gender equality. (UN-Habitat, 2015)

Emerging Global Policies on Urban Food Security

Food Systems and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

As the World moves from the implementation of the Millennium Development Goals to the Sustainable Development Goals, addressing the issue of food security in both rural and urban areas will cut across multiple goals and targets as set in the agenda including: Goal 1 to “End poverty in all its forms everywhere,” more specifically Goal 2 to “End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture;” Goal 3 Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages.” Goal 11 to “Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable.” Goal 12 to “Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns.” Goal 13 to “Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts.” Goal 15 to “Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss.”

Food Systems in the New Urban Agenda

New Urban Agenda, adopted in Quito in September 2016 has shifted the notion rural and urban development from that of two separate challenges, the, clearly refers to the “urban-rural continuum of space” in several of its paragraphs (paragraph 49, 72, 95 and 96). With the New Urban Agenda, Member States have committed to a balanced territorial development, “promoting equitable growth of regions across the urban–rural continuum” - and to “leave no one behind, by ending poverty in all its forms and dimensions” (paragraph 14,a).

The New Urban Agenda para 123 more  specifically commits to “… promote the integration of food security and the nutritional needs of urban residents, particularly the urban poor, in urban and territorial planning, in order to end hunger and malnutrition…..promote the coordination of sustainable food security and agriculture policies across urban, peri-urban and rural areas to facilitate the production, storage, transport and marketing of food to consumers in adequate and affordable ways in order to reduce food losses and prevent and reuse food waste. We will further promote the coordination of food policies with energy, water, health, transport and waste policies, maintain the genetic diversity of seeds, reduce the use of hazardous chemicals and implement other policies in urban areas to maximize efficiencies and minimize waste.”

Milan Food Policy Pact

The Milan Urban Food Policy Pact adopted by Mayors during the Milan Expo 2015 advocates for an international protocol, engaging the largest number of world cities in the development of food systems, based on the principles of sustainability and social justice. It is a good model of collaboration to improve inclusive, resilient, safe and diverse, nutritious and affordable food systems in urban areas. More noticeable here is not only the partnership that such initiative emulates but also the central role local authorities play to ensure safe and secure food system for the growing urban population.

Why Should Cities get involved in City Food Systems?

The current trends of urbanization, have seen sections of populations migrating to urban areas marginalized and living in informal settlements and in impoverished conditions. The urban poor are food insecure and sometimes have to skip a meal in order to survive. Evidence from UN-habitat indicates that a number of indicators referred to as “urban penalty” show that vulnerable urban populations are as bad as or worse than those of rural populations. Research shows that as a result of inflation, urban dwellers may be forced to use 70 - 80 per cent of their disposable income to purchase food. Research also shows that during famines and droughts, the situation of the urban poor is much worse than that of the rural poor as a result of increase in the price of essential food commodities. In addition, ‘social capital’ is often weaker in urban areas compared to rural areas where people have kin and support networks. Rural poor are often cushioned by food aid by international agencies and government, although more international Non-Governmental Organization are increasingly providing cash transfers to slum populations to enable them meet their basic needs. (UN-Habitat, 2006)

The poor urban dwellers are additionally vulnerable to fluctuations of food prices, often lacking alternatives means to access food compared to their rural counterparts. The resultant effect is that they often result to unhealthy means to survive including skipping meals, scavenging, reducing the quantity of food intake and poor choice of foods. This leads to malnutrition among the urban dwellers, particularly those living in slums.  Although in general, malnutrition is much higher in rural and slum areas as compared to non-slum urban areas (UN-Habitat, 2006). Research on mal-nutrition in slum areas in Bangladesh and Indonesia for children under 5 years of age showed that there were more underweight, stunted and wasting than in the rural population (Mohiddin et al., 2012). Out of the over 4 million urban food poor in Kenya, almost a third of them were located in the City of Nairobi, where 60% of Nairobi’s population live in slums. A study of the impact of fluctuations in food price rises in Nairobi’s slums found that up to 90% of households had reduced the size or frequency of meals. (Oxfam, 2010)

What is the role of Small and Intermediate Towns in Strengthening Food Systems?

Small and intermediate towns surrounding the Cities are important in facilitating effective food systems. These are the towns that form the first link of rural dwellers to urbanisation. These towns can play a key role in enhancing robustness of the food system from production, distribution to consumption through enabling access to farm inputs like fertilisers and insecticides and other related goods and services to boost and ensure the continuity in food production. They also are contribute to value adding and also host to agro-processing industries that enhance the quality of farm produce or contribute to the storage of farm produce reducing losses and wastage of perishable goods. (Sietchiping et al, 2014)

Small and intermediate towns are also where farmers are able to sell their produce.  Access to markets is important to rural farmers and is necessary in strengthening food security. Connecting these small scale producers to urban centres would generate employment that would build their capacity to produce more. Efficient market systems that reduce exploitation by middlemen increase the income by the farmers and consequently ensure the continuity and increase in production. This is also key in reducing rural poverty.

Further, populations living in or near small and intermediate cities are also consumers of products produced in the rural areas. This is visible in the character of the markets located in the small and intermediate towns where rural dwellers throng the market to buy food products that they do not produce.  Effective distribution of food is useful in ensuring that the rural dwellers access other nutritional food products at an affordable rate. The larger the availability of food products, the more the nutritional choice available to the consumers. It is through markets located in these towns that farmers are also able to get other processed good and services, creating a link with the city.

Small and intermediate cities also create an enabling environment for commerce and engagement in non-farm activities. They create an opportunity for food processing industries and commercial activities to thrive, further boosting economic opportunities for rural populations. Through markets located in these towns, surplus food produced in other parts of the region or country is made accessible to rural households who either are faced by low yields or do not engage in farm production. Small and Intermediate Towns also play a role in building food resilience among rural dwellers in case of droughts. It is in these towns where food relief is distributed by government and non-government agencies in case of droughts.

For these towns to effectively contribute to strengthened food systems, there is need for sufficient and affordable infrastructure in the form of access roads to ensure efficient transportation of produce from the farms and also proper links to the surrounding cities. Critical factors that support the growth of small and intermediate towns are access to land and water, good infrastructure including electricity, communications and roads connecting them to larger urban centres as well as to the surrounding rural region. (Tacoli, 2004., Sietchiping et al., 2014b)

1. What can Cities do to strengthen City Region Food Systems?

Some of the key factors that are considered in the location of cities are usually linked to the suitability of the locations to support the growth of that settlement/ city. These include suitable soils, adequate sources of water and proximity agricultural hinterland.  In deed many cities formed as agricultural town and some are still sustained by agricultural activities. Urbanisation challenges have however strained the sustenance of agricultural activities in cities. A significant one being the uptake of prime agricultural and livestock keeping land by urban sprawl. Secondly the Cities lack adequate laws to govern agricultural activities, and current policies prohibit urban agriculture. The uncontrolled sprawl spilling over jurisdictional boundaries through illegal subdivision of private holdings and planned invasions of idle lands creates defective urban structures and also usually destroys good soils, forestry, contaminates water and creates unbearable environment. This sprawl may lead to disruption of rural livelihoods in the peri-urban areas and also interfere with food production. Some of the ways cities can enhance food systems are:

• To enhance food security, in the peri urban zones, it’s important to improve access to land tenure with a focus on gender-equitable distribution to women and youth. Improvements in land holdings, land tenure security, is bound to have an impact on crop production, and productivity, and consequently on income and food security. The Global Land Tenure Network (GLTN) has experiences in securing land and property rights for all.
• The uptake of peri-urban land by the built up environment calls for land management mechanisms that will promote regulation of land use in these zones. This should be participatory in such a way that it does not infringe on owners’ rights but also encourages farming activities. One such strategy would be to encourage co-existence of farming activities and other land uses and removal of prohibitory laws that inhibit urban agriculture in residential areas. Another incentive would be less land rates/ tax for vacant or farming land. This can encourage private owners to transform vacant land to urban farms in order to get the tax reduction.
• Urban agriculture can be encouraged by creating flexibility in zoning laws to allow for controlled farming activities in areas that are not built up by removing prohibitive barriers. Cities can also encourage urban agriculture by giving special permits to farmers, and also by increasing collaboration with community organizations engaging in urban agriculture. 
• Food distribution can be encouraged through strategic positioning of markets within the city region. Robust local food markets are beneficial to farmers, and are associated with more revenue from local sales compared to mainstream markets, since farmers are able to sell directly to consumers reducing the exploitation by middlemen (Hamilton et al, 2013). Supporting infrastructure to support the operation of markets should be put in place including proper water and sanitation, storage, security, waste management and road infrastructure. In addition the relevant city departments should engage stakeholders to ensure that the required zoning, health, and waste management and other regulations do not inhibit the operation of these markets.
• Informal food/street traders make food accessible to urban households at strategic locations, increasing convenience and reducing the cost of transportation to but food.  Street markets are usually located close to residential areas offering food commodities in their natural, or processed form. In addition the informal traders offer quantities that are affordable to the urban poor. Planning regulations should be flexible to allow the operation of street food markets which play an important role in increasing access to food to urban dwellers at an affordable amount especially in developing countries.
• Zoning can be restrictive in nature and may present barriers to effective food systems. Thus cities and Metropolitan authorities can rezone some parts of the city, especially the peri-urban zones in conjunction with the user communities to accommodate urban agriculture. Zoning regulations could cover aspects governing home gardens, urban farms, recycling of waste and composting, and approval of green houses and animal sheds. Zoning regulations can also allocate areas where street vendors and farmers markets can operate for instance in proximity to hospitals, universities, schools, commercial/ residential areas, and parks both private and public spaces in conjunction with relevant stakeholders. Zoning can also encompass activities related to food processing and packaging in the city, outlining areas and modes of operation.
• Zoning can be used to regulate the operation of fast food businesses, to control their location and density in proximity to schools and areas where children frequent to curb issues of obesity. Zoning should could additionally encourage location of food related enterprises trading in nutritious products such as fruits, fresh local unprocessed food to encourage healthy diets.
• Food processing is a sensitive issue due to the health risks involved. The City's health departments could enact rules to guide the processing of food products in the City in their various forms and complexity.
• Cities can also enact regulations to guide transportation of food into the city and waste from food markets and consumption through various modes including through bicycles, wheelbarrows, hand carts, motorbikes or trucks by designating areas of operation and rules on offloading.
• Lastly policies that govern recycling and re-use of waste from food consumption and distribution should be put in place. Cities should also aim at reducing the amount of waste from food processing and packaging. Waste management offers a big opportunity for the cities to engage unemployed youth to get gainful employment in this sector.

Conclusions.

In conclusion, it is increasingly evident that cities have a key role to play in sustaining food security systems and ensuing that there are clear policies to feed its population in a sustainable manner. Cities should formulate the necessary regulations to support city region food systems from production to consumption. Food systems should not be approached in dichotomy but through an integrated approach that does not view rural areas only as producers or urban areas as consumers.  Further the link between the Cities’ and the region is important in developing efficient city food region systems.

References

1. Hamilton, J., Carver, L., Tanguay, J., & Conroy, J. (2013) Municipal Food Systems Planning Toolkit for MAPC Communities.  CLF Ventures, Inc. and Metropolitan Area Planning Council
2. Mohiddin, L., Phelps, L., & Walters, T. (2012). Urban malnutrition: a review of food security and nutrition among the urban poor. London: Nutrition Works. International Public Nutrition Resource Group, 19-35.
3. OXFAM (2010) Urban Poverty and Vulnerability in Kenya Final Report On Policy Analysis for Development in Urban Slums the Case of Nairobi
4. Remy Sietchiping, Jackson Kago, Xing Quan Zhang, Jane Reid, and Raf Tuts (2014) The Role of Small and Intermediate Towns in Enhancing Urban-Rural Linkages for Sustainable Urbanization” in the “Regional Development Dialogue Vol. 35 on Urban-Rural Linkages in Support of the New Urban Agenda, 48-62
5. Sietchiping, R., Kago, J., Zhang, Q. X., Augustinus, C & Tuts R., (2014b) The Role of Urban Rural Linkages in Promoting Sustainable Urbanisation. Environment & Urbanisation Asia, 5(2), 219-234.
6. Tacoli, C. (2004) The role of small and intermediate urban centres and market towns and the value of regional approaches to rural poverty reduction policy.
7. UN Habitat (1996) Habitat II – Dialogue #6: Land and Rural/Urban linkages in the Twenty-First Century.
8. UN-Habitat (2006) The State of The World’s Cities Report 2006/2007 30 Years of Shaping the Habitat Agenda.  Earthscan: London.
9. UN-Habitat (2015) 25th Session of the UN-Habitat Governing Council Resolution HSP/GC/25/L.9
10. UN-Habitat (2016) Un-Habitat. World Cities Report 2016.

Please find attached The NBI-Zimbabwe Experiences/Strategies and effective policy approaches in addressing food security and nutrition contribution to the CFS Call for experiences and effective policy approaches in addressing food security and nutrition in the context of changing rural-urban dynamics.



Best Regards



Osmond Mugweni

Founder and Executive Director

Neremoto Biodiversity Institute

NBI-Zimbabwe

A Partner of the SFS 10YFP Programme

DE L’ESSOR DE L’ECONOMIE ANACARDIERE A LA PROBLEMATIQUE DE LA SECURITE ALIMENTAIRE DANS LES ZONES DE SAVANE EN COTE D’IVOIRE : LE CAS DE LA REGION DU GBEKE.



Par Kouakou Valentin KRA



Cet article traite des mutations agricoles dans les zones rurales ainsi que leurs répercussions sur les villes. Ici, nous partons de l’exemple de l’expansion de l’anacardier pour montrer comment cette culture pérenne influence négativement la production vivrière pour induire une insécurité alimentaire et bouleverser à terme les rapports traditionnelles villes – campagnes. De façon singulière, l’analyse de la problématique de la sécurité alimentaire induite par l’essor de l’anacarde dans la région du Gbêkê constitue l’essentiel de cette étude.



Du point de vue agricole, la Côte d’Ivoire se subdivise en deux grandes parties : la moitié sud (forestière) pour les cultures pérennes et le nord pour le vivrier. Dès son indépendance, le pays a mise en place une politique agricole en faveur des cultures d’exportation que son le café, le cacao, l’hévéa et le palmier à huile. Cette situation a eu pour impact le déplacement massif des populations du centre et du nord vers la zone forestière propice aux cultures de rente. Les zones de savane,quoi que souvent négligées ont été confinées dans la production vivrière et ont permis au pays d’être autosuffisant en vivrier. Les denrées alimentaires ainsi produites sont écoulées dans les centres urbains où les besoins alimentaires sont de plus en plus grandissants en raison de la croissance démographique. C’est à juste titre que ces zones de savanes sont souvent qualifiées de greniers du pays.



