Department of Pathobiology and Population Sciences, Veterinary Epidemiology, Economics and Public Health (VEEPH) Research, Royal Veterinary College, Hertfordshire, United Kingdom.
Centre for Development, Environment and Policy, SOAS, London, United Kingdom.
PLoS One. 2022 Jun 29;17(6):e0270756. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0270756. eCollection 2022.
Global broiler production and consumption levels continue to rise. South Africa's broiler system is dominated by commercial production and formal retail trade, with competition from cheap imports. Local broiler policies have narrow, production-driven, short-term aims for industry growth and national food security. However, these have unintended consequences that undermine the system's future sustainability. Using a food systems approach, this study developed a qualitative system dynamics model of the South African commercial broiler system and used it to engage stakeholders in policy discussions within the boundaries of health, nutrition, and environmental sustainability. A problem statement and key system elements were drawn from a previously published qualitative study and were validated by 15 stakeholders via an online questionnaire. From this, a seed model was developed, expanded into a larger model, and shared in a modular format with stakeholders in virtual meetings, on an individual or institutional basis, for feedback and validation, and for discussion of areas for policy consideration. Refinements were incorporated into the modules, policy considerations were summarised, and crosscutting issues were identified. The model demonstrated the system's complexity, interlinkages, feedbacks, reinforcing and balancing loops, and behaviour archetypes. The modular presentation format created a suitable platform for stakeholder engagement. Current policies focus on local commercial production, formal markets, and affordability without cognisance of the broader system represented by the model. Inequality pervades throughout the system. Commercial producers, linked to large supermarkets and fast-food chains, dominate the system, presenting barriers to entry. Affordability is unintentionally traded off against non-communicable disease risks through brining of most frozen products, and ultra-processing of fast-food items. Foodborne disease control is critical, given the proportion of vulnerable individuals, and greater coherence of food safety policy is urgently needed. The environmental footprint of broilers, whilst less than that of ruminants, deserves closer scrutiny based on its dependence on intensive cereal production for feed. This study's food systems approach provides a system-wide perspective and a foundation for policymakers to develop more integrated and transformative policies.
全球肉鸡生产和消费水平持续上升。南非的肉鸡系统以商业生产和正规零售贸易为主导，面临廉价进口产品的竞争。当地的肉鸡政策具有狭隘、以生产为导向、追求短期行业增长和国家粮食安全的特点。然而，这些政策产生了意料之外的后果，破坏了系统的未来可持续性。本研究采用食品系统方法，构建了一个南非商业肉鸡系统的定性系统动力学模型，并利用该模型在健康、营养和环境可持续性的范围内，让利益相关者参与政策讨论。一个问题陈述和关键系统要素取自先前发表的定性研究，并通过 15 位利益相关者的在线问卷进行验证。在此基础上，开发了一个种子模型，将其扩展为一个更大的模型，并以模块化的格式与利益相关者分享，以虚拟会议的形式，个人或机构为基础，征求反馈和验证意见，并讨论政策考虑的领域。将改进意见纳入模块中，总结政策考虑因素，并确定交叉问题。该模型展示了系统的复杂性、相互联系、反馈、增强和平衡循环以及行为模式。模块化的呈现格式为利益相关者的参与创造了一个合适的平台。当前的政策侧重于当地的商业生产、正规市场和可负担性，而没有考虑到模型所代表的更广泛的系统。不平等现象贯穿整个系统。与大型超市和快餐连锁店有联系的商业生产者主导着这个系统，为进入市场设置了障碍。由于大多数冷冻产品的引入和快餐产品的超加工，可负担性与非传染性疾病风险之间存在权衡。鉴于脆弱人群的比例，控制食源性疾病至关重要，迫切需要更协调一致的食品安全政策。肉鸡的环境足迹虽然小于反刍动物，但由于其对饲料中密集型谷物生产的依赖，值得更密切关注。本研究的食品系统方法提供了一个系统范围的视角，为政策制定者制定更具综合性和变革性的政策提供了基础。
