Methodological procedures to evaluate the state of local food systems

Abstract

Introduction: The development of the local agro-food sector, a strategic priority to achieve municipal food self-sufficiency in the country, is achieved through the transformation of current systems into nutrition-sensitive food systems.

Objective: To design a methodological proposal to evaluate local food systems as part of the Food Sovereignty and Nutritional Education Plan, and to reduce dependence on imports by increasing local production.

Methods: A review and compilation of information related to each component of the food chain were conducted through group work with key actors in management at the municipal level. Information provided by the National Statistics Office, the Ministry of Agriculture, and the provincial and municipal Ministry of Public Health was used.

Results: The proposal included the estimation of pondered nutritional recommendations, the identification of the main health indicators, the estimation of energy and nutrients, the level of autonomy or dependence of the territory, the estimation of gaps between availability and provision, the impact on health of nutritional deficiency or excess, and the selection of priority productive chains.

Conclusions: The methodology designed allowed providing governments, producers, traders and decision-makers with simple methods for follow-up, monitoring, and evaluation of the program, with greater use of its potential, through sustainable, resilient and equitable production of healthy and safe food to achieve local food self-sufficiency.