Local Procurement Research Articles

COVID-19 School Re-opening Plans: Rolling Back School Food Programming in Canada?

At the beginning of 2020 national school food programs reached more children than any time in history making school food programs the most extensive form of social safety nets in the world. Looking to Canada, school food programs across the country serve more than 1 million students and provide multifaceted benefits including access to healthy fresh food choices, improving learning capacities, promoting nutritional awareness, assisting food-insecure households, and promoting local food procurement. However, since the beginning of the SARS-Cov 2 (COVID-19) pandemic these programs have faced operational challenges resulting in many rolling back their operations while food insecurity rates in Canada have increased dramatically. Framed as a Canadian case study analysis, this paper considers the discursive effects of provincial and territorial school reopening plans and the material consequences felt by SFPs. Specifically, this paper considers the reach, effectiveness, adoption, implementation, and maintenance of provincial and territorial school food programs within the broader conceptualization of ecological public health to consider if these programs were enabled or constrained by school reopening plans. The authors conducted a policy analysis of 57 primary and 164 supportive school reopening documents developed between April 2020 and September 2021. It was found that provincial and territorial school reopening plans primarily focused on measures to limit infectious disease transmission while food discussed in broad terms demonstrated policy makers' limited awareness of the important role of school food programs and support required to maintain them. In turn, two key observations were made: 1) government school reopening plans have overlooked the benefits of school food programs in Canada, and 2) school reopening plan designers missed opportunities to improve school food programs. This paper argues a thorough understanding of the impacts to school food programs by provincial and territorial COVID-19 public health guidelines is needed for politicians, policymakers, and school food practitioners to support the short- and long-term capacity of these programs and to ensure food insecurity and nutritional health issues in Canada continue to be on thepolitical agenda.

Aiding farm to school implementation: An assessment of facilitation mechanisms

AbstractWe investigated two potential mechanisms facilitating local food procurement in schools, food hubs, and funded farm to school policies. Using all three waves of the USDA’s farm to school census, we assessed the factors that support school districts that have stated an intention of beginning a farm to school program. We find that neither food hubs nor funded policies have an impact on farm to school programming. Instead, it is large-scale farms that play a role in the farm to school supply chain. Coupled with the positive impact of school size and receipt of increased federal funding, this suggests that while both cost and transactional barriers impact school procurement, current policy solutions are insufficient. This study improves our understanding of the role of facilitation mechanisms on farm to school implementation in the United States.

Motivations of Public Officials as Drivers of Transition to Sustainable School Food Provisioning: Insights from Avignon, France

A large body of experience and expertise on the implementation of sustainable public school food procurement policies has developed in recent years. However, there has been little investigation of the values and motivations of the public officials implementing the policies. To address this gap, we examine how the city of Avignon (France) took a step toward transition to local fresh food procurement for public schools, under French government calls for sustainable food products in public canteens. Our analysis combines the Multi-Level Perspective (MLP) on sustainable transitions with the Public Service Motivation construct. Unlike other studies addressing the MLP at a macro level, we focus on individual motivations behind public action. We demonstrate that staff motivations have a major impact on how policies supporting transition to local fresh food procurement for public schools are implemented. These public officials’ approach to food shows concern for the public interest regardless of financial return. It is not the rational choice (utilitarian or monetary rewards) that primarily drives the implementation of urban food policies, but normative conformity (equity, education, fairness) and affective bonding (health, environmental convictions). Interestingly, we conclude that the success of Avignon’s politically-driven school food procurement policy is essentially due to the catering and procurement staff who overcame the barriers to its implementation.

