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Outcomes on how to improve access to safe and nutritious food in Quelimane There is huge potential for the Zambezia Province, where Quelimane is the capital, for agricultural production, especially the production of nutritious local food such as Rice (there is an identified unique and flavourful rice local to Zambezia), Corn, Soy and animal husbandry such as Cattle keeping instead of the over reliance on imported foods from South Africa and other provinces. Imported foods are expensive and some have low nutritional value. In order to promote food production of local plant species, the municipa... Read morelity and stakeholders need to dedicate resources towards: • The Promotion/ celebration of local foods such as the toasted rice, Zambezia pineapple, among others that are local to the Zambezia: promotion nationally and even globally. This will drive the demand, eventually change perceptions as well as create employment opportunities for local farmers. • Create infrastructure that ensures attractiveness of markets; projects hybrid markets (physical and online such as the Seana Daud model). Market Refrigeration systems to keep vegetables fresh (those that are low tech but effective enough be used by roadside trader, or affordable and easy to maintain by low income traders. • There is need for effective city level certification processes that can be implemented in partnership with the national government. Currently certification is done in Maputo. • Agricultural assemblies to link local producers with government structures, with aim of boosting local production. Develop community training programs. • Physical infrastructure project to improve distribution of food in urban areas esp. road and rail. Outcomes on how to boost nature positive production. It was recognised that is is essential to promote environmentally friendly food systems so as to contribute towards building climate change resilience for Quelimane. Discussions were centered on how to effectively manage land and forestry resources, the mangroves and other natural assets of Quelimane. These were identified as other ecological activities can be implemented in Quelimane to boost both the environment and increase supply of nutritious food locally. • Promotion of environmentally friendly food production activities such as: o Bee-keeping Through beekeeping projects, the household can earn income and lead to better food security, livelihoods and environmental regeneration. o Mushroom farming: this will not destroy the forestry as both activities can take place mutually through agro-forestry. The problem is to dry them - preservation . o Investment in Fish ponds to improve nutrition status but also supplement fishing and reduce incidents of over fishing. • Financial incentives to communities to promote agro-ecology. o Community to benefit at least 20% of revenue from natural resources exploitation and conservation. o E-vouchers whereby financiers can support farmers: electronic provision of loans - introduced also in emergency situations. Also leads to more generation of information such as gendered allocations of the e-vouchers. Read less

• There is huge potential for the Zambezia Province, where Quelimane is the capital, for agricultural production, especially the production of nutritious local food such as Rice (there is an identified unique and flavourful rice local to Zambezia), Corn, Soy and animal husbandry such as Cattle keeping instead of the over reliance on imported foods from South Africa and other provinces. Imported foods are expensive and some have low nutritional value. Food diversification is crucial because crop growing depends largely on the weather seasons in the region, hence diversifying food production m... Read moreay benefit the food system in Quelimane City. • It was recognised that it is essential to promote environmentally friendly food systems so as to contribute towards building climate change resilience for Quelimane. Discussions were centered on how to effectively manage land and forestry resources, the mangroves and other natural assets of Quelimane. • There are a number of opportunities for investment and innovation to the Quelimane food system; the group commented that promotion of effective fishing, creation of clean energy, mechanising production and irrigation systems may enhance innovative and sustainable development. • Urban infrastructure planning, for example planning for location and distribution of markets is fundamental as well as transport systems is key for reduction of food loss and waste as well as promoting livelihoods in the food system. • Investment in digital technologies/infrastructure for people to sell remotely, and not necessarily in stores etc. It would also have been good in situations such as the COVID lockdown. • Policies, mechanisms and institutions that promote synergy between the different food system stakeholders through initiatives such as agricultural assemblies are crucial. This will improve the quality of the impact we derive. Synergy between stakeholders will also assist smallholders to be active in this process and to move towards commercialisation. Read less

This discussions explored opportunities for innovation and investment to promote healthy local food systems that generate livelihoods for local businesses and promote environmental regeneration. The Municipality of Quelimane shared their experience and examples of how innovation can shape the urban food system and how to leverage the potential and lessons learnt from Quelimane Limpa and Quelimane Agricola, for future sustainable and resilient food systems initiatives with cross cutting food systems benefits.

Divergences were raised during the discussion on ensuring access to nutritious food for all, regarding the reason of the current low consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables in Latin America. If most of the participants explained that this was due to lack of knowledge, others noted that people were actually aware about the importance to consume this type of food, but were hindered by their high costs and the aggressive marketing of high-processed- high in fat/sugar food industry.

