Measuring sustainable food systems in Brazil: A framework and multidimensional index to evaluate socioeconomic, nutritional, and environmental aspects. (July 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Carvalho, Aline Martins de; Verly Jr, Eliseu; Marchioni, Dirce Maria; Jones, Andrew D.
• Is Part Of: World development. Volume 143(2021)
• Publication Date: 2021-07
• Subjects: Sustainable food systems -- Multidimensional index -- Theoretical framework -- Brazil; Economic history -- 1990- -- Periodicals; Economic assistance -- Developing countries -- Periodicals; 330.9
• DOI: 10.1016/j.worlddev.2021.105470
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0305-750X

Abstract

Highlights: Countries can have distinct food systems depending on regional differences. The proposed index is the first to measure the Brazilian food systems at state level. The index ranks states on environmental, socioeconomic, and nutritional dimensions. No state presented a high score for all dimensions, all of them can improve overall. This methodology can be used by other countries to develop their own local indices. Abstract: The sustainability of food systems is commonly measured at the global or national level using multidimensional indices. However, it is not possible to use such indices at subnational levels, because the data for many indicators are not available and large countries such as Brazil have completely different food systems depending on the state or region considered. This paper presents a sustainable food systems framework for Brazil and the Brazilian Multidimensional Index for Sustainable Food Systems (MISFS), which is the first index of its kind that considers local behaviors and actions to rank states and regions of the country. The dimensions and indicators included in the index were identified from a literature review and an exclusion criteria, which considered the Brazilian context, that ended up with 17 indicators divided in three dimensions (environmental, socioeconomic, and nutritional). We followed well-known procedures to create an interpretable multidimensional index, which include normalization, weighting, aggregating, and sensitivity analysis. The performance of the states was starkly different, regarding the indicators and dimensions considered. No state presented a high score for all three dimensions, and even states with a high MISFS score had room to improve in one or two dimensions. In general, high-income states scored well on socioeconomic indicators (e.g., agriculture education), but poorly on most environmental indicators (e.g., water footprint), and some nutritional indicators (e.g., obesity rate). This index is the first initiative to measure the Brazilian food systems according to local practices and behaviors at state level and it is a starting point to help policymakers understand the opportunities of improvement of their food systems. This study may also help other countries to develop their own frameworks and strategies to improve their regionalized food systems.