Cependant, ces dernières années l’on observe des mutations importantes dans ces zones de savane, en raison du développement de la culture de l’anacarde. En effet, cette spéculation autrefois marginalisées, connaît une revalorisation sur le marché international. De la campagne 2013 à celle de 2017 les prix du kilogramme bord champs sont passés de 200 fcfa à 440 fcfa. Du coup, elle devient une culture commerciale au même titre que le café et le cacao des zones forestières. Dans ce contexte, le vivrier est relégué au second plan au profit de l’anacarde qui de plus en plus occupe, voire immobilise les terres vivrières sur plusieurs années.



Comme conséquence, l’on observe une réduction des superficies et de la production vivrière ; ce qui constitue une menace pour la sécurité alimentaire. A terme, l’on risque le ‘’ syndrome sud-est ivoirien’’ caractérisé par une insécurité alimentaire consécutive à l’occupation totale des terres agricoles par l’hévéa et le palmier à huile. Les campagnes qui traditionnellement fournissaient les denrées alimentaires aux villes sont aujourd’hui dans l’impossibilité de jouer ce rôle. D’ailleurs, les ruraux ont de plus en plus recours aux centres urbains pour s’approvisionner en vivriers venus d’autres localités du pays ou importés. Il y a dès lors un important bouleversement dans les rapports villes - campagnes. Dans la région du Gbêkê, les répercussions sur les centres urbains et singulièrement Bouaké sont remarquables et se traduisent par la flambée des prix et surtout des pénuries de certaines denrées alimentaires de grande consommation. Cette situation est surtout exacerbée par la croissance démographique de la ville et donc des besoins alimentaires.

Proponent

Dr Emanuele Merlino, project Manager of the cultural centre “Casale Caletto” on behalf of the associations “Trousse”, “AICEM” and the social cooperative “Spazio Nostro” that are managing the space jointly now.



Main responsible entity

The leading association of the centre is the Trousse association (www.associazionetrousse.it), which has been dealing with the establishment of local theatres and various cultural activities since 1977 in Rome and Lazio’s socially disadvantages areas in collaboration with the Italian Ministry for Cultural Assets and Activities and numerous other local entities. The association Trousse has been managing these public spaces by qualifying in public tenders and has been awarded several times. While safeguarding its own mission, vision and identity, the association Trousse has established successful collaborations with its peers.



Date/Timeframe

January 2012 to date



Funding source

The main funding sources are both public and private. The public funding comes from qualifying in public local, regional and national tenders for social activities, such as social inclusion, actions against poverty and discrimination, recycle labs and reuse aimed at preserving the common good, theatre, various specialisation courses, cinema festivals and promotional videos on social topics, culture and peri-urban areas. Moreover, campaigns such as “No Hate” took place at the centre thanks to the contribution of the Council of Europe: more specifically, AICEM oversees the translation into Italian the online manual on hate words on behalf of the Council itself.



The private sources come from the Bank of Cooperative Credit Foundation and from other cultural associations and cooperatives.



Location

All activities take place at

Cultural Centre “Casale Caletto”

via Jacopo della Quercia SNC

00155 – Roma

ITALY



The Centre belongs to the IV Municipality of Rome but is managed by the association after qualifying in a public tender in 2012 by the trio of association Trousse, AICEM and Spazio Nostro Cooperative



Background/Context

The Cultural Centre “Casale Caletto” takes its name from the neighbourhood where it is in the outskirts of Rome. Its location weights an enormous importance and contributes to convey its mission greatly. Casale Caletto ranks second on the scale of social discomfort index (Indice di Disagio Sociale – IDS), as calculated by the Municipality of Rome and published in January 2016; moreover, Casale Caletto is peri-urban area with vast green areas, some of which are rural. Unfortunately, an absent housing policy together with very high criminality rates render the area immune to public efforts in improving the general conditions. Both literacy and unemployment rates are quite high: 12% and 20% respectively, with young women, single mothers below thirty and house wives being the most exposed and vulnerable to organised crime and addictions. There is virtually no economic activity in the area, except for ICT companies, which has a relevant conglomerate nearby; however, this is of no attraction for the local dwellers for their lack of necessary skills.



In this sense, Casale Caletto has strong linkages with the centre or Rome, as it depends on it economically, administratively and politically but possesses vast green areas, most of which are rural and often cultivated without proper supervision or even illegally. The overall conditions of the entire neighbourhood expose its dwellers to erratic food consumption patterns, leading to malnutrition both in terms of obesity and lack of many nutrients. Lately, migration has slowly become a pressing issue because migrants are perceived as a threat to the already feeble and uncertain household incomes, with some outbreaks of violence and dissatisfaction towards foreigners. Generally, inhabitants perceive themselves as unfairly treated by local, regional and national authorities. This is the context that led many to form these local associations with the aim of triggering a positive reaction with significant spill-over effects for every inhabitant.



Focus/Objectives

With a general mission of safeguarding the common good and aiming at an inclusive and aware local community, the Cultural Centre Casale Caletto has been delivering successful experiences in terms of cultural activities. Some of said activities aimed at raising awareness amongst its members and local inhabitants on food-related matters, especially in terms of waste reduction and reuse.



The Centre would like to become a listening and information post regarding local initiatives linked to food security and nutrition. The motives behind this choice reside both in the aforementioned context and background focusing on including the most vulnerable groups, such as women, especially young and single mothers, local youth, migrants, in activities to raise their awareness regarding nutrition, with special attention to the role it plays in education in growing children, and family farming initiatives, which can play a key role in raising the general income levels as well as providing safer and locally grown food.



Key characteristics of the experience/process

The main characteristic of the Centre is the close collaboration between the professional profiles who are employed in our activities and the neighbourhood inhabitants. All our laboratories and course are the outcome of a very lively collaboration, in full respect of each other’s roles. In fact, there are local assemblies and public consultations with the local inhabitants and relevant stakeholders before beginning any new activity at the Centre. All initiatives benefitted from this approach and the price to pay was a slightly lengthier decision making process. However, the success it delivered each time outweighed the hardships of collective deliberation thanks to the strong link and ownership feeling by the local community, who participated and contributed to each activity with great passion and enthusiasm. This form of collaboration made the Centre the point of reference of the neighbourhood for such activities.



One concrete example of the Centre’s key characteristics and processes lies in the public library, opened at the Centre earlier this year (2017): its shelves are made of recycled materials such as wooden crates used to carry food to local markets. This initiative involved several actors – such as small vendors at the market – who became part of the decisionmaking process by adhering to the establishment of a public library, sharing that ownership feeling, despite their main activity being completely different. The local inhabitants named the library “The Beauty of Casale Caletto” (La Bellezza di Casale Caletto).



