Urban Food Consumption Research Articles

From industrial production to biosensitivity: the need for a food system paradigm shift

Urban consumers in affluent cities are typically divorced from the landscapes and farmers that produce their food. Most food is made available to these consumers via global retail systems, operating within an overarching paradigm of industrial commodity production. This paradigm induces one-way flows of resources from rural hinterlands to cities, with farmers undercompensated for their services—a process which is inherently unsustainable and unjust. By unwittingly eroding processes upon which they are utterly dependent, urban consumers are making themselves vulnerable. Potentially, this vulnerability could be reduced if urban food consumption was linked to regional production, but for many cities, the volumes of food required do not match regional output. Framed using a human ecological systems-based template, this paper presents case studies of three cities that have contrasting relationships with their regional food-producing landscapes. Canberra, Australia, could not consume all its regional production and so is in food surplus. Tokyo, Japan, could not meet its consumption needs from its region and so is in food deficit. Copenhagen, Denmark, could probably meet its needs from its region but chooses to reduce its food-producing land area and focus production on high-value meat products from pigs fed on imported low-value grains. Despite their differing food procurement strategies, producers and consumers in all three cases remain co-dependent upon each other and vulnerable to the processes being driven by the industrial paradigm. Consequently, a shift to a new ‘biosensitive’ paradigm is required, within which the social and environmental aspects of food production and consumption would be respected. This paradigm shift would reduce food choice and convenience and likely increase cost, so what would motivate consumers to support it? The answer suggested is that consumers could embrace the new food system if it had features that they valued sufficiently to compensate for the forgone values of the old system. Features that consumers could positively value include personal skills in the creation of meals, knowledge of the provenance and production standards of ingredients, and convivial relationships with producers. Pragmatically, these values are most likely to arise from consumers interacting with local food systems. Hence, it is argued, the primary value of local food systems lies not in the absolute volumes of food that they produce but in their educative capacity to foster a shift to a biosensitive paradigm. This new paradigm could extend concern to all food-producing landscapes and farmers, wherever on the planet they were located.

MEASURING THE FOOD AND ECONOMIC CONTRIBUTION OF UPH IN AFRICA AND ASIA

Urban and peri-urban horticulture (UPH) is currently a subject of passionate debate regarding how viable it is, how efficient it is compared to rural production in supplying food to cities, and whether the state should protect it from urban expansion. The debate is not, however, being supported by reliable data on the relative contribution of UPH to urban food consumption and income, as compared with other sources of food and income supply. This paper has drawn on the relevant data on the origin of urban food products from consumption and market surveys, and also from surveys and case studies of farmers' strategies and economic results in various cities in Africa and Southeast Asia. The undeniably patchy results nevertheless show the importance of urban agriculture in two areas: overall supply of the most perishable vegetables, namely, leafy vegetables; and complementarity of UPH with rural vegetable production. The results also show the specific contribution of UPH in the supply of vegetables with specific food safety characteristics, in particular organic vegetables, because when the production of these types of vegetables is combined with direct sales between producers and consumers, the consumers gain a certain level of responsibility in the production process. UPH contributes to livelihoods in a variety of ways, from the unique provision of incomes to urban households with few alternative sources, to an additional source of cash to urban entrepreneurs and civil servants. This paper highlights the need for additional research in economics on UPH in Africa. The available data on food and economic contribution of UPH are incomplete and need to be updated, and comparisons need to be made between cities to understand the reasons for differences. There should be more systematic comparison between UPH and rural horticulture in terms of income generation, price of vegetables, and labour use and energy use. The economic advantages of a multifunctional UPH should be evaluated based on contingent evaluation methods. Finally, the advantages of proximity in terms of increasing consumers' awareness of the consequences of their purchase choices on the local economy should be better communicated and publicized. (Resume d'auteur)

