On the importance of tightening feedback loops for sustainable development of food systems

Abstract

In the process of searching for sustainable trajectories in the food system, this paper reviews and discusses the importance of tightening feedback loops between ecosystems, actors in the food production chain and consumers. Intensification, specialization, distancing, concentration and homogenization are trends identified as major constraints for tightened feedback loops. These trends can mask or make it possible to disregard feedback signals from unhealthy ecosystems and weaken communication in the food chain. We explore possibilities for improved feedback management on local to global scales and present examples where feedback loops have been tightened. Enhanced communication between the actors in the food system and consciousness of ecological feedback, through e.g., increased reliance on local resources, are possibilities for improvement. However, where distances between resource and resource user are too large, feedback has to be directed through institutions on an overarching level, e.g., policy measures or environmental and social labelling of products. (C) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

Published in

Food Policy
2005, volume: 30, number: 2, pages: 224-239
Publisher: ELSEVIER SCI LTD

SLU Authors

• Milestad, Rebecka

  • Department of Urban and Rural Development, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

UKÄ Subject classification

Environmental Sciences and Nature Conservation
Economics and Business
Social Sciences

Publication identifier

• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodpol.2005.02.003

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/19147