Farm-to-hospital programs and public health: Leveraging local food for organizational and behavioral change

Farm-to-hospital (FTH) programs have emerged over the last decade as an approach for hospitals to leverage their buying power and growing influence in the food system to support healthier eating hab­its, as well as stimulate local economic develop­ment and community wealth building, often within a broader set of policy, systems, and environmental (PSE) interventions. While FTH programs have increased in prominence over the last decade, sev­eral challenges prevent widespread adoption. These include distributor contracts that limit outside pur­chases, logistical challenges receiving products from local vendors, and a lack of buy-in from key decision-makers. These challenges frequently reflect foodservice operations organized to maxim­ize revenue, which lends itself to an approach that sources cheap and unhealthy food products. In this paper, we present findings from a case study of two hospitals part of the University of Wisconsin Health system in their efforts to develop a farm-to-hospital program from 2008 to 2017. Specifically, we study the organizational strategies used by the We Are Health Committee (WAHC) and its infor­mal predecessors to create the conditions to facili­tate and encourage local food procurement. We find that stakeholders reorganized their foodservice operations around the value of supporting public health, leveraging their clinics’ mission as a public health institution. This resulted in the creation of new organizational structures and roles, including merging their nutritional and foodservice depart­ments, creating the infrastructure for institution-wide change. Local food procurement was per­ceived as a means to develop nutritional interven­tions targeting the availability of healthier food items without creating the perception of paternal­ism among visitors. Finally, as stakeholders observed the local economic impact of their pur­chasing decisions, the values of their foodservice evolved to explicitly include supporting local eco­nomic development, resulting in an evolution of their relationship with their broadline distributor to facilitate increased local food purchases.

The Origins of Food Supplied to an Australian Public Hospital.

Local food procurement by public institutions such as hospitals offers multiple benefits including stimulating the local economy, creating jobs, and building resilience within the food supply. Yet no published study has attempted to quantify the local food purchase by hospitals. This baseline is needed to identify gaps, set targets, and monitor change. The objective of this study was to investigate the origin of food supplied to a metro tertiary public hospital and to describe the proportion of food budget spent on items with ingredients grown in Australia and “locally” within the state of Victoria. Food procurement data were collected and analyzed during October 2020-April 2021. All items purchased by the cook fresh kitchen supplying meals to inpatients and two childcare centres during an 8-day menu cycle period were audited. Following an inspection of food packaging labels to determine country of origin, data on the proportion of Victorian content were collected from manufacturers and suppliers of foods containing Australian ingredient. Almost 80% of the food budget (AU $17,748 and 200 items) was spent on items containing significant (at least 75%) Australian content, while 11% was spent on entirely imported foods. The specific geographic origins of 55% of the budget spent on “Australian” food remain unknown as information from manufacturers and suppliers was not available. Where data were available, 3% of food budget was attributed to entirely Victorian grown foods, including fresh fruit, vegetables, and poultry. A considerable proportion of Australian grown foods are purchased by this hospital, but it is largely unknown whether these are local, from the state of Victoria, or not. Tracing and sharing of food origin data, a clear definition for “local” food, and an understanding of Victorian food growing industries are needed to progress the “local food to hospital” agenda.

Public Policy Instruments for Procurement: An Empirical Analysis

• Local content policy requirements (LCRs) is one of procurement instruments • LCRs is a powerful mechanism for the governments of resource-rich countries • Procurement contract analysis can be used for empirical assessment of LCRs • LCRs were not an effective tool in supporting local procurement in Kazakhstan Policy instruments in procurement are widely used. While the efficiency of the local content policy requirements (LCRs) as one of such instruments has been questioned, it remains a powerful mechanism for the national governments of resource-rich countries. The aim of such LCRs is to extract additional benefits for citizens of these countries, beyond fiscal revenues and enhancing innovation. We analyse the relationship between the LCRs and local procurement using data from 1,326 contracts on extraction and exploration of subsoil in Kazakhstan over the period 2013-2016. We provide empirical evidence that LCRs in this case were not an effective tool in supporting procurement from local suppliers. We argue that firms would prefer to pay fines for non-compliance with LCRs on procurement of goods, works and services rather than use local suppliers. Our findings demonstrate that LCRs are an inefficient policy instrument and require further improvement in Kazakhstan. We offer policy implications for efficient LCRs and highlight the importance of choosing the optimal LCRs to enhance local procurement.

Local procurement in the mining sector: Is Ghana swimming with the tide?