城市居民食物磷素消费变化及其环境负荷——以厦门市为例

Urban phosphorus metabolism is of particular importance due to the global scarcity of phosphorus,food security of residents,and potential impacts on urban environment and peri-urban ecosystems.The world is rapidly urbanizing with significant changes in living standards,including the quantity,quality and structure of daily food consumed.As a result,urban phosphorus metabolism through food consumption,which is an important process of the metabolism,has been significantly impacted. The purpose of this study is to analyze the variation in food phosphorus consumption by Xiamen residents,its environmental loads in 1988—2010,and to examine the associated economic and social factors by using the Spearman correlation analysis.The key stocks and flows of phosphorus through food consumption were explored using a material flow analysis(MFA) approach to develop a conceptual model of phosphorus flow for urban food consumption. The results showed that there was a fluctuating growth in the total food phosphorus consumption,reached 1,128.88 t in 2010 because of the resident population boom;and the dynamic change in per capita phosphorus consumption varied between 315 g and 380 g,showed an M-shape with the two modes in 1998 and 2003.In addition,high phosphorus food increased sharply.For example,dairy products and aquatic products accounted for 0.3% and 6.8% of the per capita phosphorus consumption,respectively,in 1988,but the proportion reached 14.9% and 15.5%,respectively,in 2010. The results of the correlation analysis showed that there was a significant positive correlation between per capita phosphorus consumption in grain and the Engel coefficient,as well as the average number of people in the family.However,there was a significant negative correlation with per capita disposable income,the food price index and the proportion of college graduates.The correlation between per capita phosphorus consumption in other kinds of food,such as plant oil,fruits,meat,eggs,dairy products and aquatic products,and these factors was opposite.The correlations were significant negative between these kinds of food and the former group of socio-economic factors,but with the latter group of socio-economic factors the correlations were significant positive.The variation of food phosphorus consumption was not significantly correlated with these socio-economic factors,so these socio-economic factors mainly exerted their influence on per capita phosphorus consumption in all kinds of food. As the total food phosphorus consumption increased,the environmental load of phosphorus from food leaped,the value in 2010 tripled over that in 1991.The proportion of phosphorus in the soil significantly increased from 59.7% to 85.1%,which partly due to a growing amount of kitchen waste and the landfilled sludge.Since the phosphorus mainly remained in soil and water,the proportion of phosphorus in the water decreased accordingly.Other factors which may have influenced the results are including a prohibition of phosphorus on detergents,and improvements in wastewater treatment.Thus,it has become the most important mission to develop and implement efficient strategies to facilitate phosphorus recycling.Relevant solutions for improving phosphorus recycling efficiency should be studied in the future to establish a strong coordination between urban and peri-urban areas for nutrient recycling to attain sustainable development.

Material flow analysis of phosphorus through food consumption in two megacities in northern China

The key stocks and flows of phosphorus (P) through food consumption in Beijing and Tianjin, two megacities in northern China, were explored using a material flow analysis (MFA) approach to construct a static model of P metabolism. A total of 4498 t P has accumulated with 72% of P flow imported through food consumption eventually remaining in Beijing in 2008. Around 64% of the total inflow of P (2670 t) remained in Tianjin in 2008. P in the uncollected sewage from both urban and rural residents and the effluents from sewage treatment plants has significant negative effects on water quality. An average of 55% the P flow remained in the sewage sludge through urban food consumption. The key problems in P metabolism and management in megacities are identified based on the quantitative analysis of P cycling through food consumption. Relevant solutions for improving P recycling efficiency are also discussed. It is important to link P flows with environmental regulations and to establish a strong coordination between urban and rural areas for nutrient recycling to attain sustainable development of megacities.

Micronutrient Adequacy of Women’s Diet in Urban Burkina Faso Is Low1–3

In developing countries, urban populations are deemed to have better access to a wider variety of foods than their rural counterparts. Yet, data on micronutrient status are scarce and the impact of urban food consumption behaviors on micronutrient adequacy is not well known. The objective of this study was to assess individual micronutrient adequacy of the diet along with food consumption behaviors of women of reproductive age in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. A cross-sectional survey of 182 women was conducted in 2 districts of the city. Nutrient intakes were derived from 3 nonconsecutive quantitative 24-h recalls for each woman. Balance in macronutrients was in the range of recommendations except that mean sugar intake was somewhat high. Mean probability of adequacy across 11 micronutrients was low (0.38). The most problematic micronutrients were vitamin B-12 (only 4% of our sample had sufficient intake), folate (12%), riboflavin (13%), and niacin (20%). Higher intakes of organ meat, flesh foods, vitamin A- and vitamin C-rich fruits and vegetables, and legumes and nuts were significantly associated with lower risk of micronutrient inadequacy. Ready-to-eat foods bought outside the home provided 46% of overall energy intake, 52% of fat intake, and 72% of sugar intake but were not associated with micronutrient inadequacy (P > 0.05). These results highlight the low micronutrient intakes among women of reproductive age in Burkina Faso, even in an urban area.

Cambios en el patrón alimentario de la ciudad de México

En este artículo se pretende analizar las transformaciones del patrón alimentario urbano a partir de una mayor presencia del pan de trigo en el consumo. Se toma como base la tesis de que el consumidor de alimentos en las ciudades —particularmente en las capas medias de población— tiende a ser más pragmático en el diseño de su dieta y organiza el tiempo en la preparación de alimentos que llevan a estructurar nuevas preferencias. Ello presiona a las empresas para elaborar productos diferenciados, de mayor calidad, versátiles, frescos y con mayor valor agregado; de esa manera responden a las condiciones típicas de un modelo de demanda. Debido a diferencias en el ingreso de la población, se conforma una estructura de consumo socialmente segmentada en urbes como la ciudad de México que modifica la configuración locacional de las compañías que intentan dar respuesta a la movilidad intraurbana de la demanda.