TOPIC: Reduction of Food Waste The reduction of food waste and losses are at the cornerstone of building a resilient and sustainable food system in Latin America and to ensure access to diet for all. Yet, the regional food system is bagged down into paradox, consisting of surplus of supply and production, while many livelihoods are still in a situation of food insecurity, further exacerbated with the outbreak of Covid-19. The reduction of food waste is a core strand in the region, and faces many bottlenecks, that require the improvement of governance ins-and-outs and incentives on best practic... Read morees platforms. First regarding governance, panelists agreed on the fact that raising awareness and finding a consensus/best practices on the issue of food waste are key. However, one of the major regional bottlenecks is the current legal framework. There is a need to adopt required legislation not only for raising public awareness but also to prevent food waste and to incorporate all sectors (e.g : foster legislation that facilitates reduction of food waste/give incentives to do it). Moreover, in order to reduce food waste and losses that occur along the food value chain, there is a need to improve the cold chain to increase the life span of fresh products, alongside with capacities of recycling food (compost, forage, energy), and to a larger extent to have better planning of the production considering the seasonality of the food to avoid surplus of production of some items. This issue can only be resolved collectively, by gathering all food sector stakeholders, throughout best practices platforms, as sharing experience and knowledge among centers of supply is critical to understand the ins-and-outs of food waste and what role they can have. Wholesale markets must accompany involved actors in this dynamism. Inclusiveness implies the participation of academics and field-experts (they have better understanding of actual “pain points” and propose accurate solutions), civil society organizations (ensure that they can count on good storage and logistics facilities). Governments should give incentives to promote food donation when possible and foster the link between wholesalers and associations. In addition , it was identified during the discussions that a great share of food losses happened in domestic spheres, and hence requires actions through prevention and education since childhood. Read less

TOPIC: Smart Logistics and Urban Planning Among key takeaways from this dialogue, panelists particularly mentioned logistics, traceability and urban planning in order to achieve smart logistics of food value chain in Latin America. It was discussed of the integration of a full, rapid, transparent model of traceability of food distribution. This implies the identification of production centres, like farms and small-sized properties, then processors or rural-wholesale markets, logisticians, before accessing urban wholesale markets and therefore consumers. This must be accompanied by the improvem... Read moreent of the cold chain, better logistics and can be improved by the development of digital tools. In what concerns traceability, control of the supply and food safety, technology can play an important role to have accurate monitoring and to collect information’s on food life cycles, quality, and food safety. Today the lack of effective traceability is often due to the lack of human resources available or easy technologies. Cold chains also have to be better integrated into logistics and infrastructures, that diverge from a territory to another, and to effectively cover populations needs in order to meet the 2030 Agenda commitments. Participants stressed the important role that data mining and the development of digital tools can play to ensure best fresh food supply and logistics ( eg . Colombia develop a project to monitor the characteristics of the cargo and analysis obtained data (e.g : cost check, consumption). This data collection and analysis will enable to design a supply planning without disruption and shortage of food. In terms of logistics, and to limit the traffic of supply in major metropolitan areas, the development of smart urban agriculture would be useful (agriculture next to cities). Wholesale markets could facilitate the selling of products through communication between supply and demand, and they can help improve last mile logistics solutions to comply with more efficient and eco-friendly urban distribution schemes. They could play a major role bringing accessibility to a broad scale of actors and reaching cities requirements in terms of emissions, transports, optimize logistics and traffic congestions. Collaborations with national, regional, and local governments could ensure that wholesale markets are empowered to build sustainable food supply systems. For example, by discussing effective locations for wholesale markets in urban planning and including the different stakeholders participation. Panelists also mentioned the importance on reinforcing multi-stakeholder dialogue by creating dialogue platforms. There is currently in Latin America a lack of articulation between public-private sector (lots of markets are not in touch with authorities). Yet, this is crucial for the regulation of markets actors to overcome current difficulties, to distribute food efficiently spatially, to diversify centers of supply and to implement food governance policies/urban food planning. Public sector investment was identified as crucial, as the development of efficient and feasible projects requires public national and international incentives. By gathering all stakeholders of the agri-food sector in round tables that could be organized with wholesale markets and in cooperation with local and regional governments, it is also expected that capacity building will be bolstered. With the aim to ensure the development and the integration of supply centers at the national level, this scheme has been set up notably in Mexico with “competitivity agricultural circuits” in four different regions. Read less