Since 2012, Ghana has been implementing local procurement regulations in the mining sector to broaden and deepen linkages between mining and other sectors of the economy. The regulations have been implemented in collaboration with the mining industry. This paper offers an in-depth analysis of how the local procurement regulations and related initiatives have been implemented so far. Primary data gathered with semi-structured interviews and secondary sources of data indicate a steady improvement in both in-country procurement and local manufacturing of inputs for the mining industry. There are, however, some challenges relating to tariff structure and support (financial and technical) for local suppliers and manufacturers to meet high standards and demands of the mining industry. This calls for a well-thought-out strategy and programme of activities to sustain and improve on progress made.

Food in the cold: exploring food security and sovereignty in Whitehorse, Yukon

ABSTRACT Harsh weather patterns that are unpredictable owing to climate change, remoteness, dependence on food imports and limited local food production place Arctic and Subarctic food systems under serious pressure. The model of food sovereignty provides a surprisingly interesting contribution to address the food insecurity in these regions; it promotes long-term stable provision of healthy foods (sustainable) that are accessible to all (equity) and fosters local food production–consumption patterns (localisation). This study aims to deepen the understanding of food insecurity in the Subarctic regions and explores the possibilities for a food sovereignty approach at both individual and regional level. The study focuses on Whitehorse, capital of Yukon, Canada, and uses a cross-sectional online survey among residents of Whitehorse and semi-structured in-depth interviews with food-systems experts in Yukon. The findings indicated a need for affordable year-round local food production. Application of food sovereignty has provided the opportunities for local food procurement, innovation hubs, and several types of greenhouses including hydroponics and vertical farming, to work towards a more localised food system, thereby improving food security and sovereignty in Yukon. The findings constitute the scientific knowledge base for the formulation of prospective scenarios in the spirit of the food sovereignty theory.

Racial equity in local food incentive programs: Examining gaps in data and evaluation

Since 2002, over 60 local food procurement incentive bills for schools and early care sites have been introduced in state legislatures, and 23 have passed. While these bills promise benefits to children, schools, and producers, limited data collection and evaluation make it difficult to assess the true impacts of these policies’ implementation. Data and evaluation focused on the equity impacts of these bills are especially sparse. In this commentary, the authors provide recommendations for improving data collec­tion and evaluation of these local food incentive bills in order to inform and advance more equitable farm-to-school policy and programs.

Understanding regional variation in the use of local food in public catering

PurposeThe main aim of this study is to identify the factors that can affect regional differences in the procurement of local food in public catering. Understanding how some regions procure more local food products than others could help promote the use of local food in public catering. Regions with a lower share of local food can learn from regions that have a higher local food share.Design/methodology/approachThe studied phenomenon is complex; therefore, we used several approaches to identify the share of local food procurement and the reasons behind the regional differences. The study gathered survey data and used fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA), a computable general equilibrium model and several data sources.FindingsThe share of local food within the total food procurement varies markedly between regions. The highest local food shares can be linked to a combination of three factors: sufficient and suitable supply, adequate organisational conditions and a political atmosphere that encourages the use of local food. In addition to limited political incentives, poor supply or inadequate organisational conditions effectively characterise why some regions use very few local food products. Hence, a move towards using more local food in public catering requires political decision makers, food producers and procurement personnel to demonstrate a common will and take cohesive action.Originality/valueBy examining regional variation, the results of this study offer a new perspective on the use of local food in public catering.

Local procurement, shared value, and sustainable development: A case study from the mining sector in Mongolia

AbstractIn emerging economies, tension can arise between the pursuits of economic development to alleviate poverty versus the protection of cultural traditions. In Mongolia, for example, efforts to expand the economy through the development of mineral resources have raised understudied questions about how to accommodate the economic benefits of mining without compromising traditional ways of life. In this case study, we consider the complex and cascading challenges confronting mining, traditional livelihoods, and sustainable development. Semi‐structured interviews with 62 participants over a 3‐year period were used to investigate the role the corporate strategy of local procurement to create shared value could have in reducing tensions in a remote region where mineral exploration and mine development is underway. The findings provide insight to the barriers and opportunities for company‐initiated local procurement practices that contribute to locally led sustainability initiatives and community resilience in emerging economies.

