Food Hubs and the Mechanics of Organic Food Systems

driving forces in Organic Food Systems – an SDG roadmap

a presentation by Sebastian Kretschmer

UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Planetary Boundaries

Food Systems in Context

Definition Driver

A collective term for any natural or human-

induced factor resulting in significant outcomes

and leading to material impacts.

Hypotheses

Drivers in Organic Food Systems convey narratives that appeal

to the human need for self-determination, evoking intrinsic

motivation and personal responsibility.

Drivers in Organic Food Systems promote a paradigm shift that

is conducive to achieving the Agenda 2030 for Sustainable

Development.

Drivers in Organic Food Systems around the world display

patterns, irrespective of geographical-climatic, political-

economic and socio-cultural conditions.

Source: Driving Forces Shaping Future Food Systems (World Bank & FAO, 2017)

Source: Leverage Points (Meadows, 1997)

Source: Community Food Systems Framework (University of Wisconsin, 2018)

Values driving the food system

Full Cost Accounting

Source: Self-determination theory & the voluntary simplicity concept (Kasser, 2009)

Source: Assessing the food systems transformation capacity to address the Agenda 2030 (Caron et al., 2018)

Food Hub = LogisticsTowards building equitable and ethical value and supply chains

Metropolitan Foodsheds

Food Hub

A Food Hub is a centrally located facility with a business managementstructure facilitating the aggregation, storage, processing, distribution,and marketing of locally produced, source-identified food products.

By offering a combination of aggregation, distribution, and marketingservices at an affordable price, Food Hubs make it possible for small farmsto gain entry into new larger-volume markets that boost their income andprovide them with opportunities for scaling up production.

ONEVILLAGEFARM FOODHUB

Food Hub Physical Plant

Food Hubs utilize an existing or new warehouse structureas its operational platform to provide centraltransportation and refrigeration as well as value addedprocessing of local foods.

Supply Chain 101 – First mile aggregation and Last Mile Distribution

Food Hub – Incubation, Education, Aggregation

Capacity Development

I. Marketing and distribution of organic regional foodII. Technical assistance for organic conversion + incubationIII. Menu Planning / Organic Food LabIV. Joint activities with regional developmentV. Action pedagogy - education, campaigns and work with

schoolsFood Hub

Food Hub Sales Outlets

Hotels and Restaurants

Supermarkets Food Processors

Institutional Buyers

CSA – Community Supported Agriculture

Public Procurement –Organic School Lunches

Farmers Markets

Food Hub Core Concepts

Food Hub Infrastructure

Percentage of Food Hubs Offering Marketing, Value-Added & Farmer Services

Radius of Customers & Producers

Percentage of FHs Carrying Exclusively Local Product Categories

Average Percentage of Hubs Selling to Customer Types by Year

Food Hub by Enterprise Type

Start Up Funding for New Food Hubs

Food Hub Gross Revenue by Category and by Year

Major FH Expenses as a Percentage of Revenue

Food Hub Reliance on Grant Funding

Thank You For Your Attention!

Source: Food Systems and their drivers (Ingram, J., et al., 2010)