Report

Teaser, summary, work performed and final results

Periodic Reporting for period 2 - Strength2Food (Strengthening European Food Chain Sustainability by Quality and Procurement Policy)

Teaser

Strength2Food is a five-year project to improve the effectiveness of EU agricultural products quality policy and Public Sector Food Procurement (PSFP), and stimulate the development of Short Food Supply Chains (SFSC). The specific objectives of Strength2Food are to:a) Aid...

Summary

Strength2Food is a five-year project to improve the effectiveness of EU agricultural products quality policy and Public Sector Food Procurement (PSFP), and stimulate the development of Short Food Supply Chains (SFSC). The specific objectives of Strength2Food are to:

a) Aid policy makers and stakeholders in improving the effectiveness of food quality designations and PSFP to enhance their sustainability;
b) Develop and deliver effective policies for improving the overall sustainability of agriculture and capacity for balanced nutrition;
c) Demonstrate and validate how to stimulate the development of new quality markets and local food chains;
d) Maximise the impact of the project’s activities and achievements through effective knowledge exchange and communication.

Work performed

Main results achieved regarding the 4 objectives:

Objective A. Work performed: Application of a methodological framework for evaluating the economic, social and environmental impacts of EU FQS, SFSC as well as PSFP policies; Quantitative analysis of farmers’ engagement with FQS, price transmission and volatility, and trade performance. Results suggest that FQS products are more sustainable than non-designated equivalent reference products. The carbon footprints of public food procurement models depend more on the composition of the meals (e.g. level of red meat), rather than where the foods come from. Participation in SFSC often reflects producer/consumer discontent, with increasing need for direct and social contact, support for a fairer food economy, and better management of local resources, as well as the provision of fresh, healthy and sustainable local food. SFSCs are economically advantageous for farmers in terms of average gross margins. However, longer supply chains often generate lower environmental impacts per unit of production, in terms of food miles & carbon footprint. Econometric analysis suggests that asymmetric dynamics are more significant in conventional (non-FQS) chains, with FQS reducing price volatility linkages between chain actors. GIs positively affect export unit values and extensive and intensive margins. EU quality policy, by setting high quality standards, puts downward pressure on the quality of exports from non-EU countries that seek to export in sectors where GIs are present.

Objective B. Work performed: 2 cross-national surveys regarding consumer confidence in, and willingness to purchase, products that are designated under FQS; Ethnographic fieldwork on consumers’ practices concerning FQS; Virtual supermarket experiment; Nutritional composition analysis for school meals with analysis of plate waste and nutritional intake. Various pilot actions to stimulate development of FQS, SFSC and local food are underway. Results indicate that the recognition of EU FQS labels varies considerably between countries but is on average higher for the EU organic label, but generally poor for PDO/PGI/TSG. National labels are better recognised. Recognition is a necessary pre-cursor to consumers using FQS labels in their food choices. Knowledge regarding the meaning of the labels is quite low. Modification of the EU organic logo could improve clarity to consumers. In schools, nutritional losses that occur due to plate waste are substantial, with a large gap between intended nutrition and actual pupil intake.

Objective C. Work performed: Establishment of 6 pilot implementation and demonstration initiatives relating to school meals (PSFP), FQS, local/regional sourcing and SFSC. In Serbia, the project works with 30 schools to improve quality of meals and procurement systems with activities including the training of school cooks, new recipes, and advice on procurement guidelines (Task 9.1). In Croatia, analysis of a school gardens scheme (Task 9.1), and experiments conducted in supermarkets to assess the ability of point of sale materials to increase sales of locally produced fruits have occurred (Task 9.2). Interviews with 44 GI producers in Poland undertaken on how processes of registration and promotion of GIs can be improved (Task 9.3). Fish skills masterclass, training, and stakeholder engagement to develop a local fish supply chain occurred (Task 9.4). In Hungary and Serbia, situational analysis, producer and consumer interviews conducted to support development of new quality food supply chains (Task 9.5). Collection of background data for the pilot initiative on food fairs and farmers’ markets as well as consumer survey undertaken (Task 9.6). WP9 still ongoing. Field experiment findings on how to ‘mainstream’ local food sales - Point of Sale materials can increase sales of locally produced fruits even when retailed against cheaper imported alternatives.

Objective D. Work performed: Communications pl

Final results

Progress to date on how Strength2Food transcends the current state of the art:

WP3: Conceptual framework and indicator development. Methodological framework and indicators developed, pilot tested and utilised in WPs 5-6-7.

WP4: Analysis of existing datasets. Novel analysis of performance of FQS products in comparison to non-FQS equivalents. Econometric analysis undertaken with important findings on the effects of FQS on trade margins, competition patterns, price volatility and price transmission.

WP5: FQS assessment. Holistic assessment of the economic, environmental and social impacts of a large number of FQSs, including impacts on the local economy. 29 cases analysed, across 14 countries, providing a detailed guide to the economic, social and environmental impacts on up to 20 indicators. Detailed assessment as to how and in what ways GIs contribute to the generation of public goods.

WP6: PSFP assessment. Impact assessment of contrasting models of PSFP, integrating analysis of nutritional outcomes with economic, environmental and social analysis. Assessment accounted for food waste and child refusal rates. Evidence based recommendations regarding how to improve environmental and socio-economic outcomes of PSFP.

WP7: SFSC assessment. Integrated cross-national qualitative and quantitative assessment of economic, environmental and social impacts impact of SFSC on producers and wider rural territories. Documents benefits to farmers of engagement in SFSCs (margins, greater control, and satisfaction) while recognising that wider environmental benefits and opportunities to up-scale may be limited.

WP8: Consumer analysis. Novel ethnographic fieldwork focused on the biography of family food consumption practices. Detailed cross-national assessment of consumers’ recognition, understanding and use of FQS labels, drawing on both qualitative and quantitative evidence. Virtual supermarket experiment on label manipulation conducted.

WP9. Pilot Actions to demonstrate and validate the potential of policies and schemes to stimulate the development of new quality markets and local food chains, Pilot actions on-going. Strategies for increasing sales of local foods within supermarkets identified and validated.

Website & more info

More info: http://www.strength2food.eu/.