Scenarios of Vegetable Demand vs. Production in Brazil: The Links between Nutritional Security and Small Farming

Camille L. Nolasco, Luciana S. Soler, Marcos W. D. Freitas, Myanna Lahsen and Jean P. H. B. Ometto
Additional contact information
Camille L. Nolasco: Earth System Science Centre (CCST), National Institute for Space Research (INPE), São José dos Campos 12227, Brazil
Luciana S. Soler: Earth System Science Centre (CCST), National Institute for Space Research (INPE), São José dos Campos 12227, Brazil
Marcos W. D. Freitas: Department of Geography, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre 4314902, Brazil
Myanna Lahsen: Earth System Science Centre (CCST), National Institute for Space Research (INPE), São José dos Campos 12227, Brazil
Jean P. H. B. Ometto: Earth System Science Centre (CCST), National Institute for Space Research (INPE), São José dos Campos 12227, Brazil

Land, 2017, vol. 6, issue 3, 1-19

Abstract: Dietary guidelines urge Brazilians to increase their consumption of raw vegetables. Yet key issues must be tackled by the government and civil society, not only to foster consumers’ appetite for healthier food, but more importantly to diminish the gaps between local demand and production, determined by food and land accessibility. We examine whether vegetable production in Brazil meets the demand to provide Brazilians the daily amount of fresh food recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO). We developed demand scenarios in Brazil for 2008 and 2030, based on demand density maps built at the district level using production census surveys, household acquisition data, and population growth estimates. Results reveal an inherent inequality in vegetable consumption between the southern and central northern regions of Brazil that follows food insecurity regional indicators. Even in more urbanized regions and metropolitan areas, where the best balance between vegetable production and acquisition is found, simulated demand is far from WHO recommendations. A complementary discussion regarding land distribution and fresh food production supports our outlook on the weaknesses of existing rural policies for land reform and sustainable local fresh food production that directly affect demand and nutritional security. This work was the foundation to the Delivering Food Security on Limited Land (DEVIL) project in Brazil supported by Belmont Forum consortium.

Keywords: food security; Brazil; density map; vegetable demand; vegetable production; small farming; household budget survey (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q15 Q2 Q24 Q28 Q5 R14 R52 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2017
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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