A 2017 workshop on Competition, Concentration and Employment in the Food Sectorhosted by the CoE and the Centre for Competition, Regulation and Economic Development (CCRED) at UJ highlighted the critical importance of understanding the broader regional trade dynamics of the food system in South Africa. This project is seen as building the conceptual and empirical foundation for a more ambitious, three-year programme of work focusing on regional food trade within the CoE in Food Security in 2019-2021.
This study will consider in detail both the causes of and the impacts of supermarketisation of the South African food system, and the implications for the nature of consumer food environments of poor and vulnerable people.
This project involves supporting evidence-based and policy-oriented dialogues, particularly in local food systems and developing sustained learning partnerships with key role players in selected local and provincial governments. It works closely with the policy programme in refining its approach towards co-production of knowledge and engaging with various stakeholders – learning lessons about using knowledge, evidence and analysis to support coherent food system governance and development at the metro government level.
The purpose of project was to investigate and track the most important dimensions of macro-level change and restructuring in the South African food system, with particular emphasis on those dynamics which influence the ability of the food system to provide poor and vulnerable populations in South Africa with (i) livelihoods and (ii) secure access to affordable and nutritious food