Food system assessment

We help you understand your local food system: from mapping to monitoring change.

Before embarking on your sustainable food system transition, it is of key importance to understandand assess your city region food system thoroughly. Realising impactful change and making effective decisions is carried out based on in-depth qualitative and quantitative data collection and a deep understanding of how your local food system functions.

Our consultants will use resources from the City Region Food System (CRFS) toolkit developed by RUAF, FAO and Wilfrid Laurier University and the Milan Urban Food Policy Pact (MUFPP) Indicator Framework, as well as a comprehensive Vulnerability Assessment to Climate Change and Pandemics.

We guide you in this process with methodological expertise and support in:

Assessing Food System exercise
  1. Defining and mapping your city region food system;
  2. Setting-up indicators;
  3. Collecting data and monitoring change;
  4. Structuring this data according to your sustainability criteria;
  5. Translating your key findings into pathways of change.

We support you in the assessment of your local food system in 4 steps

1.  We start with an intakeworkshop

We identify the learning and data needs & the necessary resources for successful research. After this workshop we will have the necessary input to design the research process.

Key questions:

Key result: A clearly defined research design and methodology.

2. We talk through the different tasks and responsibilities during the research and kick-off the data collection

Key results: Structured data according to research needs.

3. We discuss the research findings and fine-tune the last steps in the research process

For example, how tostructure, present and disseminate the research findings.

4. A last meeting

We present the final product, reflect on the process (produce learnings) and talk about the next step, a follow-up plan on how to efficiently use this data to produce pathways of change.

Key outputs:

Discover our track record

Da Nang, Vietnam

In collaboration with Da Nang’sFood Safety Management Authority and Vietnam National University of Agriculture, we supported Da Nang to develop a new food policy.

Main results:

  • An analysis of Da Nang’s food system and policy environment;
  • A strategic framework of what “Food Smart” means in the context of Da Nang;
  • Adoption of a Food Smart City development strategy for 2020-2030 with a vision towards 2045.
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Arusha, Tanzania

As part of the Arusha Food Safety Initiative, we coordinated a food safety risk assessment together with theTropical Pesticides Research Institute (TPRI).

Main results:

  • Identification of the main food safety risks (incl. from chemical, biological and physical contaminants) and hotspots in Arusha’s fruit and vegetables supply chain
  • Co-creation of new initiatives to tackle the risks (e.g. safe market kiosks, local code of good agricultural practices) as part of the Initiative’s multi-stakeholder platform

A similar assessment is ongoing in the city of Mbeya, Tanzania.

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Leuven, Belgium

Leuven recently launched the EcoFoodMap: an interactive tool that maps the food system in and around Leuven.

Main results:

  • The tool provides the necessary information about all initiatives, actors, experts and indicators in the Leuven food system. It is a compass for citizens who look for local products;
  • The platform also provides economic value for our food service businesses who are be looking for a local supplier.

It is developed with the support of Cross-KIC Sustainable Cities of EIT, the European Institute of Innovation & Technology, Leuven2030, ShiftN, Rikolto and KU Leuven.

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Questions?

Reach out to me, I'd be happy to tell you more.

‍Charlotte Flechet

charlotte.flechet@rikolto.org

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