TOPIC: Nutritious Diets Accessible to All Panelists agreed on the importance to enhance the accessibility and affordability of healthy diets as a core issue of regional agri-food system. It implies the promotion and investments in high quality infrastructure for healthy food distribution to respond to the growing urbanization and demand for fresh food products in cities, shortening the distances between rural and urban areas. In addition, reduce the number of intermediaries, which could promote accessible prices for a larger part of the population. Participants agreed on the role of wholesale ... Read moremarkets to achieve this goal. Panelists also noted the need to strengthen local value chains. For example, with the participation of wholesale markets in territorial food systems - markets that concentrate agricultural supply and allow farmers to sell their products in convenient volumes. This would promote greater communication and operational improvements between producers and distributors. Guarantees on the accessibility and affordability of healthy diets for all require to move towards sustainable consumption patterns, via the promotion of the preservation and optimization of food resources, especially for the poorest. It can be achieved by working with insertion associations to valorize unsold products and give the poorest people access to fresh and healthy vegetables. Last but not least, most of the panelists converged on the need to raise public awareness, since the childhood, as a core leverage to ensure nutritious diet for all. First by encouraging nutritional education and promoting dietary proposals that lead to a higher intake of fresh foods, specifically fruits and vegetables. For example, through the promotion of dishes made with local products, or structured education programs on healthy nutrition aimed at all sectors of the population, especially vulnerable groups. Then by promoting the consumption of healthy diets for children, including school menus by working hand in hand with municipalities to foster street markets as key places to access healthier diets – in comparison to supermarkets where consumers can mainly buy high-in-fats and sugar, processed food. Better health guidance and public procurement could also encourage better food consumption patterns and more plant-based diets. Read less

A great emphasis was put on the wholesale markets ability to ensure resilient, sustainable, healthy and affordable food system in Latin America, articulate private and public sectors and accompany involved actors in sharing experience and knowledge. Participants pointed out the urgent need to bridge all stakeholder of the food sector and to work together to ensure the supply of healthy, sustainable, affordable and nutritious diet for all, prevent food losses and foster better logistical planification. Wholesale markets are key players to structure all the fresh food actors: producers, consumer... Read mores, governments, traders, logisticians, associations, street markets, and food banks. During the first topic discussion relative to ensuring nutritious diet for all, the importance to promote and invest in high quality infrastructure for healthy food distribution, reduce the number of intermediaries and strengthen local value chains, ensure affordability of healthy diets and raise public awareness on healthy diets among populations was highlighted. Fostering better logistics, urban planification and traceability tools were also mentioned as core challenges. The introduction of a full, rapid, transparent model of traceability of produce, and better communication between the supply and demand that imply the identification of production centers and other key stakeholders can help to achieve these goals, as persisting loopholes are mainly due to lack of enough human resources or technologies to check food life cycles, quality and innocuity. The absence of public sector intervention and multi-stakeholder’s instances require to bolster the articulation between public and private sector alongside the value chain actors in Latin America. Hence, this might be translated by the development of multi-level food governance systems that can enhance at each level (national, regional, local) adequate food-policy programs and guidelines that can contribute to create resilient food environments that make it easier to choose healthy and sustainable diets. The reduction of food waste is a main challenge in the region, and faces many bottlenecks in terms of governance with the lack of governments involvement but also lack of legal frameworks to prevent food waste. To overcome this, there is a need to find a consensus among them, under a given authority and delimitated governance. Education is another key issue, both to encourage higher intake of fresh foods, specifically fruits and vegetables, and to prevent food waste in particular in the domestic sphere. Promoting the consumption of healthy diets for children , including school menus, came out as a solution as well as working hand in hand with municipalities to foster street markets as key places to access healthier diets – in comparison to supermarkets where consumers can mainly buy high-in-fats and sugar, processed food. Read less

