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Roles of regional production in a global food system

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 November 2019

Christian J. Peters Open the ORCID record for Christian J. Peters [Opens in a new window] ,
Miguel I. Gómez  and
Timothy Griffin
Christian J. Peters*
Affiliation:
Division of Agriculture, Food, and Environment, Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, Tufts University, Boston, MA, USA
Miguel I. Gómez
Affiliation:
Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
Timothy Griffin
Affiliation:
Division of Agriculture, Food, and Environment, Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, Tufts University, Boston, MA, USA
*
Author for correspondence: Christian J. Peters, E-mail: [email protected]
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Abstract

What is the role of Northeastern agricultural products in the US food system? This paper presents a typology that categorizes where agricultural production and distribution of a specific geographic area, in this case a multi-state region, fits within the US food system. The place of each food is defined based on its production volume, scope of distribution, market timing and agro-ecological niche. Six distinct roles that a region might play in supplying food are identified: (a) the region is a national production center, (b) the region is a seasonally important supplier, (c) regional production and distribution is the primary scale for supplying a food, (d) the product occupies an agro-ecological niche, (e) a product is a co-product of another industry in the region, and (f) the product is marketed explicitly for its geographic provenance as a local or regional product. Illustrative examples of each role are provided from the research of the Enhancing Food Security in the Northeast (EFSNE) regional food systems project. The examples draw from a variety of methodological approaches including regional self-reliance analysis, product case studies, supply chain models, and examination of spatial and temporal patterns in crop and livestock production and marketing. While presented in the context of the Northeast, the typology would likely be valuable for characterizing other regions of the country. We need such a typology to better understand and communicate the value of geographically dispersed agricultural production to creating a resilient food system, thereby improving our decisions of how to respond to future agricultural challenges

Keywords

Agroecologyeconomicsgeographysustainability
Type
Themed Content: Enhancing Food Security in the US Northeast: Interdisciplinary Insights: Research Paper
Information
Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems , Volume 36 , Issue 5 , October 2021 , pp. 432 - 442
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Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2019

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