Benefits and challenges of the public food procurement program: Perspectives of technicians and managers of family farmer organizations in Brazil

Public food purchase programs are a useful tool for promoting food security through rural development, supporting family farmers, and encouraging sustainable and healthy food production. The study aimed to analyse the characteristics of family farmer organizations associated with the Brazilian Publi...

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Main Authors: Panmela Soares, Suellen Secchi Martinelli, Elena Albero Atance, Rafaela Fabri, Vicente Clemente-Gómez, Mari Carmen Davó-Blanes, Suzi Barletto Cavalli
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2024-10-01
Series:Heliyon
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844024150505
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author Panmela Soares
Suellen Secchi Martinelli
Elena Albero Atance
Rafaela Fabri
Vicente Clemente-Gómez
Mari Carmen Davó-Blanes
Suzi Barletto Cavalli
author_facet Panmela Soares
Suellen Secchi Martinelli
Elena Albero Atance
Rafaela Fabri
Vicente Clemente-Gómez
Mari Carmen Davó-Blanes
Suzi Barletto Cavalli
author_sort Panmela Soares
collection DOAJ
description Public food purchase programs are a useful tool for promoting food security through rural development, supporting family farmers, and encouraging sustainable and healthy food production. The study aimed to analyse the characteristics of family farmer organizations associated with the Brazilian Public Food Procurement (PFP) program and the opinion of technicians and managers of the organizations regarding the benefits and challenges of the program. A cross-sectional study was conducted through a structured questionnaire. The questionnaire contained questions regarding the characteristics of the organization and the food sales process, as well as the opinion about the benefits and challenges of PFP. The results were stratified according to the organization’s participation in the PFP. The chi-squared or Fisher’s exact test was applied. A total of 293 managers and technicians from family farmer organizations participated in the study. The majority of participants (71.7 %) reported their involvement in the PFP program. The study revealed that farmer organizations and public technical assistance agencies with larger memberships and employing conventional or mixed production methods were found to be more actively engaged in the PFP program across Brazil. Participants highlighted that direct sales under the program offer benefits to consumers, producers, and the environment. However, challenges identified include seasonal production constraints, bureaucratic hurdles in sales procedures, inadequate infrastructure for food storage and processing within farmer organizations, insufficient information from restaurants about purchasing opportunities, and a lack of support and technical assistance. These factors pose implementation challenges for the PFP program. While the PFP program shows promise in promoting direct sales and supporting local farmers, addressing the identified challenges will be crucial for its sustained success and broader adoption across different regions.
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spelling doaj-art-eeeab52a643a4f828f033c0adfd74d252025-08-20T02:13:59ZengElsevierHeliyon2405-84402024-10-011020e3901910.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e39019Benefits and challenges of the public food procurement program: Perspectives of technicians and managers of family farmer organizations in BrazilPanmela Soares0Suellen Secchi Martinelli1Elena Albero Atance2Rafaela Fabri3Vicente Clemente-Gómez4Mari Carmen Davó-Blanes5Suzi Barletto Cavalli6Nutrition Post-Graduation Programme, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, 88040-900, Brazil; Public Health Research Group, University of Alicante, 03690, Alicante, Spain; Department of Community Nursing, Preventive Medicine and Public Health and History of Science, University of Alicante, 03690, Alicante, Spain; Corresponding author. Department of Community Nursing, Preventive Medicine and Public Health and History of Science, University of Alicante, 03690 Alicante, Spain.Nutrition Post-Graduation Programme, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, 88040-900, Brazil; Nutrition Department, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, BrazilUniversity Máster's degree in Nutrition and Feeding, University of Alicante, 03690, Alicante, SpainInstitute of Nutrition, Rio de Janeiro State University, Rio de Janeiro, BrazilPublic Health Research Group, University of Alicante, 03690, Alicante, SpainPublic Health Research Group, University of Alicante, 03690, Alicante, Spain; Department of Community Nursing, Preventive Medicine and Public Health and History of Science, University of Alicante, 03690, Alicante, SpainNutrition Post-Graduation Programme, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, 88040-900, BrazilPublic food purchase programs are a useful tool for promoting food security through rural development, supporting family farmers, and encouraging sustainable and healthy food production. The study aimed to analyse the characteristics of family farmer organizations associated with the Brazilian Public Food Procurement (PFP) program and the opinion of technicians and managers of the organizations regarding the benefits and challenges of the program. A cross-sectional study was conducted through a structured questionnaire. The questionnaire contained questions regarding the characteristics of the organization and the food sales process, as well as the opinion about the benefits and challenges of PFP. The results were stratified according to the organization’s participation in the PFP. The chi-squared or Fisher’s exact test was applied. A total of 293 managers and technicians from family farmer organizations participated in the study. The majority of participants (71.7 %) reported their involvement in the PFP program. The study revealed that farmer organizations and public technical assistance agencies with larger memberships and employing conventional or mixed production methods were found to be more actively engaged in the PFP program across Brazil. Participants highlighted that direct sales under the program offer benefits to consumers, producers, and the environment. However, challenges identified include seasonal production constraints, bureaucratic hurdles in sales procedures, inadequate infrastructure for food storage and processing within farmer organizations, insufficient information from restaurants about purchasing opportunities, and a lack of support and technical assistance. These factors pose implementation challenges for the PFP program. While the PFP program shows promise in promoting direct sales and supporting local farmers, addressing the identified challenges will be crucial for its sustained success and broader adoption across different regions.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844024150505''Food system''''Food security''''Food availability''''Sustainable development''''Institutional food service''
spellingShingle Panmela Soares
Suellen Secchi Martinelli
Elena Albero Atance
Rafaela Fabri
Vicente Clemente-Gómez
Mari Carmen Davó-Blanes
Suzi Barletto Cavalli
Benefits and challenges of the public food procurement program: Perspectives of technicians and managers of family farmer organizations in Brazil
Heliyon
''Food system''
''Food security''
''Food availability''
''Sustainable development''
''Institutional food service''
title Benefits and challenges of the public food procurement program: Perspectives of technicians and managers of family farmer organizations in Brazil
title_full Benefits and challenges of the public food procurement program: Perspectives of technicians and managers of family farmer organizations in Brazil
title_fullStr Benefits and challenges of the public food procurement program: Perspectives of technicians and managers of family farmer organizations in Brazil
title_full_unstemmed Benefits and challenges of the public food procurement program: Perspectives of technicians and managers of family farmer organizations in Brazil
title_short Benefits and challenges of the public food procurement program: Perspectives of technicians and managers of family farmer organizations in Brazil
title_sort benefits and challenges of the public food procurement program perspectives of technicians and managers of family farmer organizations in brazil
topic ''Food system''
''Food security''
''Food availability''
''Sustainable development''
''Institutional food service''
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844024150505
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