In conclusion, the Centre’s involves relevant actors horizontally as described by sharing ownership of each initiative but also vertically, by involving local, regional and national institutions. For instance, the Department for Culture and Youth Policies of the Lazio Region determined by one of its deliberations that the Centre’s activities are good practices with regards to culture and social inclusion (Deliberation n. G11578 del 12th October 2016)



Key actors involved and their role

Local inhabitants for their crucial role as co-owners and active participants; institutions such as the Municipality of Rome, Lazio Region and the Italian Ministry for Cultural Assets and Activities for their financial and political support through public tenders; professionals with different backgrounds who volunteered to share their experience and knowledge for each activity or initiative; similar or other local institutions for their support and partnerships, such as but not limited to the National Youth Forum, often instrumental in offering a different perspective emerging from their unique growth path. At the international level, the Centre collaborates with the Council of Europe on addressing hate speech.



Key changes observed with regards to food security and nutrition and sustainable agriculture and food systems

The only threat to food security derives from low incomes but there are no reasons to expect a drastic worsening of the situation; with regards to nutrition, there has been no change in behaviour regarding food since the only concern is to purchase the cheapest available goods. In that sense, there is still no awareness regarding nutritional values of what is consumed daily or the importance of a balanced diet, especially in growing children. However, there have been some appreciable changes in terms of reducing waste because the perception of saving money while doing it is immediate. Despite showing some interest in attempting to grow locally and sustainably, there is too much uncertainty regarding the legal and environmental conditions of available land, which is there nonetheless. The inhabitants perceive a general lack of confidence towards local institutions, should some initiatives be taken to reclaim green spaces. However, there is a general interest instead to correctly apply the Mediterranean diet, which is easily accessible, fairly balanced and reasonably cheap to a certain extent.



Challenges faced

The main challenge in establishing the Centre was the co-ownership of the initiatives and activities by the inhabitants and the associations who originally proposed the project. Casale Caletto is an extremely troubled neighbourhood: suspicion and diffidence are the first reactions we faced that we overcame by applying the co-ownership approach. This method required more time to establish solid roots but it paid off afterwards in terms of participation and involvement.



Another challenge is our relationship with the closest level of administration: the IV Municipality of Rome. After some initial exchange of formalities and allowing the Centre to be established, the local administration disappeared and is still a closed channel after five years– unlike the Lazio Region and the Italian Ministry for Cultural Assets and Activities.



Lessons/Key messages

The Cultural Centre “Casale Caletto” has already demonstrated that the people who live in a neighbourhood may successfully establish virtuous practices to substitute the lacks of their local administration. Two conclusions may be drawn by the lesson emerging from this experience: the first one is telling us that those practices must be established alongside the local administration, in close collaboration with civil society organizations; the second one suggests that there are situations and conditions in which longer decision-making processes are necessary to ensure success.



There is also a lesson regarding sustainability of such projects: the Centre requires a constant supply of fund, however minimal, to function. These funds should come from the closest administration, which is the IV Municipality of Rome. In other words, subsidiarity should always apply in these contexts.



The key message of this initiative is that there are untapped resources and potentials regarding food security and nutrition: synergies such as the one established by the Centre prove that these activities may prove extremely beneficial for dwellers who live in troubled areas and in particular for vulnerable groups such as women, youth and migrants in our case.

To Whom it may concern,

On behalf of Mr. Moreira Representative of FAO Bolivia, I Would like to share with you our experience about Urban Agriculture in the city of Sucre-Bolivia, as part of the actions encouraged by FAO and the Bolivian Government in relation to food security, nutrition and gender in urban and periurban areas which are reproducing to other Bolivian cities.

That is the reason for our strong interest to be included in the publication “Addressing food security and nutrition in the context of changing rural-urban dynamics: experiences and effective policy approaches” organized properly by the CFS.

Best Regards

Sergio Laguna Bretel

Asociado de Programas

Representación de la FAO en Bolivia

I would like to mention the approach we developed about "agri-urban systems" (Joint Research Unit Innovation, CIRAD/INRA french research centers). The agri-urban system approach is a way to understand the complexity of city-agriculture interaction both at the territorial level of a city and its region. This systems approach is based on the intersection of three groups of interactions: i) spatial and historical interactions between nature, agriculture and the city, ii) interactions between the current urban system and urban agriculture (spatial interactions, functional interactions and socio-political interactions), and iii) interactions within the agricultural system. The aim is to identify how a variety of relationships between city and agriculture are developed and what is at stake for the durability of urban agriculture. We have developed this approach in Bobo-Dioulasso (Burkina Faso), and firstly, we showed the historical contribution of agriculture to the development of the city. Farmers have mobilized local resources to develop a diversity of urban or peri­urban farming activities. Secondly, analyzing the agri­urban system reveals specific forms of urban governance and the weight of informality in the development of urban agriculture. Finally, our analysis highlights the weight of crop­-livestock and rural-­urban interactions in the functioning of the agri­urban system (we highlighted strong links between regional agriculture and the developement of urban agriculture: these links are made through agro-indutries located in the city).

It is an approach that has policy implications. Indeed, in allows to consider what is at stake when designing planning policies regarding both urban and rural areas.

We have an article that we soon be published regarding this approach:

Robineau O., Soulard C-T. 2017. Comprendre la complexité des liens ville-agriculture: intérêt d'une approche par le système agri-urbain. Le cas de Bobo-Dioulasso, Afrique de l'Ouest. Natures Sciences Sociétés.

The Agriculture & Food Security (A&FS) Network of SDC is proud to add the following contribution from our colleagues in the Humanitarian Aid and SHA Unit (Desk for South Sudan Sebastian Eugster) to the CFS call:



South Sudan, FAO: Urban & Peri-urban Livelihoods. Improved food security, nutritional status and incomes among vulnerable households in Juba, South Sudan (second phase)



If you have any questions regarding the project, please contact the Desk responsible, Sebastian Eugster [email protected]



Kind regards, your A&FS Team, Felix Fellmann and Sophie Hirsig





Proponent

Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) – Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC)



Main responsible entity

Humanitarian Aid and Swiss Humanitarian Aid (SHA) – Africa Division – Greater Horn of Africa – SCPO-Juba



Date/Timeframe

Phase 1: 01 July, 2015 to 30 June, 2016

Phase 2: 01 February, 2017 to 31 December, 2018



Funding source

The Government of the Swiss Confederation through Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC)



Location

South Sudan



Background/Context

In South Sudan, agriculture (crops, horticulture, livestock, fish and forests) is the mainstay livelihood for over 70 percent of the population in rural and peri-urban areas. In spite of the potential for the poor urban population of Juba to grow vegetables and cereals for their own production, 51 percent of the households are food insecure – more than double the 2015 levels of food insecurity. 11 percent of children from 6 to 59 months are acutely malnourished. The prevalence of food insecurity is related to a complex web of protracted internal problems, as well as to structural shortages of the local food system.

Over 80 percent of the urban populations depend entirely on markets for their food needs. Urban poor find themselves caught up in a complex situation of worsening economic downturn that shows rapid price increases of food commodities in the market in the face of loss of value of the South Sudanese pound against the dollar. Prices of staple foods and other basic commodities have increased significantly. Despite the abundant fertile soil and water supply in and around Juba City, accessibility by urban and peri-urban residents to nutritious diet is undermined and most of the food sources are from the neighbouring countries. Since the security and economic crisis escalated, trade routes have been seriously affected, the majority of traders who are mainly from Uganda and Kenya have lost confidence in the local currently. Production around Juba has been disrupted. Together with hyperinflation, this has resulted in shortages of commodities and skyrocketing of prices on the market. The purchasing power of the urban poor has dwindled alarmingly. Urban and peri-urban agriculture in Juba has a large potential to address the food security gap and provide for the city dwellers. It has become increasingly important as a means to enhance a household’s food basket and earn extra income.