An Education of the Senses at the University of California, Berkeley

Research Article| November 01 2021 An Education of the Senses at the University of California, Berkeley: Alice Waters from Then to Now Cari Borja Cari Borja Cari Borja is a writer, clothesmaker, and salonniere who received her PhD in cultural anthropology and film from UC Berkeley in 2001. She was a consulting anthropologist for Apple from 2017 to 2020, and creative-directs a variety of galas and salons, including She-Can Global in San Francisco and New York City and the Boston Review magazine in the Bay Area. She is an Adjunct Professor at the California College of the Arts, teaching Design Ethnography in the MFA Design program. Her most recent research focuses on the ambivalent role our earliest childhood food memories play in our relationship to what and when, with whom and where, and how and why we eat. Search for other works by this author on: This Site PubMed Google Scholar Gastronomica (2021) 21 (4): 54–64. https://doi.org/10.1525/gfc.2021.21.4.54 Views Icon Views Article contents Figures & tables Video Audio Supplementary Data Share Icon Share Twitter LinkedIn Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Cite Icon Cite Search Site Citation Cari Borja; An Education of the Senses at the University of California, Berkeley: Alice Waters from Then to Now. Gastronomica 1 November 2021; 21 (4): 54–64. doi: https://doi.org/10.1525/gfc.2021.21.4.54 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Reference Manager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search nav search search input Search input auto suggest search filter All ContentGastronomica Search It’s been fifty years since the founding of Chez Panisse restaurant in Berkeley, California, that Alice Waters and a group of friends helped to create in 1971. On August 28, 2021, rather than celebrating the past, Alice and president of the University of California, Michael V. Drake,1 had planned on gathering educators, artists, farmers, environmentalists, journalists, and philanthropists to celebrate the power of public education and to address climate change. However, in the midst of a surge of COVID-19 cases from the Delta variant, the event was postponed. In an email signed by both Alice and President Drake, the following message was sent: We wanted your presence at the table to show support for public education and the values it can bring to life by the economic stimulus of local organic food procurement. It is a powerful, hopeful,... © 2021 by The Regents of the University of California2021 You do not currently have access to this content.

Advanced considerations in organ donors.

The rising need for lung transplantation over recent years has not paralleled the availability of suitable lung allografts. The number of lung transplantations performed each year in the United States remains limited by an inadequate supply of suitable donors as well as low donor utilization rates. While several methods have been proposed for increasing the donor pool, there is considerable disparity between acceptance and utilization of these practices among transplant centers. In this review article, we explore various approaches for enhancing donor selection and expanding the donor pool. We discuss the use of “extended criteria” donors including high risk groups such as drug overdose donors, and we examine the role of techniques in donor assessment and selection such as the use of computed tomography for accurate size matching. We review topics in donor management such as the establishment of specialized donor care facilities and the implementation of lung-focused resuscitation protocols, and we discuss advancements in donor procurement such as the utilization of local procurement teams. We also review barriers to donation, such as variability in organ procurement organization (OPO) consent practices, as well as patient-specific factors such as religious or cultural beliefs. Addressing these aspects of donor evaluation, management, and accessibility is essential in maximizing the number of lungs available for transplantation within the existing donor pool.

The Drivers of Environmentally Sustainable Hospital Foodservices.

Background: Hospital foodservices have the potential to positively contribute to the local food system and planetary healthcare. Understanding the factors contributing to the success of “exemplar hospitals” with environmentally sustainable foodservices gives an opportunity to reimagine foodservices and guide strategic planning. The aim of this study was to identify the drivers of sustainable hospital foodservices.Methods: For this qualitative multiple case study, purposive sampling was used to identify exemplar hospitals internationally. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with staff with extensive knowledge of their foodservices to explore the drivers of sustainable practices. Relevant documents provided background on the case. These documents and interview data were analyzed using the framework and thematic analysis.Findings: There were 21 participants from 14 hospitals recruited across nine countries. Sustainable foodservice practices included local and organic food procurement, gardens onsite, vegetarian menus, re-serving unopened portion-controlled items, traditional foods, and food waste composting. Four themes were identified: initiating drivers, supporting enablers, challenges, and influence. Initiating drivers that “sparked” sustainable practices included the values of individuals or the hospital (e.g., community, environmental, or religious values), logical solutions to a problem, or government requirements. Enablers that facilitated success included motivated individuals, dedicated personnel, supportive leadership, internal protocols, and perceived benefits. External enablers included being part of member organizations, government requirements, and learning from other hospitals. Exemplar hospitals had broader influence, including educating the hospital community, supporting other hospitals, and influencing government policies/targets. Common challenges were staff resistance and inadequate policy directive.Interpretation: These findings examine the successful international cases of sustainable hospital foodservices to provide a global overview to assist with strategic planning both within hospitals and within governing bodies.

