Context and challenges

From the extraction of resources to final consumption, the food system is responsible for around one third of global greenhouse gas emissions (Crippa et al., 2021). The transformation of agri-food systems (AFS) will thus play a decisive role in the socio-ecological transition of territories. To understand the characteristics of a territory's agri-food system and to be able to undertake the necessary actions, it is important to characterize the food consumption of the population that spends time there, whether temporarily or permanently. The vast majority of studies on the link between urban metabolism and food consider food consumption as static data based on the resident population. However, understanding consumption solely in terms of the census resident population has proved to be insufficient to precisely identify the number of people who really are present and who consume food. Hence the concept of the "eating population" is used to capture the population actually present over a given period of time and to describe actual food demand.

Objectives

The aim of POP-EXTEND is to conduct detailed analyses of the extent to which public policies and local players can influence the material flows associated with AFS. The analysis will focus on extending the POPCORN software tool and connecting  its use with other computer software, as well as analyse public policy and direct actions and discussions with local players. The project will apply an integrated approach to the production-consumption-waste system, considering food consumption via the notion of the "eating population", which is one of the project's original features. The analysis will apply the social metabolism approach and its toolbox, including producing  diagrams of material flows related to a territory. These representations will be shared with local players involved in public food policies, in order to identify appropriate enablers for the socio-ecological transition.

Based on the knowledge acquired by the POPCORN consortium (BETTER 2021-2022) and in particular using the prototype  tool that was developed (a database structure and a web application for formulating queries on population types and their consumption), POP-EXTEND will connect the models and tools. To this end, existing tools have already been identified within POPCORN, enabling us to propose ways of exploring the connection between the POPCORN tool, GEOPAT (supported by LISC) and OrgMatt (supported by LEESU as part of the Circular Agri-Food Ecosystems (CAFE) project). 
The schematic diagrams produced by coupling models are intended to question public policies in the food sector, such as the EgAlim law or the Projets Alimentaires Territoriaux, as well as the positions of territorial actors with respect to the material and biophysical dimension of AAS and their inclusion in territories. The knowledge generated by applying a systemic approach to the links in the production-consumption-excreta/waste chain provides a basis for reflection and discussion of the relevant levers for the socio-ecological transformation. Schematic diagrams of material flow analyses will be used as a tool for mediation between researchers and local stakeholders to address the following questions: what is the potential for action on upstream and downstream flows associated with food consumption? In particular, what are the theoretical potentials of the various levers of action that make up public policies, and how do they compare with the positions of the actors involved? Can they significantly modify flows and act as determinants of change? The aim is to debate with local actors, for example, with elected representatives, professionals from the different links in the food system, and associations, the contribution of the knowledge produced by the project to the development of the food industry. What contribution does the knowledge generated by this integrated production-consumption-waste representation make? How does it call into question the trajectories adopted within the framework of the above-mentioned public policies?

Contact - Coordination :

Partners

INRAE divisions

Non-INRAE partners