Wardle Jennifer, Sorathia Aslam, Smith Pete, Feliciano Diana
School of Biological Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK.
International Business School, Teesside University, Middlesbrough, UK.
Scott Geogr J. 2024 Apr 2;140(1-2):233-247. doi: 10.1080/14702541.2023.2242834. Epub 2023 Aug 2.
Sustainable food systems are an important aspect of curbing the impacts of climate change and meeting targets of global food security. It is increasingly recognised that a wider suite of indicators is required to assess sustainability beyond the traditional environmental factors. This study focuses on Aberdeenshire, an atypical area of the UK where soils, climate and topography are not conducive to diverse or large-scale fruit and vegetable production, which in other areas, are a dominant feature of farmers' markets. Nevertheless, Aberdeenshire needs economic diversification to offset some of the impacts of the decline in the oil and gas industry. Face-to-face questionnaires were conducted across Aberdeenshire farmers' markets in summer 2022 to assess buyer and seller perceptions of the environmental, social and economic benefits of local food products. There was a positive attitude to local products with the majority of buyers perceiving the quality, nutrition, organic status and use of sustainable farming practices to be high. Conversely, the main products bought, baked goods and meat, are associated with negative impacts on the environment and/or human health. We discuss why, despite these shortfalls, farmers' markets provide a valuable opportunity to distribute and promote high quality wares to support the local economy.
可持续粮食系统是遏制气候变化影响和实现全球粮食安全目标的一个重要方面。人们越来越认识到，除了传统的环境因素外，还需要一套更广泛的指标来评估可持续性。本研究聚焦于英国的阿伯丁郡，这是一个非典型地区，其土壤、气候和地形不利于多样化或大规模的水果和蔬菜生产，而在其他地区，这些是农贸市场的主要特色。然而，阿伯丁郡需要经济多元化来抵消石油和天然气行业衰退带来的一些影响。2022年夏季，在阿伯丁郡的农贸市场开展了面对面问卷调查，以评估买卖双方对当地食品的环境、社会和经济效益的看法。人们对当地产品持积极态度，大多数买家认为当地产品的质量、营养、有机状况以及可持续农业实践的应用水平很高。相反，购买的主要产品，即烘焙食品和肉类，与对环境和/或人类健康的负面影响有关。我们讨论了尽管存在这些不足，但农贸市场为何仍为分销和推广高品质商品以支持当地经济提供了宝贵机会。
