Constructing ‘Local’ and ‘Sustainable’: A critical analysis of place-based public food procurement

Abstract

Public food procurement, involving public sector entities purchasing and distributing food for government-run programs or facilities, is gaining traction as a strategy to counter the dominance of global corporations in food systems. This paper examines the potential and challenges of a place-based procurement model that links urban and rural areas through direct supply chains to promote local, environmentally sustainable food production and consumption, drawing on an in-depth analysis of South Korea’s Urban-rural Coexistence Public Meal Program. The findings of this study highlight that program agendas focused on locality and sustainability may misalign, limiting transformative potential, especially when ‘place’ is narrowly defined within territorial or administrative boundaries. The paper advocates for a comprehensive understanding of ‘place’ that transcends spatial limits, as a key to rebuild regional supply chains, acknowledging its multi-scalar nature and socio-ecological connections between urban and rural spheres. Evidence from South Korea informs the design of place-based food systems, emphasizing the importance of aligning local realities, coordinating different food systems agendas, and exchanging context-specific knowledge. This study contributes to the theoretical elaboration of place-based approaches and the envisioning of urban policies that support food system sustainability and localization.