We live in a globalized system of life. As such, food and agriculture are important aspects of our way of life and part of our daily activities. With this and unbeknownst to many is that there’s a “food system.”
What is a food system, what does it comprise, what moves and shapes it?

“A food system” is a process/ chain through which food is produced and is made available for consumption(Farm to Plate process or chain.)

A food system includes all the aspects of feeding and nourishing people: growing of food, harvesting,packaging, processing, transporting, marketing and consuming food. It encompasses all the interactions between people and the natural world ie land, water, the climate etc and the natural world’s effects on human health and nutrition. It also includes the inputs, institutions, infrastructure and services that support the functioning of all these aspects, as well as the role of diets and cultural practices in shaping outcomes.

STEPS THAT MAKE UP A FOOD SYSTEM.

Various economies have different steps involved in their respective food systems. However, we are going to focus on the steps involved in various developing countries, particularly Uganda.

1. PRODUCTION.

What goes in: Knowledge of how to raise crops and livestock, sun, soil, water, air, seeds, livestock, access to land, tools, farm equipment and inputs(fertilizers, pesticides etc).

What comes out: Food ready for processing, distribution and human consumption. Also feed for animals and biofuel.

Production varies on the scale and farming methods used. From farming on 50*100 plots or 300 acre farms, farmers make choices about how they will grow food, including whether to cultivate one crop or a diverse array of ground crops, vegetables or even fruits. They also need to decide whether to apply organic or synthetic fertilizers.

While some farmers produce resources on-farm, there is an entire industry built on production inputs including seed companies, plant nurseries, animal feed companies, fertilizer producers, and others.

2.PROCESSING.

What goes in: Harvesting, packaging, storage and processing facilities.

What comes out: Food ready for sale and distribution. Each food type requires some level of processing, storage and/or packaging, whether packing fresh tomatoes into a box or transforming corn from the field into flour packaged in an airtight bag(value addition).

3.DISTRIBUTION.

 What goes in: Food ready for sale or distribution, sale or distribution, sales outlets, marketing efforts etc.

What comes out: Food ready for purchase and preparation.

In the distribution phase, food gets to those who will prepare it for consumption. There is an almost endless variety of ways to distribute food, both for a fee and for free.

4. CONSUMPTION.

What goes in: Food that is ready to prepare, knowledge of food preparation techniques, cooking apparatus.

What comes out: Ready to eat food.

WHAT MOVES FOOD THROUGH THE FOOD SYSTEM?

•Farm resources. This encompasses a diverse range of things that make farming possible from fertile land available for cultivation and grazing for animals to financial resources that are used to pay farm workers and purchase farm equipment and inputs to farm equipment and tools such as tractors, oxen, hoes, watering cans and even farm wear(gum boots). Inputs such as fertilizers, pesticides and so much more are also essential in the production process.

•Labour. Hired farm workers, farmer family members and community members, farmers’ market staff, supermarket cashiers, meat plant workers, restaurant staff. It can require an incredible amount of human effort to get food from the field on to your plate. Providing workers a living wage and safe working conditions can help protect the people who make it possible for us to eat.

•Energy. Fuel and electricity needed to power tractors, farm equipment, factories, delivery trucks, restaurants and grocery stores, and kitchen stores. However, it’s important to divert to alternatives such as renewable energy and finding sales outlets closer to home.

•Waste. Food is packaged and repackaged as it moves through the food system, and there are losses at every step. Reducing packaging, recycling used packaging, and turning waste into biogas or compost can slash waste within the food system.

WHAT SHAPES THE FOOD SYSTEM?

•Supply chain/ecosystem. This involves both the processes involved and labor force handling the respective process from production(farmers) to aggregators(middlemen) and distributors(transport agents) and even manufacturers. These are critical since they determine both quality and quantity of the food that moves through the food system.

•Policy. Agricultural and food policy includes the regulations producers need to follow to sell their goods, government aid to producers and consumers, trade agreements and more.

•Climate. Climate and weather patterns have always had a large impact on farming. There’s no question the unpredictable weather patterns, extreme temperatures, floods, and droughts brought on by climate change add more uncertainty to the food system. Seed scientists are working to breed drought resistant and heat loving varieties that are adapted to local conditions. Many universities and research groups are searching for climate-smart ways to ensure that we grow food for sustainability ie for many generations.