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

Arlindo Rodrigues Fortes, Vladmir Ferreira, Elsa Barbosa Simões, Isaurinda Baptista, Stefano Grando and Erik Sequeira
Additional contact information
Arlindo Rodrigues Fortes: Escola Superior de Ciências Agrárias e Ambientais, Universidade de Cabo Verde, Santiago Praia CP 379, Cabo Verde
Vladmir Ferreira: Escola Superior de Ciências Agrárias e Ambientais, Universidade de Cabo Verde, Santiago Praia CP 379, Cabo Verde
Elsa Barbosa Simões: Escola Superior de Ciências Agrárias e Ambientais, Universidade de Cabo Verde, Santiago Praia CP 379, Cabo Verde
Isaurinda Baptista: Escola Superior de Ciências Agrárias e Ambientais, Universidade de Cabo Verde, Santiago Praia CP 379, Cabo Verde
Stefano Grando: Department of Agriculture, Food and Environment, University of Pisa, via del Borghetto 80, 56124 Pisa, Italy
Erik Sequeira: Escola Superior de Ciências Agrárias e Ambientais, Universidade de Cabo Verde, Santiago Praia CP 379, Cabo Verde

Agriculture, 2020, vol. 10, issue 6, 1-30

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

Keywords: food systems; food security; small farms; small food businesses; staple product; Cabo Verde (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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