Analysis of rural and urban households food consumption differential in the North-Central, Nigeria: A micro-econometric approach

This paper examines whether there are differences in food consumption patterns between the rural and urban households in the North-central Nigeria using food consumption data obtained from households’ seven days memory recall. While analytical tools like the descriptive statistics were used, the nature of data on fruits and vegetable with a lot of zero consumption led to the employment of the double-hurdle model. The results of the descriptive statistics revealed heterogeneity in consumption and expenditure patterns across households in rural and urban areas. While the urban residents purchase 37.9% of the food they consume, families in rural areas purchase only 26.6%. The most commonly consumed foods among urban populations included rice, fat and oil, bread, soft drink, sugar and milk, while those in rural areas was substantially different and included yam and cassava flour. Urban households in both states consumed more rice, fat and oil, bread, soft drink, sugar and milk with less yam and cassava flour compared to the rural households. Households’ decision to participate in fruits and vegetable food group from double-hurdle model was based on their income, location, membership of cooperative group and access to refrigerator. The actual consumption was based on income and their membership of social group. There is the need to increase households’ income and access to fruits and vegetable preservation facilities to facilitate the consumption of the food items. Key words: Consumption, zero food consumption, food consumption differential and double-hurdle.

China's consumer revolution: the emerging patterns of wealth and expenditure

Emerging patterns of wealth and expenditure food consumption in urban households food consumption in rural households grain consumption and the effects of urbanization alcohol consumption and its implications for the grain sector demand and prospects of consumer durables health care demand and reforms housing demand and reforms.

Effects of the CFA franc devaluation on urban food consumption in West Africa: overview and cross-country comparisons

This article summarizes research and policy questions, and research methods and findings of four case studies of the impacts of the 1994 CFA franc devaluation in West Africa on urban food consumption. The case studies are household surveys from Burkina Faso, Côte d'Ivoire, Mali, and Senegal. The research showed, in general, that, comparing food consumption patterns after the devaluation with those before, that: (1) total cereal intake fell, especially for the poorest; (2) the intake of imported rice held steady; (3) the intake of domestic coarse grains (millet, maize, sorghum) did not rise, except for an increase in maize intake in Burkina Faso; (4) only in Mali was there a significant shift to domestic rice; (5) imported wheat intake dropped; (6) roots, tuber and plantain consumption did not receive a boost; (7) there was an alarming “de-diversification” of the diet, especially for the poorest with reductions in meat, edible oils, and vegetables/fruit, as well as imported milk; there was, however, some increase in domestic oils/butters consumption; (8) there was some “individualization” of consumption patterns with increased importance of the informal restaurant sector. The most striking results in the context of the policy debate are that cereal intake fell, and that the (expected) shift from imported rice to local coarse grains did not occur. The lack of such a shift is explainable in terms of the lackluster supply response of the coarse grain sectors, and the resilience of rice demand based on its convenience of processing and preparation for the urban consumer. These results together imply: (1) the economics and technology of agro-processing of coarse grains need to return to the center of the cereals debate in West Africa; (2) emphasis on the capacity of local coarse grain and domestic rice producers to respond to incentives needs to be increased.

Urbanisation, Agriculture and Industrialisation in China, 1952-91

Urbanisation rates in China have been low compared to other countries at similar stages of development. We examine recent trends in China's urbanisation process in the context of a disequilibrium supply and demand model for urban residents with relative urban food consumption as a proxy for wages. This model takes into consideration the roles of the agricultural and industrial sectors in the context of a non-market economy where institutional arrangements and policy regimes play important roles in determining urbanisation levels. We find persistent periods of disequilibrium prior to the introduction of reforms in 1978. Throughout the post-reform era there has been a markedly improved balance between urban population levels, urban food consumption, and industrial and agricultural production levels.

L'impact de la crise ougandaise sur le ravitaillement de Kampala (The impact of Ugandan political crisis upon the supplying of Kampala)

Abstract. - A deep social destructuration process has been generated by the Ugandan political crisis. Some of its most important effects are the spreading of part-time jobs through the urban society and a levelling of urban food consumption. Nevertheless the city has not been threatened by food shortages thanks to the development of an active intra-urban agriculture. Although a process of ruralisation began, this activity, in the end, strengthened the urban character. Moreover, although Kampala lost some of its influence, due to transport shortage and insecurity, the food crisis did not take place because the surrounding peasants shifted from cash crops to food crops which sell well enough on Kampala markets and bring back some money. Last but not least, town men have kept family ties with their rural area. These social relationships have supported a non-monetary food supply of considerable proportions.

Urban Bias Revisited: Staple Food Pricing in Tanzania

This article examines the impact of staple food price controls on the Tanzanian urban and rural population during the 1970s and 1980s. It is argued that the objective of government pricing policy was spatial egalitarianism. Evidence of variable urban food consumption strategies, the agrarianisation of towns, the rise of parallel marketing and the slowing of urban growth casts doubt on the relevance of the urban bias concept to Tanzania and helps to explain the relative ease with which market liberalisation was introduced.

Trends in Urban and Rural Food Consumption and Implications for Food Policies in Tunisia

Trends in Urban and Rural Food Consumption and Implications for Food Policies in Tunisia