| Titre : | School food procurement policy and organic local food production: what synergies for a transition to a sustainable local food system? (2025) |
| Auteurs : | B. Torquati ; V. Rossi |
| Type de document : | Article |
| Dans : | Agricultural and Food Economics (vol. 13, n. 1, December 2025) |
| Article en page(s) : | p. 84 |
| Langues : | Anglais |
| Langues du résumé : | Anglais |
| Catégories : |
Catégories principales 08 - ALIMENTATION ; 8.3 - Politique et Sécurité AlimentaireThésaurus IAMM POLITIQUE ALIMENTAIRE ; RESTAURATION COLLECTIVE ; CHAINE D'APPROVISIONNEMENT ; APPROVISIONNEMENT ; ALIMENT BIOLOGIQUE POUR HOMME ; PRODUIT BIOLOGIQUE ; PRODUIT REGIONAL ; CIRCUIT COURT ; ITALIE |
| Résumé : | In recent years, the topic of urban food policies has attracted considerable interest within the scientific community, also in relation to the Green Public Procurement and the recent Minimum Environmental Criteria. These criteria promote organic school canteen service by providing award criteria for local supply, but to what extent is this happening in practice? To answer this research question, we investigated the diffusion of organic and local food supply and its opportunities and limitations. The empirical evidence on the developmental impacts of school food procurement policy initiatives on local food economies is quite fragmented, and studies rarely address supply models for school canteens involving small local producers. Consequently, the economic sustainability of different short supply chains linked with the school canteen has not been sufficiently explored. This study aims to fill this gap by analyzing both the demand side and the supply side of organic and local agricultural products, using desk research and surveys. The methodological approach focused on a single regional context (Umbria in Central Italy) and drew upon stakeholder interviews and document analysis to explore barriers and opportunities for organic procurement in school canteens. This approach allowed for in-depth, context-specific understanding of both institutional and practical dynamics, including regulatory constraints and innovative local responses. Specifically for the supply side, three desk research studies and a survey were conducted. The first two desk researches outline the state of the art of certified organic canteens in Umbria according to Ministerial data and clarify the percentages of organic products to be used according to the Legislation. The third desk research analyzes different award criteria in calls for tenders, while the survey focuses on the degree of ease/difficulty faced by canteen managers in complying with Minimum Environmental Criteria. As regards the supply methods, two surveys were carried out regarding the management and suppliers of the canteen in the municipality of Citt & agrave; di Castello, whose canteen service was considered as a case study. The results show that: (1) The demand for organic products is growing: certified organic school meals tripled in Italy and doubled in Umbria between 2018 and 2023. (2) Four distinct delivery models emerged among Umbrian farms and agri-food companies supplying organic school canteens. These models differ in terms of supply volumes, values, geographical location, and the leading organizations (e.g., an agri-food cooperative, an association of organic farmers, a national catering distributor, and a regional catering distributor). Key findings include: (1) School canteens have a strong demand for organic and local products, but regional organic production cannot fully meet this demand due to small farm sizes and inadequate logistics. (2) Municipalities often rely on consultants to prepare tenders, but there is a lack of professional figures who can help small farms seize procurement opportunities. (3) Large distribution companies are seeking reliable local suppliers, suggesting that tenders should be viewed as opportunities to develop contracts with these companies. (4) Cost and revenue analysis shows that, in most cases, net margins are positive, confirming that supplying school canteens can be economically sustainable for local farms. Policy implications concern: (1) Strengthening logistical networks and cooperative models can help local farms meet demand. (2) Capacity-building for small producers and municipal staff could increase participation in tenders. (3) Public procurement could be strategically used to foster partnerships between local producers and large distributors. |
| Cote : | En ligne |
| URL / DOI : | https://doi.org/10.1186/s40100-025-00429-8 |
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