This dialogue series focuses on the role of Wholesale Markets in shaping a sustainable food system and its relationship to other stakeholders, including local authorities, smallholder farmers, and logisticians, among others. The four dialogues focused on promoting nutritious diets and ensuring accessibility as important dimensions of food sustainability, as well as fostering smart logistics and urban planning towards making a significant contribution to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. The reduction of food waste, was also explored alongside a recognition of the essential role whol... Read moreesale markers play in this pursuit. The discussion on these topics contributed to development of effective strategies and sharing of best practices in line with addressing contemporary challenges including evolving consumption trends, urbanization, rapid population growth, climate change, disruptions in food systems and livelihoods, and the continuous pursuit of collective recovery and growth amid the Covid-19 crisis. This Dialogue was based on Action Track 1, 2 and 5 in which wholesale markets make significant contributions through their central position and targeted initiatives. Action track 1 aims to end hunger and all forms of malnutrition and reduce the incidence of non-communicable disease, thereby enabling all people to become well-nourished and healthy. Wholesale markets are the biggest fresh food suppliers in the world, and experts in the distribution of nutritious, fresh and non-processed food. They are key actors to ensure availability of fresh food, particularly in cities, which are often largely populated. Thus, wholesale markets must increase linkages and cooperation with tenants, farmers, and scientists to expand the availability of nutritious food. In fact, modern wholesale markets are well-known for traceability measures to ensure food safety. This practice must be promoted for the long run while infrastructures and protocols must be adapted and implemented in line with it. In light of this, markets need to continuously safeguard the highest level of sanitation, hygiene, and handling of food. Thus, investments should aim to upgrade existing infrastructures and establish new modern wholesale markets to ensure that all cities benefit from a consistent supply of nutritious fresh food. Action track 2 aims to build consumer demand for sustainably produced food, strengthen local value chains, improve nutrition, and promote the efficient use and recycling of food resources, especially in aid of the most vulnerable. To build this demand for sustainably produced food, wholesale markets must continue to promote the benefits and implementation of sustainable production methods through knowledge-sharing, capacity-building, and advocacy among food actors especially the producers, markets, and consumers. In addition, they must strengthen local value chains, increase recycling, and transition to the use of non-polluting energy resources. In fact, in shifting to more sustainable consumption patterns, wholesale markets are examining solutions such as promoting food waste reduction and distribution of food surplus that makes nutritious food accessible to the vulnerable populations. Moreover, further action concerning e-commerce and last-mile-logistics are needed to understand how these tools can be optimized by wholesale markets and help facilitate the supply of nutritious fresh food. Action track 5 aims to ensure existence of sustainable food systems in areas that are prone to conflict or natural disasters. The strong and diversified supply channels that wholesale markets possess demonstrated significant levels of adaptability during crisis. In fact, amid the Covid-19 crisis, wholesale markets were resilient, showcasing flexibility, resourcefulness, and innovation in delivering supply of fresh food to citizens worldwide. Wholesale markets can further optimize their infrastructures and prepare for future supply chain disruptions (fe. due to disease outbreaks or effects of climate change). In addition, improved communications among wholesale markets worldwide will enhance sharing of best practices and increase resilience. Read less

TOPIC: Reduction of food waste There is a need to improve the whole Asian food chain, not just services within wholesale markets, but also the roads, the supply chain system, working hand in hand with farmers to improve handling, packaging, and post-harvest lost (today some countries in the region waste more than 50% of the production). Improving cold chain infrastructures during the transportation and storage logistics is key in this regard. There is a need to raise awareness and create capacity building among all the actors of the chain at the policy level (local national authorities), at th... Read moree wholesale market level, and among small holder farmers. Three opportunities to decrease food waste in Asia were identified: (i) physical and information connectivity between production and consumer areas of markets, (ii) availability of post-harvest infrastructures enabling small farmers to sell their produce locally and in a fast-secure way (could be done by capacity-building to create more cooperatives), and (iii) to have financial means available to examine food waste decrease. A collective food waste management system located within the wholesale market can help address food waste. Asian markets need also better tools to measure food waste. Several markets are lacking methodology and a procedure to collect information on food waste. There is also a need to give value to waste. For example, organic waste can be used as fertilizers and biofuels - explore collaborations with startups or organizations that are specialized in this area. Moreover, the best practices must also be promoted in the region. For example, a wholesale market in Hongkong was able to decrease food waste with financial support from the government by setting up a system to distribute food waste to communities in need. Beyond this, it is also important to have a better tracking system in Asia concerning backward and forward linkages to decrease transport periods Read less