Focus/Objectives

Impact: Improved food security, nutritional status and income of vulnerable households in and around Juba, South Sudan.

Outcome: Improve livelihoods and income opportunities for enhanced resilience of vulnerable populations in and around Juba.

Outputs:

1: Production of vegetables, fruits and honey improved for 2’000 households.

2: Employment and income opportunities for 200 vulnerable women and youth created.

3: Access to fish, honey, vegetables, fruits and milk for 4’500 vulnerable households improved.



Key characteristics of the experience/process

• Successful distribution of inputs and tools to 1’000 beneficiary households at the onset of the dry season

• The two implementing partners (DMI, Caritas-Juba) conducted successful trainings to all town groups of farmers on vegetable production

• Implementing partners reported that most farmers undertook vegetable cultivation at the early part of the dry season; and were able to produce food and sell the surplus during the November–December lean season

• The procurement of seeds and other inputs (as annexed) in bulk for the entire project has helped minimize delays in project implementation • By capitalizing on the competitive bidding process of ELRP partners and taking into account the previous experience these partners have collaborating with FAO in Juba, FAO was able to minimize the need for additional training and facilitate an easy transition to urban agriculture methodologies.



The major challenge identified by poor and vulnerable households around Juba is limited income and livelihood sources. Land as a factor of production is constrained due to the rapid settlement and urbanization of Juba City. The distribution of agricultural inputs was at the main offices of the implementing partners and at the boma centres of the participating villages where the beneficiaries collected them. After distribution of the inputs, the implementing partners conducted on-site, demonstrative trainings for the selected beneficiaries. Vegetable production within the dry season was undertaken along areas with water points either in groups or individually. Beneficiaries reported that this period was characterized by high demand for fresh vegetables in both households and markets. Marketing and sale of fresh vegetables were reported to take place at the production sites (gardens) where middlemen traders and neighbours come to buy.



School environmental health and nutrition clubs were formed in four schools.



Nursery beds and vertical gardens were established, beneficiaries overall had an improved nutrition food baskets and generated income up to SSP 320 to 496 per week.



Key actors involved and their role

Contract partner: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)

Coordination and synergies with other projects and actors: WFP, FSL, Cluster, World Vision International, Health Link, DMI, Caritas-Juba.

Other partners: OCHA, UNMISS



Key changes observed with regards to food security and nutrition and sustainable agriculture and food systems

Key changes after the first phase were:

1: Increased vegetable and fruit production for 1’000 most vulnerable households with particular focus on female-headed households (66% of these 1’000 were women) and women groups in both urban and peri-urban locations around Juba.

2: Increased food security through vegetable and fruit tree production in five primary schools (targeting 4’000 students and their families) with a view of extending the distribution of vegetable kits to families of participating students.

Output 3: Involved communities and users are enabled to sustainably and consensually manage natural resources namely land and water sources to prevent or peacefully address conflicts related to these resource, is yet to be fully implemented.



Beneficiaries overall had an improved nutrition food baskets and generated income up to SSP 320 to 496 per week.



Challenges faced

Contextual: Conflict and insecurity will occur, causing displacement of beneficiaries into or from the intervention area.

Project level: Pests and diseases on vegetable and stray animals can inhibit production; a sudden decline in demand for the community value chain selected for the project can also be a risk. Unpredictable weather patterns associated with the poor rainfall in and around Juba has in the past led to challenges. Financial: The economic situation of South Sudan remains unstable (price hikes, inflation, etc.)



Lessons/Key messages

Urban and peri-urban agriculture in Juba has a large potential to address the food security gap and provide for the city dwellers. It has become increasingly important as a means to enhance a household’s food basket and earn extra income.

• There is high demand for education in urban agriculture techniques among beneficiaries, the wider community and local implementing partners. Many more people wanted to receive the kits than those targeted to participate in the project. Sensitization of the community on agriculture production in relation to crop and livestock farming is necessary.

• The promotion of and training on vertical farming is recommended owing to the rising cost of water as a result of inflation.

• The school children and the community members actively participated in the food security programme, inspiring people from other villages to become more involved in urban agriculture.

• School administrations and the communities actively participated in the programme. The intervention was appreciated by the communities in all the payams.

• The feasibility of forming village-level farmers’ association as required to ensure sustainability of the project should be explored.

Proponent

Campagna Amica Foundation



Main responsible entity

Confederazione Nazionale Coldiretti – Coldiretti National Confederation



Date/Timeframe

The Italian law n.228/2001 introduced the concept of agricultural multifunctionality and allowed direct sales from farmers. The foundation “Campagna Amica” (Friendly countryside) was founded in 2009 and coordinates the activities of the project.



Funding source

Own resources of farmers. Furthermore farmers can invest on multifunctionality and direct sale by accessing the resources of rural development, which is a part of the Common Agricultural Policy (EU)



Location

Italy



Background/Context

With the reorganization of the large-scale retail distribution and a vision of agriculture as a simple provider of raw materials for the industry, the presence of farmers in local markets seemed a leftover from the past and was becoming increasingly marginal. But such a model began to show its limits both on the producers side, with inadequate compensation that did not cover their production costs, and consumers, forced to pay an excessive mark-up for the products on sale.

The production’s surpluses drove the agricultural enterprises to diversify and to seek new markets as not to close down. Direct processing and sale was revalued, and a new relationship with consumers started, centered on transparency, quality, link with the local community and freshness of the products sold, at a price that is fairer for everyone. In this way, farmers managed to reach the final consumer, obtaining a more equitable remuneration for their work and improving the knowledge of their reality among consumers. In some cases, as for example in the hinterland of Rome, these farmers successfully managed to sell their products in local markets and shops of the city, but the lack of organization and self-regulation to guarantee consumers, made those initiatives fail.



Focus/Objectives

The aim of the Campagna Amica initiative is clearly to give strength and continuity to experiences that would have otherwise remained isolated and little lasting in time, by offering a comprehensive and coherent approach to direct sales, thanks to a single brand to be implemented throughout the country. A political and economic plan, built by the producers themselves and shared by the community, capable to offer: a fair price and an effective guarantee of quality and transparency of foods, the enhancement of leading products and the distinctiveness of our territories and of those who live and work there, a general growth of the heritage of our Country.



Key characteristics of the experience/process

Within this context, the farmers association Coldiretti promoted the creation of a self-regulated organization of producers, sharing common principles and rules for the protection of consumers and producers themselves, adhering to farmer markets: the “Fondazione Campagna Amica”. Over the years a network of farms involved in direct sales has grown, creating many Campagna Amica markets, selling genuine farm-to-table products, with transparent and fair prices. Farms that adhere to the network and want to use the brand “Campagna Amica” accept to undergo periodic checks that ensure the agricultural and Italian origin of the products sold, in order to protect and safeguard the consumer. The Campagna Amica network has become a real commercial network of more than 10,000 points of sales, including over 1,000 Campagna Amica farmers markets, almost 7,000 that on farm points of sales, more than 2,000 agritourisms and 170 Italian shops. It also brings together entities not directly linked to the agricultural world, such as no food companies and restaurants that are an integral part of the Italian value chain and ambassadors of "Made in Italy".



Key actors involved and their role

• Family farms and cooperatives that have converted their production to sell directly, reprocessing and rediscovering methods of production and traditional varieties.