Impact of introducing a farm to school program on the number of school lunches served

Farm to school (FTS) programs are becoming more prevalent throughout the United States. Yet, their impacts on students' behaviors are still not well understood. This study analyzes the impacts of introducing the local procurement aspect of a FTS program in a Florida school district on the number of National School Lunch Program (NSLP) meals served and the selection of salad meals prepared with FTS products using daily school-level point of sale (POS) data, product procurement records, NSLP menu data and linear panel regression analyses. The study district implemented the FTS program in 15 of its 22 elementary schools between mid-October of 2015 and mid-January of 2016. Weighted difference in differences regressions that account for the non-random assignment of the district's elementary schools into the FTS program and variation in the timing of implementation across schools indicate that the introduction of the FTS program did not affect the number of NSLP meals served or type of meals served at schools with FTS programs. We find some evidence that students selected more NSLP salad offerings on days when these meals were prepared with FTS products; however, these findings were no longer significant when school-level fixed effects were included in the model.

Use of Force Account Procurement Method for Development of Small and Medium Contracting Firms in Mbeya

The study investigates on the value of using force account procurement method in development of small and medium contracting firms. To explicitly reveal what is behind the scene three objectives were formulated which were:-to examine the features of force account in procurement undertakings; to determine the value behind force account procurement method in procurement process towards development of SME and; to assess the bottleneck over effective enforcement of force account policy. The target population being (30) contractors, engineers and technicians employed with TANROADs, TARURA, TANESCO, and REA and those self employed (37) in Mbeya. Snow ball sampling technique was used to obtain a total of 67 respondents deduced. The semi-structured intereview and checklists schedules being used to gather the facts then descriptively and through the use of simple frequencies and percentage the reality was revealed:- force accounts involves local contractors by 100% executing contracts defined under force account policy to its end. Moreover force account is 100% local community participation procurement regularities; force account increases competence (70%); experience (66%) and financial capacitating (59%) of local contractors. Furthermore it was revealed that though projects assigned under force account are to be executed by indigenous contractors by 100% but from the field area it was found only 50% to be sustained. This gap of >50% of contracts under force account none executed was revealed to be caused by technical deficiency given the wilks’ lambda, λ<0.9; management incompetence given -X<5.0 and δ2>0.05; cases over (unethical practices reported >60%; financial difficulties >54.7%; and tax burden >60%).

Flint sources and mobility at the Chalcolithic (3500–2200 BCE) settlement of Zambujal (Portugal)

AbstractProvenance studies of the siliceous sedimentary raw material used by ancient communities are essential to understanding the mobility and exchange networks of these communities. The establishment of the direct procurement territory is the first step to understanding the role of the ‘imported’ artefacts. In this study, flint cores, flakes, bladelets and debitage from the Chalcolithic settlement of Zambujal (Estremadura, Portugal), recovered in excavations between 1964 and 1979, are analysed. We attempt to identify the local and regional source areas of these stone materials and compare their petrography (facies and microfacies textures). This study demonstrates the importance of employing three scales of analysis in petrographic studies (the macro‐, meso‐ and micro‐) to structure and determine flint provenance. Analysis of cortical material shows the relevance of secondary detrital outcrops during the Chalcolithic of the Portuguese Estremadura. Small cobbles were directly collected in both local and regional formations dated to the Palaeogene and Cenomanian, in a large (approx. 40 km) exploration territory, to produce expedient and specialized artefacts (i.e., bladelets). However, a large portion of stone tools from Zambujal made from Cenomanian flint cannot be assigned to local or regional procurement. The unclear provenance of these materials suggests directions for future research.