TOPIC: Smart logistics and urban planning In the area of urban planning, it is essential to have a coherent food governance that includes a reflection on how to secure in the medium-term – 20 years- fresh food availability and identifying the fresh food actors that can do this as to increase the ability to supply growing Asian populations. For instance, governments should plan where to develop wholesale markets, positioning them in such a way that their reach and connections are extensive in the best way possible. Food security can be improved through farming in peri-urban areas with systems... Read more as central to a holistic approach to proximity, logistics, and planning. Meanwhile, innovation and advancement are also key. For example, to improve the linkages, efficiency, and transparency between markets, producers, and consumers, digital innovations need to be supported. An example is blockchain technology which can help ensure safe, timely, low-cost, and good quality food through proper traceability. There must also be support provided for short-circuits alongside the fostering of local supply. Another example is the Market Information Systems which must be improved with more multi-stakeholder considerations (e.g. transport, stakeholder consultations, etc.) to enhance the efficiency in disseminating information to traders and farmers and in addressing late or not very useful information. Meanwhile, better recycling, green energy usage, and improved last mile logistics are also identified as critical points moving forward. In Asia, as there are many small farmers, there is a need to strengthen capacity building efforts to help them comply with better standards. In this context, digital tools and innovations is an option and should be financed not to leave anyone behind. It is important to evaluate the price of technologies applied across contexts and the accompanying need for good internet connection. If these tools are not accessible, it may exclude small scale traders and farmers, making food systems less inclusive. Blockchain can be adapted to large scale farming or crop farmers’ cooperatives, and innovations in food traceability can be achieved in a less demanding way (e.g. labeling of food and farmer’s commitment to refrain from dangerous chemicals). The former is not very well attended to in wholesale markets in Asia, despite being an integral part in Europe and North America, and reforms worldwide Read less

TOPIC: Nutritious Diets Accessible to All The rapidly growing population in Asia increases the importance of food security and access to healthy diets for all. To better ensure food security in the region, several points need to be improved, including transportation, cold chains, and the quality of packaging. In some countries, there is the risk of increased intake of processed food. Therefore, improved education and raising awareness on the health benefits of nutritious and fresh diets is key. The need to promote widespread diverse "foodscapes”, cities should ensure that their citizens are ... Read morein close proximity to a diverse availability of food commerce. Wholesale markets should promote this ideal and be empowered to supply all communities with fresh food. Food infrastructures need to be upgraded through investments and technology (cold chain, food safety, logistics). Fostering digital transformations of the fresh food supply chain to ensure better price, improved access to healthy quality diets, and for better connections between producers, markets, and consumers (for example, by connecting farmers’ groups to electronic national markets where machines check food quality, develop e-commerce platforms, etc.). Actors pointed out the need to strengthen local value chains: For example with the involvement of wholesale markets in territorial food systems (markets concentrating agricultural supply and enabling farmers to sell their produce in convenient volumes) and the necessity to promote a broaden integration with the urban retail network not only in fruits & vegetables but also in meats, fish & seafood and dairy products. The Asian region needs to evolve practices in order to ensure the highest level of sanitation, hygiene, and handling of foods. This could be done through consults, workshops, guidelines, and improved sector communications. In this regard wholesale markets can stay up-to-date with the latest best practices on sanitation, hygiene, and handling of foods. They can implement these practices and continue to be sustainable places of excellence in the food system. They can commit together to common guidelines. Read less

Feeding citizens with healthy, accessible and safe food will be a major challenge for the most populated continent of the world. Wholesale markets occupy a central role amid rapidly growing urban cities in the Asian region, ensuring a solid supply chain, and fostering fresh food distribution to overcome associated challenges and supply disruptions. Thus, they should be provided with necessary support and frameworks to complement their knowledge and capacity to continuously supply fresh quality and accessible food to megacities. This also includes the establishment of an inclusive ecosystem acr... Read moreoss diverse food systems stakeholders in Asia to collectively tackle pressing contemporary challenges such as climate change and the adverse health and economical effects of future pandemics. Furthermore, in the first area of nutritious diets accessible to all, it was noted that transportation, cold chains, and the quality of packaging need to be improved to ensure better food security. Improved education and awareness-raising activities on the health benefits of nutritious and fresh diets is also needed to combat increasing trends in the consumption of processed food. However, beyond this knowledge-based approach to addressing issues, there is a need to upgrade food infrastructures supporting cold chain, food safety and logistics through investments and technology, especially in fostering digital transformations of the fresh food supply chain. Moreover, in the area of smart logistics and urban planning, the importance of food governance and its coherence is highlighted, having among the propositions, a medium-term plan for fresh food availability and improving the proximity of wholesale markets to all stakeholders. This involves the need to strengthen existing linkages between stakeholders or establish new ones, for example, through blockchain technology and by improving last mile logistics. The role of capacity building among farmers is also put forward as the region counts with a lot of small-medium size producers. Lastly, in terms of reducing food waste, the need to improve not only the services within wholesale markets but also the whole Asian food chain was highlighted relating to reinforcement of roads, supply chain system, and collaborating with farmers to improve handling, packaging, and prevent post-harvest loss. This initiative must be complemented by better tracking systems in Asia, especially concerning its transportation periods and coherent policy that facilitates perishable goods rapid transportation within a country. It is increasingly important to ensure that wholesale markets have access to collective food waste management systems to address food waste with the example of organic waste as fertilizers and biofuels through collaborations with startups or organizations specialized in this area. The overall aim is always to promote best practices in the Asian region. Read less

