Public Food Procurement for Farm System Diversification

Summary

Diversified farming systems have received considerable attention for their
potential to contribute to environmentally sustainable and resilient food
systems. This chapter discusses the potential of public procurement programmes
in building public support for diversified farming systems. Focusing on Brazil’s
flagship public procurement programme, the National School Feeding Programme
(PNAE, by its Portuguese acronym), this chapter analyses how public procurement
may drive farm diversification and the adoption of agroecological practices
among small-scale farmers. It also explores the limitations of public procurement
programmes in promoting agrobiodiversity and agroecological practices, and
potential ways for achieving broader impacts for environmental outcomes.