At the beginning of the last century the food model suffered great industrialization. A symbol of this transformation of consumerism has been the mechanization of many works, which has triggered the loss of artisanal practices and sociocultural traditions of the primary sector. Consequently, these and other impacts, such as those of an environmental nature derived from the use of machinery and vehicles that work with fossil fuels, which contaminate a lot, and mass production, which results in the overexploitation of certain commercial and territory species, have promoted in the last three decades a very palpable transformation of food.
In fact, for some time you have listened or read concepts such as “vegetarianism”, “responsible consumption”, “collaborative economy” or “fair trade”, great pillars of change. But do you know what they mean? To solve your doubts and better understand the food metamorphosis that we are living continues to read this article of Ecology Verde, about What is local consumption and its importance.
What is local consumption
Local consumption could be understood as a new socioeconomic current that has completely modified the behavior of consumers and commerce, as well as our relationship with the natural environment we live. It is a RESPONSIBLE OR CONSCIOUS CONSUMPTION MODELcontrary to consumerism, focused on the satisfaction of what is strictly necessary in order to improve the well -being of present and future generations. A model, therefore, sustainable and in which possible environmental and social impacts derived from the production, transport, distribution and consumption chain.
Focusing on the food context, with the Promotion of proximity consumption or km0quality and seasonal products (in small butchers, fishmongers, greengroce The conservation of nature and socio-cultural progress. Thus guaranteeing food safety and sovereignty and making local consumption equitable and healthy.
We encourage you to read this other article about what is responsible consumption.
Importance of local consumption
Local consumption has gained a lot of strength in recent years, but why? What makes this trade model more and more relevant? What is the Importance of consuming local products?
To answer these questions, it is essential to set attention to the multiple benefits of local consumption, some of which are:
- Direct purchase to producer narrow distances With the consumer. This implies: the disappearance of the figure of intermediaries and, therefore, of the inflation of the cost of food products; the consequent hatching of fair trade, which builds relationships of trust between consumers-producers and that is characterized by the real payment of the work done by the latter; as well as greater transparency and control of producers in the production process, which increases the pleasure and use value in consumers (gyneis and papooikonomou, 2015).
- Favors the work of producers in the most immediate environment, increasing their ability to compete and strengthening, through the consumption of proximity productsthe local economy and the sociocultural identity of what is considered own in the territory that we live or we were born. Which, consequently, results in the formation of more resilient and self -sufficient communities.
- It offers, therefore, a rich and varied commercial fabric, capable of responding to the diversity of food practices.
- Short agri -food chains are more respectful of the environmentsince they reduce pollution levels and encourage energy saving related to food transport and processing worldwide. They also respect the seasonality of productsstrengthening the balanced and nutritionally adequate diets, based on the consumption of natural foods, of higher quality, little processed and non -transgenic of the harmful type for health.
- According to FAO and the SDGs, local trade, capable of interwoven diverse, productive, resistant and sustainable local economies, contributes to the eradication of poverty, allowing the Socio -economic development of communities With fewer resources and more vulnerable.
How to promote local consumption
The power of supermarket chains, the more factors, has pushed in recent years to local consumption to seek new forms of advertising and sale to reach citizens. Below are some of the strategies that have been essential to Promote local or km0 consumption:
- Incorporation of home delivery service.
- Online or phone orders.
- Visibility of shops through social networks, banners or the press.
- Development of food cooperatives that face the problems of generational relief and rural depopulation.
- Training in responsible consumption and solidarity economy to local agents and general citizens through workshops or informative campaigns and awareness.
- Impulse of the creation of urban gardens in neighborhoods, towns and cities, through public institutions, such as municipalities, schools.
- Valuation of local products through the denominations of origin, reinforcing their identity and being able to face the global trade mechanisms.
- Economic bonus to businesses committed to the production and consumption of ecological foods.
If you want to read more articles similar to Local consumption: What is and its importancewe recommend that you enter our category of other ecology.
- Eleni Popeikonomou and Matias Ginieis. ROVIRA I UNIVERSIDAD. The relationship between producer and consumer in local food systems: analysis of their practices and narratives. Available at: https://raco.cat/index.php/rio/article/view/298412/387599
- Global Forum on Food Security and Nutrition. United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization. Eradicate extreme poverty: What role does agriculture have? Available at: http://www.fao.org/3/ca0989es/ca0989es.pdf