This dialogue series focuses on the role of Wholesale Markets in shaping a sustainable food system and its relationship to other stakeholders, including local authorities, smallholder farmers, and logisticians, among others. The four dialogues focused on promoting nutritious diets and ensuring accessibility as important dimensions of food sustainability, as well as fostering smart logistics and urban planning towards making a significant contribution to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. The reduction of food waste, was also explored alongside a recognition of the essential role whol... Read moreesale markers play in this pursuit. The discussion on these topics contributed to development of effective strategies and sharing of best practices in line with addressing contemporary challenges including evolving consumption trends, urbanization, rapid population growth, climate change, disruptions in food systems and livelihoods, and the continuous pursuit of collective recovery and growth amid the Covid-19 crisis. This Dialogue was based on Action Track 1, 2 and 5 in which wholesale markets make significant contributions through their central position and targeted initiatives. Action track 1 aims to end hunger and all forms of malnutrition and reduce the incidence of non-communicable disease, thereby enabling all people to become well-nourished and healthy. Wholesale markets are the biggest fresh food suppliers in the world, and experts in the distribution of nutritious, fresh and non-processed food. They are key actors to ensure availability of fresh food, particularly in cities, which are often largely populated. Thus, wholesale markets must increase linkages and cooperation with tenants, farmers, and scientists to expand the availability of nutritious food. In fact, modern wholesale markets are well-known for traceability measures to ensure food safety. This practice must be promoted for the long run while infrastructures and protocols must be adapted and implemented in line with it. In light of this, markets need to continuously safeguard the highest level of sanitation, hygiene, and handling of food. Thus, investments should aim to upgrade existing infrastructures and establish new modern wholesale markets to ensure that all cities benefit from a consistent supply of nutritious fresh food. Action track 2 aims to build consumer demand for sustainably produced food, strengthen local value chains, improve nutrition, and promote the efficient use and recycling of food resources, especially in aid of the most vulnerable. To build this demand for sustainably produced food, wholesale markets must continue to promote the benefits and implementation of sustainable production methods through knowledge-sharing, capacity-building, and advocacy among food actors especially the producers, markets, and consumers. In addition, they must strengthen local value chains, increase recycling, and transition to the use of non-polluting energy resources. In fact, in shifting to more sustainable consumption patterns, wholesale markets are examining solutions such as promoting food waste reduction and distribution of food surplus that makes nutritious food accessible to the vulnerable populations. Moreover, further action concerning e-commerce and last-mile-logistics are needed to understand how these tools can be optimized by wholesale markets and help facilitate the supply of nutritious fresh food. Action track 5 aims to ensure existence of sustainable food systems in areas that are prone to conflict or natural disasters. The strong and diversified supply channels that wholesale markets possess demonstrated significant levels of adaptability during crisis. In fact, amid the Covid-19 crisis, wholesale markets were resilient, showcasing flexibility, resourcefulness, and innovation in delivering supply of fresh food to citizens worldwide. Wholesale markets can further optimize their infrastructures and prepare for future supply chain disruptions (fe. due to disease outbreaks or effects of climate change). In addition, improved communications among wholesale markets worldwide will enhance sharing of best practices and increase resilience. Read less