• Fondazione Campagna Amica, the organizational reality in which farmers gave themselves a regulation to ensure consumers, and collaboration with the local authorities, consumer organizations, schools and the civil society, in order to jointly develop the role and the purpose of this type of food production.



Key changes observed with regards to food security and nutrition and sustainable agriculture and food systems 

The development of Campagna Amica farmers’ markets occurred in parallel and in dialog with the spread of the "from farm to fork” idea for a more sustainable consumption that also gives attention to the working conditions at the production stage, together with nutritional campaigns on the effects of junk food, promoting the consumption of fresh seasonal fruits and vegetables. All these nutritional, environmental and cultural considerations come with the citizens/consumers awareness of their power to influence the model of development that the country follows, through their purchase choices. It is also clear that Farmers Markets encourage the consumption of healthy foods and an informed consumption of traditional products, allowing the conservation and development of a network of agricultural enterprises in the suburban areas of the cities. They generate a connecting link between city and countryside, while guaranteeing biodiversity and diversification of food, involving enterprises increasingly sensitive to the protection of the environment, and often active in rural tourism.



Challenges faced

Over the years, many results have already been achieved, going from the creation of an economic alternative for many family farms to the creation of a new awareness among consumers. From a quantitative point of view, the number of farmers markets has significantly increased. Furthermore, a strict control system promoted by Campagna Amica ensure consumers that they will find an authentic agricultural Italian product on sale. New challenges have to be faced: Farmers Markets must become even more a meeting and exchange point for all those actors who are interested in good food, both in business (restaurants, canteens, buying groups, etc.) and cultural terms.



Lessons/Key messages

Even within the traditional retail system of cities, it is essential to create a space for the direct sales of food. This has positive consequences from the point of view of nutrition and environment, and for the planning of cities and their hinterland. It favors a more fruitful relationship city-countryside, creates opportunities for qualified employment in the food sector, and a closer and more equitable and inclusive relationship between consumers and producers, even in a context of "Circular Economy". The presence of farmers markets and the selling of their products in the markets, also contributes to improved behavior and sensitivity of large-scale distribution that, after a phase of obstruction, can find spaces of collaboration with farmers. The key message is the ability of organization and self-regulation of the farmers who can and intend to undertake this journey, the dialog and confrontation with the civil society that can share it and sustain it, the advocacy in public institutions and the political world.

Proponent

Mangiza Chirwa Chongo



Main responsible entity

Lusaka City Council



Date/Timeframe

The project is still at conceptual stage. The pilot will be done for a period of three years from July 2017-June 2020



Funding source

The project will be co-funded by Lusaka City Council and Kasisi Agricultural Training Center



Location

Lusaka, Zambia



Background/Context

Lusaka is the capital city of Zambia and is experiencing one of the fastest urbanization rates in Africa. The city covers an area of 360 square kilometers and is not only the most populated but most densely populated city in the country. It had a population of 2,191,225 and density of 100 persons per km2 as of 2010. This characteristic of the city implies that the city’s expanding population cannot be supported comfortably due to insufficient land to support agriculture activities. The situation is worsened by the growing need for housing development which seems to be a more lucrative investment than agricultural production. Thus Lusaka relies on nearby peri-urban areas for supply of fresh foods to the city. An on-going project by the Food and Agriculture Organization in Zambia called “City Regions Food Systems” reports that food losses and food waste have been observed to be major concern for the city region food system, especially at the market level. This is as a result of poor transportation facilities, bad road network and lack of storage facilities to mention but a few. This negatively impacts farmer incomes as a good amount of produce is lost before it reaches the market. It also creates a challenge for waste management for the city council due to huge amounts of waste that has to be disposed.



The Lusaka City Council therefore intends to partner with organic farming institute called Kasisi Agriculture Training Centre which requires a huge tonnage of organic waste to make manure. This will help the local authority with waste management as well as promote better nutrition for the city through promotion of organic farming products. It is hoped that after the pilot project, the council may be able to assess the projects viability and demand for organic waste such that farmers from the nearby Peri-Urban areas may not entirely lose out when their produce goes to waste but can sell their damaged produce at a minimal fee. It is also hoped that through this project, demand can be created for organic waste and other large scale farmers can partner with the council. The project also hopes to train underprivileged women in organic farming to increase their incomes given that organic produce fetches more monetary value as compared to conventionally grown produce.



Focus/Objectives

The major objective of the project will be to alleviate the problem of food losses and food waste by getting economic value out of food that does not make it to the table. More specific objectives will include:

1. Assess the possibility of increasing farmer incomes by buying off wasted produce

2. Increasing possible incomes for women who will be trained by Kasisi Training institute in organic farming as they will get higher incomes by producing organic agricultural produce

3. Supporting the production of more organic food stuff as it is healthier and has friendlier environmental impacts

4. Improve waste management in the city

5. Improving the culture of waste separation which the city is struggling with at the moment



Key characteristics of the experience/process

Lusaka City Council manages all markets within the city and is consequently responsible for waste management in the markets. Currently, waste collection is a challenge because waste management fees charged by the council are insufficient to collect all the generated waste and the council usually has insufficient resources and collect and dispose of waste generated in the markets. Much of the waste results from food coming from the nearby towns due to lack of storage facilities and poor infrastructure to get the produce to market in time. On the other hand, Kasisi Agriculture training center is an agriculture training institute for Jesuits of the catholic church and it trains students in organic farming. The training center also has a large farm where they grow organic produce.



The project will therefore aggregate food waste from the markets and supply it to Kasisi Agriculture Training Center to be used in the institute’s farm. While the council will be responsible for separation of waste at source and aggregation of the waste, the training institute will be responsible for collection thereby enhancing council’s efforts in management of waste. The council will also sponsor a selected number of women (from its existing women groups engaged in gardening) to the agriculture institute to be trained in organic farming. During the project, assessments will be done on how to economically value wasted fresh foods so that eventually, the farmer can sell wasted food at a small fee thereby improve farmer incomes. This will reduce the amount of food that goes to waste and make better use of the wasted product.



Key actors involved and their role

The project will involve four major actors:

1. The local authority whose role will be food waste aggregation in the market place

2. Kasisi Agricultural Training Institute whose role will be to transport the waste from points of aggregation to the their farm as well as to train the less privileged women that will the local authority will sponsor

3. Women groups that will be sponsored to be trained in organic farming

4. Selected researcher to assess the amount of food waste generated, amount of organic fertilizer generated from the waste and possible value for the farmer as well as cost sharing mechanisms in the aggregation and transportation costs for future pricing of the wasted food staffs.



Key changes observed with regards to food security and nutrition and sustainable agriculture and food systems

This project is still at conceptual stage but it is hoped that the following results will be achieved at the end of the project:

1. Reduced economic losses (improved economic muscle and food security)for the farmer as a result of reduced food waste

2. Improved nutritional status of the city due to improved farming methods through increased production of organic farm produce

3. Improved incomes of women who will be trained in organic farming thereby improving their food security status

4. Promotion of sustainable agriculture systems through increased organic farming



Anticipated Challenges

Anticipated challenges on the project include:

1. It is expected that the women who will be trained in organic farming might have challenges in marketing their produce in the local markets as organic products are usually sold in local super markets which require large quantities in order to purchase from the farmer. It is hoped that since Kasisi agriculture training institute produces organic farm produce on a large scale, they can buy the produce from the women and aggregate with what they produce.

