Local seasonal foods: a revision on how they impact on sustainable consumption

Vargas, Alexandre Maia; Moura, Ana Pinto de; Deliza, Rosires; Cunha, Luís Miguel

http://hdl.handle.net/10400.2/13153

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Authors

Vargas, Alexandre Maia

Moura, Ana Pinto de

Deliza, Rosires

Cunha, Luís Miguel

Abstract(s)

There is an increasing concern for consumer food sustainability issues along the food chain. As a result, there is an increasing demand for local and seasonal food. The aim of this research was to understand the role of local seasonal foods in enhancing sustainability. To this end, a systematic review of the literature was conducted pertaining to the effects of eating local seasonal food on sustainable consumption, using Scopus and Web of Science databases, in line with the recommendations from the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Our findings suggest that the concept of local seasonality provides relevant information to the study of sustainable consumption. After screening over 6,500 documents, 116 studies were analyzed in detail. It is not possible to assume that local food will have a smaller impact than global food simply as it was produced close to consumption. On the other hand, it is not possible to ensure that global food is more sustainable than a local one, considering only a smaller carbon footprint. As an alternative to binary thinking, where “local” and “global”, “local seasonality” and “in season” are distinct from each other, we recommend a systemic view of the food system. This may permit a more complex analysis where food actors may be locally oriented and globally connected. Adopting a holistic concept of “local food” or embracing a “local seasonal food” concept can force methodological approaches that address all the pillars of sustainability, allowing more concrete results for sustainable consumption.

Keywords

Seasonal Local food Food chain Consumer behavior Sustainability

URI

http://hdl.handle.net/10400.2/13153

Citation

Vargas, A. M., Moura, A. P., Deliza, R., & Cunha, L. M. (2022, 21-22 julho). Local seasonal foods: a revision on how they impact on sustainable consumption. Smart and Circular Agriculture towards Sustainability Congress 2022 (p. 48). Porto, Portugal. (ISBN: 978-989-33-3567-3; https://scas2022.com/).