TOPIC: Improving the Role of Local Authorities in Governing Food Markets / Enhancing Logistics Panelists during this session discussed how to improve the role of local authorities in governing food markets and access to food markets both by consumer and producer and enhancing fresh food logistics to tackle issues as efficiency, accessibility and food waste. They came up with ideas such as empowering local authorities/reinforcing capacity building in food governance; tackling the lack of coordination among actors; fostering collaboration with universities/experts; reinforcing/investing in food ... Read morelogistics and finally ensuring participatory and inclusive food system in Africa. Because local governments can contribute to stable food supply and the reduction of food loss, there is a need to build more capacity-building to local municipalities, by helping them to scope the food system through assessments, in cities where is a lack of functionalities due to absence of storage, distribution and production capacities. It is important to raise awareness, provide education and collaboration. Indeed, governments are concerned about providing food to their population without knowing the importance of nutritious food. Then, panelists highlighted the need to create multi-stakeholder platforms for the fresh food sector where it is possible to communicate, exchange needs, and information valuable for all. There is an absence of guidance today. In the coming years, it is crucial to introduce a shared approach, coming along with a pre-discussed agenda with local authorities, relevant stakeholders and international development agencies. A first step could be an open discussion gathering all involved actors. This implies to make the system more participatory, inclusive by integrating small actors, who can share their experience but also by fostering collaboration with universities and experts. Such collaboration will allow to have more data and therefore to develop more efficient policies. Assessments will help municipalities to understand local realities and needs (Need to have a clear picture of quantity, quality and seasonality or products, and of number of trucks circulating). Finally, it was proposed to reinforce food logistics, as these latter are one of the main “pain points” in Africa. There is a need to invest in adequate infrastructure as distribution channels of fresh produce. To be able to feed a growing and more urbanized population, there is an urgent need to build fresh food-platforms to help to structure the sector. Investments in roads that can ensure the transportation of food to cities in a regular basis are critical. Cold chain along the chain is also an issue that must be addressed (transportation and after cold storage) for this it is important to secure regular access to electricity. Technology solutions should be promoted. Read less

TOPIC: Healthy Diets Accessible to All / Linking Rural and Urban Panelists discussed how to foster nutritious diet for all and the linkages and future opportunities for smallholder/producers and urban markets in Africa. Markets are crucial players for ensuring access to healthy diets as they are not only providing the access but also a social platform gathering most communities. In addition, they empower women that are often the vendors. Africa accounted for 40% of the world’s stunted children, mostly located in South of the Sahara in 2019 (SOFI Report 2020). To ensure food security as a lev... Read moreerage for access of markets, different pillars have to be approached: availability, access, stability, agency and sustainability. Therefore, governance has a very important role to play. Policies impact the role of accessibility to food and they need to be in line with healthy standards. Policies need to promote affordable healthy diets and authorities should have more food governance capacity-building to be able to think and plan healthy regular supply of food for the next 10 years in their country. Local municipalities are important to making sure open fresh food air markets can thrive and be maintained. This has to be accompanied by better linkages between farmers and wholesale markets, as they are important assets to ensure resilient systems throughout Africa. This can be achieved through better roads, online platforms, and improved logistics. Nowadays coordination among actors is lacking which results to food losses and waste and need to be tackling urgently. It was proposed during the discussion to boost strategies of circular economy, by working hand in hand with local organizations, and by enabling legal frameworks to be developed. Furthermore, because of its socio-economic implications, it is important to foster the promotion of traditional diets and local gastronomy, that include a lot of plant-based nutritious ingredients. This can also provide more jobs for local producers. Many rural areas depend on urban markets to sell produce. Hygiene and food transportation are critical challenge in the region. Participants agreed that the promotion of short food chains with fresh local products is key, as well as to foster the linkages and future opportunities between rural producers and urban markets. Technology, apps/online platforms could be used to link and build trust and transparency between rural areas, wholesale market tenants, and regional and international stakeholders and should be further promoted across Africa. Read less

Food security remains a key issue in Africa, especially in the Sub-Saharan regions. This is compounded by climate change, demography, and persisting poverty. The development of a strong and structured ecosystem of fresh food actors that can ensure availability of produce on a regular basis is key to achieve these goals. Agricultural wholesale markets, as fresh food trade and logistical hubs with the capacity to structure the whole fresh-food chain, will be crucial to ensure supply and to promote accessibility to healthy diets. Particularly in the context of rapid urbanization. In this sense, i... Read moret was noted that governments and local municipalities need to reinforce their capacity in food governance, urban planning, and upgrade accordingly all the basic infrastructure needed to ensure food security. This means upgrading their markets systems -including wholesale and street markets-, securing roads connections between agricultural areas/cities, and improving water facilities and access to regular electricity. It is important to shift from a sectorial approach to a systemic one. By supporting cities and local governments, a systemic approach can be progressively built, connecting markets to other food systems components. The African food sector's main challenges include: ensuring access to nutritious food, food safety, food waste management and understanding that food security and nutritional objectives need to be addressed in connection with environmental and social objectives as well as rural and urban sustainability. Read less

