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Measuring sustainable food systems in Brazil: A framework and multidimensional index to evaluate socioeconomic, nutritional, and environmental aspects

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  • Carvalho, Aline Martins de
  • Verly Jr, Eliseu
  • Marchioni, Dirce Maria
  • Jones, Andrew D.

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.

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  • Carvalho, Aline Martins de & Verly Jr, Eliseu & Marchioni, Dirce Maria & Jones, Andrew D., 2021. "Measuring sustainable food systems in Brazil: A framework and multidimensional index to evaluate socioeconomic, nutritional, and environmental aspects," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 143(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:wdevel:v:143:y:2021:i:c:s0305750x21000826
    DOI: 10.1016/j.worlddev.2021.105470
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    3. Yin, Jieling & Wu, Nan & Engel, Bernie A. & Hua, En & Zhang, Fuyao & Li, Xin & Wang, Yubao, 2022. "Multi-dimensional evaluation of water footprint and implication for crop production: A case study in Hetao Irrigation District, China," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 267(C).
    4. Reina-Usuga, Liliana & Parra-López, Carlos & de Haro-Giménez, Tomás & Carmona-Torres, Carmen, 2023. "Sustainability assessment of Territorial Short Food Supply Chains versus Large‐Scale Food Distribution: The case of Colombia and Spain," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 126(C).
    5. Marina Maintinguer Norde & Laura Porciuncula & Giovanna Garrido & Nadine Marques Nunes‐Galbes & Flavia Mori Sarti & Dirce Maria Lobo Marchioni & Aline Martins de Carvalho, 2023. "Measuring food systems sustainability in heterogenous countries: The Brazilian multidimensional index updated version applicability," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 31(1), pages 91-107, February.
    6. Jude Anayochukwu Mbanasor & Ogbonnaya Ukeh Oteh & Nnanna Mba Agwu & Chigozirim Ndubuisi Onwusiribe & Nwanneka Cynthia Ibem & Chibuzo Okpokiri & Ambrose Ogbonna Oloveze, 2022. "Wheat or cassava flour? Marketing and willingness to pay for cassava flour confectionery in Nigeria," Economia agro-alimentare, FrancoAngeli Editore, vol. 24(3), pages 1-25.

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