En viktig men ändå förbisedd komponent i effektiva livsmedelssystem
Livsmedelssystem har identifierats som avgörande för att midra effekterna av och anpassa sig till klimatförändringarna, men ofta ligger fokus på jordbrukslösningar och konsumtion. Den ”dolda mitten” – steg som bearbetning, lagring, transport och distribution – förbises ofta. Ändå är det en viktig, om än undererkänd, drivkraft för omvandling i globala livsmedelssystem, som genererar upp till 40 procent av sitt ekonomiska värde och 22 procent av sina växthusgasutsläpp.
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How to strengthen the critical middle of food systems
Strengthening essential infrastructure in the critical middle of food systems should complement existing financing and policy efforts across food value chains, including initiatives that focus on farmers and consumers.
Tetra Pak has five policy asks and recommendations for policymakers and financial institutions seeking to scale and strengthen the critical middle of food systems:
- Establish dedicated financing pathways for SME investment into critical middle infrastructure, especially in developing and developed economies
- Integrate food security into climate transition-related decision-making
- Recognise food processing technologies, packaging and distribution as essential food system infrastructure
- Make the critical middle of food systems visible, measurable and investable
- Strengthen public-private partnerships in this area to scale up implementation
Shaping resilience through dialogue at COP31
The critical middle of food systems, which includes the intermediate steps spanning processing, packaging, logistics and distribution, presents a powerful opportunity to reduce food loss and drive resource efficiency to support climate-smart development.
At COP31, we are fostering conversations on how to turn that opportunity into action. Join us for a discussion on how collaboration across the value chain can accelerate implementation.
Professor Thomas Reardon om den ”dolda mitten” som nyckeln till global livsmedelssäkerhet
Thomas Reardon är professor vid University Distinguished vid Michigan State University och Non-Resident Senior Research Fellow vid International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI). Hans arbete fokuserar på den snabba omställningen av värdekedjor för jordbruksmat i Afrika, Asien och Latinamerika. Han myntade begreppet den ”dolda mitten” 2015 och ”stormarknadsrevolutionen” 2003.
1Based on a baseline OPEX cost of ca. €2,870,000. Savings from ease-of-use and automation: Five instead of eight (baseline) FTEs = annual OPEX savings of ca. €219,000. Magnetic agitator expected to reduce contamination probability from the 5% of conventional solutions to 1% = annual OPEX savings of ca. €121,000. Total OPEX savings: €340,000 / €2,870,000 = 12%.