This dialogue series focuses on the role of Wholesale Markets in shaping a sustainable food system and its relationship to other stakeholders, including local authorities, smallholder farmers, and logisticians, among others. The four dialogues focused on promoting nutritious diets and ensuring accessibility as important dimensions of food sustainability, as well as fostering smart logistics and urban planning towards making a significant contribution to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. The reduction of food waste, was also explored alongside a recognition of the essential role whol... Read moreesale markers play in this pursuit. The discussion on these topics contributed to development of effective strategies and sharing of best practices in line with addressing contemporary challenges including evolving consumption trends, urbanization, rapid population growth, climate change, disruptions in food systems and livelihoods, and the continuous pursuit of collective recovery and growth amid the Covid-19 crisis. This Dialogue was based on Action Track 1, 2 and 5 in which wholesale markets make significant contributions through their central position and targeted initiatives. Action track 1 aims to end hunger and all forms of malnutrition and reduce the incidence of non-communicable disease, thereby enabling all people to become well-nourished and healthy. Wholesale markets are the biggest fresh food suppliers in the world, and experts in the distribution of nutritious, fresh and non-processed food. They are key actors to ensure availability of fresh food, particularly in cities, which are often largely populated. Thus, wholesale markets must increase linkages and cooperation with tenants, farmers, and scientists to expand the availability of nutritious food. In fact, modern wholesale markets are well-known for traceability measures to ensure food safety. This practice must be promoted for the long run while infrastructures and protocols must be adapted and implemented in line with it. In light of this, markets need to continuously safeguard the highest level of sanitation, hygiene, and handling of food. Thus, investments should aim to upgrade existing infrastructures and establish new modern wholesale markets to ensure that all cities benefit from a consistent supply of nutritious fresh food. Action track 2 aims to build consumer demand for sustainably produced food, strengthen local value chains, improve nutrition, and promote the efficient use and recycling of food resources, especially in aid of the most vulnerable. To build this demand for sustainably produced food, wholesale markets must continue to promote the benefits and implementation of sustainable production methods through knowledge-sharing, capacity-building, and advocacy among food actors especially the producers, markets, and consumers. In addition, they must strengthen local value chains, increase recycling, and transition to the use of non-polluting energy resources. In fact, in shifting to more sustainable consumption patterns, wholesale markets are examining solutions such as promoting food waste reduction and distribution of food surplus that makes nutritious food accessible to the vulnerable populations. Moreover, further action concerning e-commerce and last-mile-logistics are needed to understand how these tools can be optimized by wholesale markets and help facilitate the supply of nutritious fresh food. Action track 5 aims to ensure existence of sustainable food systems in areas that are prone to conflict or natural disasters. The strong and diversified supply channels that wholesale markets possess demonstrated significant levels of adaptability during crisis. In fact, amid the Covid-19 crisis, wholesale markets were resilient, showcasing flexibility, resourcefulness, and innovation in delivering supply of fresh food to citizens worldwide. Wholesale markets can further optimize their infrastructures and prepare for future supply chain disruptions (fe. due to disease outbreaks or effects of climate change). In addition, improved communications among wholesale markets worldwide will enhance sharing of best practices and increase resilience. Read less

TOPIC: Reduction of food waste To promote more sustainable consumption patterns, food waste reduction is key. In fact, “Zero food waste” should be a vision, and the goal should be to reduce as much as possible food waste. Solutions to address food waste should be developed at every level of the supply chain. This requires an integrated approach that tackles at each level the main problems. In Europe one of the key issues is to reduce food waste at the level of consumption, both in home and out of home. We need to implement tools in each level. The priority should be to move away from food ... Read morewaste disposal. Food waste reduction should be included within the “quality management systems” of companies since at present, food loss and waste reduction is not defined as a priority. It is generally only focused on producing consistent and high-level quality of products. Current solutions must evaluate how to make it “a payoff” to reduce food waste for every actor in the chain. This necessitates being “wasteless” by design, or by finding value in the waste itself by redistributing, upcycling and recycling it as food for humans, food for animals, or bio-fuel and natural fertilizer. Ensuring the redistribution of food not sold, including through partnerships with food tanks, apps (such as too good to go) and civil society organizations, would make it available to people in need. Further, involving authorities at both local and national levels is also critical alongside developing ‘enablers’ to donate. For instance, it is important to foster innovative “food waste legislation” whereby products at the end of “shelf life” which can still be consumed must undergo a change in the label to “better before” and not “last day life” to facilitate its donation. More significantly, the importance of sharing experience and knowledge between all European members of WUWM and universities, professors, scientists and other professionals will also help to improve and implement shared guidelines and conclude agreements with social organizations (e.g. food banks) for the improvement of food systems in the European region and worldwide. Read less