2. Once the pilot project is over and the farmer can sell wasted produce. The challenge anticipated is that who will bear the cost of aggregating the food waste to make it easy for Kasisi institute to collect large amounts of the waste. This is a concern because during the pilot project the food waste will be free but it is hoped that eventually the farmer can get a return on the wasted product. This has an implication on attaining the objective of the project to increase the farmer’s income. It is hoped that the researcher to be engaged will clearly show how all parties can benefit from the project.



Key messages

1. Food waste can be useful and has economic value

2. Promotion of organic farming can increase incomes for poor households

3. Challenges that result in food losses faced by farmers from rural and peri-urban areas such as poor transportation and inadequate storage facilities can be alleviated by making use of the wasted products

Dominique Couret - Abidjan- le 14 mars 2017

Contribution en réponse à l'appel à contributions sur les expériences et les approches efficaces de politique pour aborder la question de la sécurité alimentaire et de la nutrition dans le contexte de la dynamique changeante des relations entre zones urbaines et zones rurales

Concevoir une écologie politique de la salubrité publique

La question de la sécurité alimentaire et de la nutrition dans les pays de la zone intertropicale pourrait être abordée d’un point de vue éco-environnementale et comme un enjeu de sécurité/salubrité nationale. Juridiquement la bonne alimentation peut être posée comme relevant de la salubrité nationale dont la prise en charge relève de la responsabilité des Etats quant à la sécurité civile des peuples qu’ils abritent et le droit au respect de son intégrité physique et éco-environnementale de tout citoyen. Les citoyens sont donc en mesure de faire procès à leur gouvernement et demander réparation pour atteinte à leur intégrité et perturbations endocriniennes si besoin est.

Depuis les années 60, le modèle de production agro-industriel et de consommation reposant sur une production massive et de haute rentabilité puis de transformation pour conservation longue, a créé beaucoup d’abondance mais aussi de gaspillage et surtout des effets collatéraux dommageables avec l’introduction dans les produits transformés d’huiles hydrogénées, de conservateurs chimiques, sels et sucres à saturation ... Ceci alors même que les productions alimentaires locales et propres à la zone intertropicale sont particulièrement riches en vertus diététiques sont éliminées des étales par la concurrence de ces produits de masse.

Que cela soit en Côte d’Ivoire, en Equateur ou au Brésil, il est facile de constater chez les populations des quartiers populaires les effets délétères d’une mauvaise alimentation issu notamment de la surconsommation de sucres raffinés et d’huiles hydrogénées ou cuites  (surpoids, diabètes, hypertensions, malformations, dysfonctionnements des reins….)

En regard il existe une grande qualité diététique et nutritive de la production alimentaire locale, si on pouvait en assurer la production stable et le bon approvisionnement des villes proches, cela contribuerait efficacement tout à la fois à améliorer la santé des populations et en même temps à créer des filières économiques dynamiques de micro et très petites entreprises, des filières économiques d'échelle locale et infra locale dont la stabilité et la diversité permettrait par ailleurs de faire société et économie locale durable et prospère (et de recourir à l’usage des savoirs localement existants pour augmenter l’efficacité par exemple en permaculture).

Les questions à résoudre :

- Comment s’assurer d’une production non toxique (limitation des intrants chimiques, exploitation en permaculture) , comment limiter les pollutions par et de l’eau ;

- comment assainir le système existant de la production agroalimentaire pour en retirer les modes inadaptés, trouver des solutions de substitution propres (par exemple les bassins de décantation végétalisés pour les eaux vannes);

- comment organiser les échanges et approvisionnements des aliments en zones de production complémentaire de préférence en proximité ou continuité spatiale;

- comment fluidifier et faciliter le transport des productions paysannes vers les villes (équipement routier, sécurisation et facilitation des transports, organisation des filières à partir des organisations existantes, aménagement marchés centraux et de quartiers dans les grandes villes….)

Avoir de la part de l’Etat une politique sanitaire et de salubrité publique très volontaire , en s’appuyant sur les savoirs et compétences scientifiques universitaires locales, et en récupérant ainsi une autonomie et une souveraineté locale de l’intégrité physique et éco-environnementale des personnes qui permettrait de réguler les marchés économiques et de concevoir leur limites au bien commun essentiel de la salubrité publique.

Propositions

1) Concevoir et promouvoir un modèle d’agriculture paysanne et villageoise sinon bio au moins raisonné et limité à des intrants non toxiques.

2) Imposer la non nocivité des produits importés : interdire les produits qui remettent en question la salubrité et la santé publiques.

Etablir un tableau des nocivités des produits phystosanitaires, intrants chimiques dans l’agriculture et des antibiotiques dans l’alimentation animale.

3) Monter un observatoire des effets délétères et des bienfaits des produits alimentaires disponibles sur place (produits importés, produits locaux paysans, produits locaux plantations agro industrielle) du point de vue des biotopes, des écosystèmes et milieux mais aussi des microbiotes et faunes intestinale.

4) Élaborer et diffuser un savoir et un savoir faire sur l’alimentation diététique et le fonctionnement intestinal, les produits nocifs. Informer sur les dangers de la candida albican (référence : Giulia Enders, 2016, Le charme discret de l'intestin : tout sur un organe mal aimé..., Paris, A vue d'œi), sur les vertus de santé pérenne du mil, manioc, coco, huile de palme non cuite, fruits, mangoustan …

5) Taxer les produits dont la production existe localement, ils coûtent écologiquement chers à transporter, leur importation en masse et à prix cassé empêchent les acteurs économiques locales de faire économie durable autour des marchés de consommation locaux. Les produits étrangers qui arriveront sur les marchés locaux devront être diététiquement acceptables et surtout plus chers.

Élaborer et poser des normes et des standards dissuasifs à l’importation et incitatifs à la culture et l’élevage bio et ou raisonnés (respectueux des gens et des milieux).

Établir un code alimentaire national subordonnant toute les concessions ou mises en exploitation végétales et animales à des entreprises étrangères (démarche similaire du code minier ou du code industriel). Ce code doit être en correspondance avec la signature au niveau mondial et de l’Onu d’une charte du droit de chacun au respect de son intégrité physique (Le corps humain n’est pas une marchandise)

La pratique et l’affichage d’une éthique gouvernementale par l’instauration d’une veille scientifique indépendante  à la bonne application de ces normes et codes pourrait être pour chaque état un véhicule pour imposer son émancipation et sa souveraineté quant à la salubrité nationale et par extension quant au devenir des peuples, et la qualité environnementale des milieux qu’ils abritent et ainsi régulé et circonvenir hors du bien commun de l’intégrité physique et environnementale de chaque citoyen, les pratiques extractivistes du néo libéralisme entrepreneurial imposées par le marché mondial.

6) Proposition pour approfondir le sujet :

Réaliser une étude comparative Équateur, Brésil, Côte d’Ivoire sur les alimentations actuelles des classes populaires et comment le plus grand nombre dans chaque pays pourrait bénéficier des vertus diététiques des productions alimentaires locales .

