TY - JOUR
T1 - A Multi-Actor Literature Review on Alternative and Sustainable Food Systems for the Promotion of Cereal Biodiversity
AU - Sacchi, Giovanna
AU - Cei, Leonardo
AU - Stefani, Gianluca
AU - Lombardi, Ginevra Virginia
AU - Rocchi, Benedetto
AU - Belletti, Giovanni
AU - Padel, Susanne
AU - Sellars, Anna
AU - Gagliardi, Edneia
AU - Nocella, Giuseppe
AU - Cardey, Sarah
AU - Mikkola, Minna Maria
AU - Ala-Karvia, Urszula Anna
AU - Macken-Walsh, Àine
AU - McIntyre, Bridin
AU - Hyland, John
AU - Henchion, Maeve
AU - Bocci, Riccardo
AU - Bussi, Bettina
AU - De Santis, Giuseppe
AU - Rodriguez y Hurtado, Ismael
AU - de Kochko, Patrick
AU - Riviere, Pierre
AU - Carrascosa-García, María
AU - Martínez, Ignacio
AU - Pearce, Bruce
AU - Lampkin, Nic
AU - Vindras, Camille
AU - Rey, Frederic
AU - Chable, Véronique
AU - Cormery, Antoine
AU - Vasvari, Gyula
PY - 2018/11/2
Y1 - 2018/11/2
N2 - Organic and low-input food systems are emerging worldwide in answer to the sustainability crisis of the conventional agri-food sector. “Alternative” systems are based on local, decentralized approaches to production and processing, regarding quality and health, and short supply-chains for products with strong local identities. Diversity is deeply embedded in these food systems, from the agrobiodiversity grown in farmers’ fields, which improves resilience and adaptation, to diverse approaches, contexts and actors in food manufacturing and marketing. Diversity thus becomes a cross-sectoral issue which acknowledges consumers’ demand for healthy products. In the framework of the European project “CERERE, CEreal REnaissance in Rural Europe: embedding diversity in organic and low-input food systems”, the paper aims at reviewing recent research on alternative and sustainable food systems by adopting an innovative and participatory multi-actor approach; this has involved ten practitioners and twenty-two researchers from across Europe and a variety of technical backgrounds in the paper and analysis stages. The participatory approach is the main innovation and distinctive feature of this literature review. Partners selected indeed what they perceived as most relevant in order to facilitate a transition towards more sustainable and diversity based cereal systems and food chains. This includes issues related to alternative food networks, formal and informal institutional settings, grass root initiatives, consumer involvement and, finally, knowledge exchange and sustainability. The review provides an overview of recent research that is relevant to CERERE partners as well as to anyone interested in alternative and sustainable food systems. The main objective of this paper was indeed to present a narrative of studies, which can form the foundation for future applied research to promote alternative methods of cereal production in Europe.
AB - Organic and low-input food systems are emerging worldwide in answer to the sustainability crisis of the conventional agri-food sector. “Alternative” systems are based on local, decentralized approaches to production and processing, regarding quality and health, and short supply-chains for products with strong local identities. Diversity is deeply embedded in these food systems, from the agrobiodiversity grown in farmers’ fields, which improves resilience and adaptation, to diverse approaches, contexts and actors in food manufacturing and marketing. Diversity thus becomes a cross-sectoral issue which acknowledges consumers’ demand for healthy products. In the framework of the European project “CERERE, CEreal REnaissance in Rural Europe: embedding diversity in organic and low-input food systems”, the paper aims at reviewing recent research on alternative and sustainable food systems by adopting an innovative and participatory multi-actor approach; this has involved ten practitioners and twenty-two researchers from across Europe and a variety of technical backgrounds in the paper and analysis stages. The participatory approach is the main innovation and distinctive feature of this literature review. Partners selected indeed what they perceived as most relevant in order to facilitate a transition towards more sustainable and diversity based cereal systems and food chains. This includes issues related to alternative food networks, formal and informal institutional settings, grass root initiatives, consumer involvement and, finally, knowledge exchange and sustainability. The review provides an overview of recent research that is relevant to CERERE partners as well as to anyone interested in alternative and sustainable food systems. The main objective of this paper was indeed to present a narrative of studies, which can form the foundation for future applied research to promote alternative methods of cereal production in Europe.
KW - CERTIFICATION
KW - CIVIC AGRICULTURE
KW - EMBEDDEDNESS
KW - FARMERS-MARKET
KW - INNOVATION
KW - LOCAL FOOD
KW - NETWORKS
KW - SUPPLY CHAINS
KW - TRANSITIONS
KW - WHEAT
KW - locally based agriculture
KW - low-input cereal supply-chains
KW - low-input farming
KW - safe and healthy diet
KW - sustainable agriculture
KW - 4111 Agronomy
U2 - 10.3390/agriculture8110173
DO - 10.3390/agriculture8110173
M3 - Review Article
SN - 2077-0472
VL - 8
JO - Agriculture (Basel)
JF - Agriculture (Basel)
IS - 11
M1 - 173
ER -