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It now costs R3027 a month to feed a family of five with a nutritionally complete diet, according to PACSA.

The full day panel discussion titled: “Food insecurity, the consumer food environment, formality and informality in the South African food system”, will take place at the River Club in Observatory. Presenters will highlight the complex set of factors affecting food choices and diets, with a special focus on the impact of food systems on diet, nutrition and livelihoods in South Africa.

Although South Africa produces enough food to feed its population, issues of access, affordability and availability remain a challenge. And the food system has played a role in exacerbating these challenges.

To this end, presenters will shine the spotlight on the strengths and limitations of the current food system and its impact on access to nutritious food. Topics will cover  issues such as the influence of unregulated corporate power on consumer food environments, to the challenges of food and nutrition security in South Africa and how the food system affects the livelihoods of people, particularly the poor and vulnerable members of our society.

“The research that will be presented during the World Food Day event raises complex and important policy questions, and at the same time, highlight practical solutions that government would do well to implement,” says Professor Andries du Toit, Director of PLAAS.

The full day event forms part of the Centre’s observance of the annual FAO World Food Day `(WFD) on 16 October. The panel discussion is a collaborative project between the CoE-FS and PLAAS at the University of the Western Cape, as well as the African Centre for Cities and the Labour and Enterprise Policy Research Group, (both) based at the University of Cape Town.
RSVP to: jvandieman@plaas.org.za. Provisional programme available here.