Par exemple en Côte d’Ivoire les produits alimentaires d’importation sont venus remplacés de nombreux produits locaux sans en avoir les vertus. Déversés en abondance sur les moindres marchés, ils sont venus concurrencés dans l’alimentation quotidienne les aliments produits localement sans en avoir les qualités nutritives et diététiques :

- sodas sucrés aux arômes artificiels à la place des multiples fruits locaux naturellement porteurs de sucre

- riz d’importation et farine de blé à la place des riz locaux, des maniocs, bananes plantain, ignames (sans gluten),

- viande de bœufs et poulets importés dont on ne connaît pas les modes d'élevage contre productions des petits volaillers et éleveurs locaux.

Dominique Couret - Abidjan- le 14 mars 2017

Contribution en réponse à l'appel à contributions sur les expériences et les approches efficaces de politique pour aborder la question de la sécurité alimentaire et de la nutrition dans le contexte de la dynamique changeante des relations entre zones urbaines et zones rurales

Concevoir une écologie politique de la salubrité publique

La question de la sécurité alimentaire et de la nutrition dans les pays de la zone intertropicale pourrait être abordée d’un point de vue éco-environnementale et comme un enjeu de sécurité/salubrité nationale. Juridiquement la bonne alimentation peut être posée comme relevant de la salubrité nationale dont la prise en charge relève de la responsabilité des Etats quant à la sécurité civile des peuples qu’ils abritent et le droit au respect de son intégrité physique et éco-environnementale de tout citoyen. Les citoyens sont donc en mesure de faire procès à leur gouvernement et demander réparation pour atteinte à leur intégrité et perturbations endocriniennes si besoin est.

Depuis les années 60, le modèle de production agro-industriel et de consommation reposant sur une production massive et de haute rentabilité puis de transformation pour conservation longue, a créé beaucoup d’abondance mais aussi de gaspillage et surtout des effets collatéraux dommageables avec l’introduction dans les produits transformés d’huiles hydrogénées, de conservateurs chimiques, sels et sucres à saturation ... Ceci alors même que les productions alimentaires locales et propres à la zone intertropicale sont particulièrement riches en vertus diététiques sont éliminées des étales par la concurrence de ces produits de masse.

Que cela soit en Côte d’Ivoire, en Equateur ou au Brésil, il est facile de constater chez les populations des quartiers populaires les effets délétères d’une mauvaise alimentation issu notamment de la surconsommation de sucres raffinés et d’huiles hydrogénées ou cuites  (surpoids, diabètes, hypertensions, malformations, dysfonctionnements des reins….)

En regard il existe une grande qualité diététique et nutritive de la production alimentaire locale, si on pouvait en assurer la production stable et le bon approvisionnement des villes proches, cela contribuerait efficacement tout à la fois à améliorer la santé des populations et en même temps à créer des filières économiques dynamiques de micro et très petites entreprises, des filières économiques d'échelle locale et infra locale dont la stabilité et la diversité permettrait par ailleurs de faire société et économie locale durable et prospère (et de recourir à l’usage des savoirs localement existants pour augmenter l’efficacité par exemple en permaculture).

Les questions à résoudre :

- Comment s’assurer d’une production non toxique (limitation des intrants chimiques, exploitation en permaculture) , comment limiter les pollutions par et de l’eau ;

- comment assainir le système existant de la production agroalimentaire pour en retirer les modes inadaptés, trouver des solutions de substitution propres (par exemple les bassins de décantation végétalisés pour les eaux vannes);

- comment organiser les échanges et approvisionnements des aliments en zones de production complémentaire de préférence en proximité ou continuité spatiale;

- comment fluidifier et faciliter le transport des productions paysannes vers les villes (équipement routier, sécurisation et facilitation des transports, organisation des filières à partir des organisations existantes, aménagement marchés centraux et de quartiers dans les grandes villes….)

Avoir de la part de l’Etat une politique sanitaire et de salubrité publique très volontaire , en s’appuyant sur les savoirs et compétences scientifiques universitaires locales, et en récupérant ainsi une autonomie et une souveraineté locale de l’intégrité physique et éco-environnementale des personnes qui permettrait de réguler les marchés économiques et de concevoir leur limites au bien commun essentiel de la salubrité publique.

Propositions

1) Concevoir et promouvoir un modèle d’agriculture paysanne et villageoise sinon bio au moins raisonné et limité à des intrants non toxiques.

2) Imposer la non nocivité des produits importés : interdire les produits qui remettent en question la salubrité et la santé publiques.

Etablir un tableau des nocivités des produits phystosanitaires, intrants chimiques dans l’agriculture et des antibiotiques dans l’alimentation animale.

3) Monter un observatoire des effets délétères et des bienfaits des produits alimentaires disponibles sur place (produits importés, produits locaux paysans, produits locaux plantations agro industrielle) du point de vue des biotopes, des écosystèmes et milieux mais aussi des microbiotes et faunes intestinale.

4) Élaborer et diffuser un savoir et un savoir faire sur l’alimentation diététique et le fonctionnement intestinal, les produits nocifs. Informer sur les dangers de la candida albican (référence : Giulia Enders, 2016, Le charme discret de l'intestin : tout sur un organe mal aimé..., Paris, A vue d'œi), sur les vertus de santé pérenne du mil, manioc, coco, huile de palme non cuite, fruits, mangoustan …

5) Taxer les produits dont la production existe localement, ils coûtent écologiquement chers à transporter, leur importation en masse et à prix cassé empêchent les acteurs économiques locales de faire économie durable autour des marchés de consommation locaux. Les produits étrangers qui arriveront sur les marchés locaux devront être diététiquement acceptables et surtout plus chers.

Élaborer et poser des normes et des standards dissuasifs à l’importation et incitatifs à la culture et l’élevage bio et ou raisonnés (respectueux des gens et des milieux).

Établir un code alimentaire national subordonnant toute les concessions ou mises en exploitation végétales et animales à des entreprises étrangères (démarche similaire du code minier ou du code industriel). Ce code doit être en correspondance avec la signature au niveau mondial et de l’Onu d’une charte du droit de chacun au respect de son intégrité physique (Le corps humain n’est pas une marchandise)

La pratique et l’affichage d’une éthique gouvernementale par l’instauration d’une veille scientifique indépendante  à la bonne application de ces normes et codes pourrait être pour chaque état un véhicule pour imposer son émancipation et sa souveraineté quant à la salubrité nationale et par extension quant au devenir des peuples, et la qualité environnementale des milieux qu’ils abritent et ainsi régulé et circonvenir hors du bien commun de l’intégrité physique et environnementale de chaque citoyen, les pratiques extractivistes du néo libéralisme entrepreneurial imposées par le marché mondial.

6) Proposition pour approfondir le sujet :

Réaliser une étude comparative Équateur, Brésil, Côte d’Ivoire sur les alimentations actuelles des classes populaires et comment le plus grand nombre dans chaque pays pourrait bénéficier des vertus diététiques des productions alimentaires locales .

Par exemple en Côte d’Ivoire les produits alimentaires d’importation sont venus remplacés de nombreux produits locaux sans en avoir les vertus. Déversés en abondance sur les moindres marchés, ils sont venus concurrencés dans l’alimentation quotidienne les aliments produits localement sans en avoir les qualités nutritives et diététiques :

- sodas sucrés aux arômes artificiels à la place des multiples fruits locaux naturellement porteurs de sucre

- riz d’importation et farine de blé à la place des riz locaux, des maniocs, bananes plantain, ignames (sans gluten),

- viande de bœufs et poulets importés dont on ne connaît pas les modes d'élevage contre productions des petits volaillers et éleveurs locaux.