Food Systems and Food Security: The Role of Small Farms and Small Food Businesses in Santiago Island, Cabo Verde

Arlindo Rodrigues Fortes,Erik Sequeira,Vladmir Ferreira,Elsa Barbosa Simões,Isaurinda Baptista,Stefano Grando

doi:10.3390/agriculture10060216

Arlindo Rodrigues Fortes, Erik Sequeira + Show 4 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture10060216

Copy DOI

Abstract

This study aims to analyse the role and contribution of small farms and small food businesses on the food system and food security. Drawing on a conceptual framework, methodology, and data from the EU H2020 ‘SALSA-Small farms, small food businesses and sustainable food and nutrition security’ project hereafter referred as SALSA project, this issue has been analysed in relation to four staple products (tomato, chicken, maize, and banana) in Santiago Island (Cabo Verde). The study follows a regional approach based on a detailed analysis of the territorial food systems and of the production/consumption balance of those staple products. The results show that the subsystems of production, processing, distribution, and consumption are different in the different food systems map for the four staple products, with complex and diversified interrelationships between small farms and related small businesses linking with various markets and all kinds of actors. Moreover, the evidence shows that small farms, in conjunction with small food businesses, are crucial to national food security in Santiago Island. The small farm is fundamental for greater food availability produced in the region, and the small food business is a key component playing a very important role by ensuring the stability of supply, being primarily responsible for establishing relationships to population centres.

Highlights

Farming is the predominant mode of agricultural production in the world
The research questions we address in this study are: What are the formal and informal key connections for small farms? Which actors are involved in the regional food system? What is the contribution of small farms to regional food systems? The results from this study will allow a better perception of the food systems and the role of small farm and small food business to food and nutrition security in Santiago Island
This paper highlights the importance of small farm and small food business in food and nutrition security by explicitly addressing their role in a food systems’ perspective and how they contribute to food and nutrition security in a globalised world

Summary

Introduction

Farming is the predominant mode of agricultural production in the world. It is estimated that 95% of the 500 million family farms are operated by small farmers in plots less than 2 ha [2,3]. Small-scale farming is the dominant form of food production in the African continent and has been a central part of policy in recent decades. Farms in large agrarian SSA region are deeply embedded in the socio-economic life of farming communities shaping in general the social and political organisation. They encompass a Agriculture 2020, 10, 216; doi:10.3390/agriculture10060216 www.mdpi.com/journal/agriculture

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusion