GLAMUR

Global and Local food chain Assessment: a MUltidimensional performance-based approach

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 Obiettivo del progetto (Objective)

'General objective of the project is to integrate advancement in scientific knowledge about the impact of food chains with application of knowledge to practice to increase food chains sustainability through public policies and private strategies. This general objective will be pursued through the following specific objectives: • To develop and validate a ‘performance criteria matrix’ for assessment and comparison of food chains operating at a range of geographical scales through analysis of how food chain impacts are communicated in different spheres of society. • To build a database of quantifiable indicators of impact and a set of 20 case studies aimed at understanding how impacts are generated within specific food chains. • To advance knowledge on methodological problems and trade-offs arising when measuring and comparing the impact of food chains within and between sectors. • To assess how performance is perceived by stakeholders in different national contexts through participatory assessment and multicriteria analysis of the different typologies of food chains. • To assess the actual and potential role of public and private policies addressing food chains and to turn assessment into policy recommendations. • To build a network that turns the advancement of scientific knowledge into decision making tools for domestic and public consumers, producers, citizens, scientists, policy makers, civil society organizations.

The project will be developed around the following assumptions: • Costs and benefits analysis needs methodological update: for this reason the broader concept of performance is used • The performance of food chains has multiple dimensions (economic, social, environmental, health, ethical) • To turn knowledge into practice a demand-driven approach is necessary, focusing on how food choice affects the five dimensions of impact The complexity of impacts of food chains requires plurality of methods and transdisciplinarity'

Introduzione (Teaser)

Consumers are becoming increasingly aware that the type of food they choose to buy and where it comes from impacts their health, the environment, local economies and societies. An EU initiative is analysing global and local food supply systems and their performance.

Descrizione progetto (Article)

The growing demand for local foods has boosted regional production of goods, and this has begun to challenge and even displace global food chains. Empowered farmers, consumers and communities need correct information to make informed and responsible choices, further to develop socially mediated judgments on food. Despite new research and related policies, food chains remain quite complex. This can lead to inaccuracies, misinformation and incomplete data.

To address the complexity of food chains, the EU-funded http://www.glamur.eu/ (GLAMUR) (Global and local food chain assessment: A multidimensional performance-based approach) project is integrating the economic, social, environmental, health and ethical dimensions associated with the production and consumption of food into comprehensive decision-making tools. The tools will examine, assess and compare global and local food chains, ultimately turning the knowledge gained into practice.

During the first reporting period, a systematic review explained how the performance of food chains is communicated in the public, scientific, market and policy domains. It also considered how such performance is measured in science literature. This led to a repository of local and global food performance across a range of criteria, including real costs and benefits, resilience and food security. As sustainability is a multidimensional concept, measurement of food chain performance aims to capture this multidimensionality.

A database has been designed and developed that will contain all information on food chain performance. A policy report identifying the key policies that influence local and global food chains and several critical points that may affect their performance was delivered.

Three dozen case studies covering pork, dairy, fruits and vegetables, wine and grains are underway. The comparison and contrast of various food chains has also begun, with the ultimate aim to support actors in their decision making processes.

GLAMUR is taking a holistic approach to the intricacies of food chains. It envisions sustainable food chains that will lead to responsible business and more informed and satisfied consumers.