SPECIFIC OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT PROCUREMENT MANAGEMENT IN GEORGIA

Procurement at the local self-government level in Georgia is carried out in accordance with the rules established by the Law of Georgia on State Procurement. In this case, the difference between local and state procurement is not observed at the concept level, the specifics of the municipalities are not considered anywhere. The main objectives of the Law on Public Procurement are to rationalize the funds allocated for procurement, as well as to ensure a fair and non-discriminatory approach to procurement during procurement. However, violations of the principle of justice still occur at the municipal level. Due to the fact that procurement procedures take quite a long time and also, our research has revealed a number of shortcomings related to administration, hindering the effective functioning of municipalities.
 
 JEL: H11; H70
 
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O26 Local Farmers and Food Procurement in Mississippi Delta Schools: Fertile Ground

<h3>Background</h3> School food service administrators in the Mississippi Delta are procuring fruits and vegetables (FV) grown mainly outside of the agricultural region. Opportunities for local farmers to increase profits and provide fresh FV to children attending Mississippi Delta schools may be prolific. <h3>Objective</h3> Objectives of this study were to determine and compare FV procurement amounts (weight and cost) in 2 Mississippi Delta school districts, 1 participating in the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program (FFVP) for 2 consecutive years. <h3>Study Design, Setting, Participants</h3> Procurement data from 2 Mississippi Delta school districts, academic years 2018-2019 and 2019-2020, were obtained and compiled. Only foods categorized as FV were included. <h3>Measurable Outcome/Analysis</h3> Amounts of procured FV were calculated as weight in pounds and cost in dollars for each school district and for each academic year. <h3>Results</h3> In the FFVP district, 18 and 16 different fruits were purchased in respective years with apples, oranges, mixed fruit, and either pears or juice representing half of expenditures and by weight. For vegetables 20 and 19 different types were purchased in respective years with potatoes, greens and either corn or tomatoes representing half of expenditures and potatoes, tomatoes, and either greens or legumes representing half by weight. In the non-FFVP district, 12 different fruits were purchased in both years with apples and juice representing half of expenditures and juice alone accounting for 50% by weight. For vegetables 18 and 17 different types were purchased in respective years with potatoes, tomatoes and either corn or juice representing half of expenditures and by weight. Changes in percentage amounts were small except for fruits (increase) for the FFVP school district. <h3>Conclusion</h3> These school districts spend substantial amounts on non-locally sourced produce, much of which could be grown in the deep fertile soil of the Mississippi Delta.

Use of liver grafts from cadaveric donors: Implementation impact of a local evaluation and procurement team in Mexico

Introduction and aimsCadaveric donor liver graft retrieval is complex in Mexico. The aim of the present article was to present the experience in liver graft use during the first year of work of a local evaluation and procurement team. Materials and methodsWe reviewed the organ donation report forms and allocation offer records covering the time frame of December 15, 2017 to December 15, 2018, and registered the donor characteristics, causes of organ discard, causes of declined offers, transport time, and graft and recipient survival at 30 days. ResultsThere were 17 donations and we completed the evaluation of 14. Two donors were considered ideal (14.2%) and 12 were expanded criteria donors (ECDs) (85.7%). Two grafts with steatosis were not offered (14.2%). Twelve liver grafts were offered 88 times (mean 7.6 offers per graft). The acceptance rate was 6% for public hospitals and 23.6% for private hospitals (p = 0.016). One graft was discarded during the procurement process due to steatosis. The rate of use after evaluation was 78.5% (11/14). All the grafts were procured by the local team and 9 (81.8%) were transported by commercial airline (median 240 min, range 85 min). Graft and recipient survival at 30 days was 100%. ConclusionsThe participation of a local evaluation and procurement team notably increased liver graft use with excellent results. Commercial airline transportation of the grafts to all active transplantation centers of the country resulted in cold ischemia times <6 h.