Durabilité de l'alimentation face aux nouveaux enjeux

25/03/2011 - Article

A symposium is due to be held in Paris on 29 March, to debate the results of the duALIne project on thr sustainability of food in the light of current issues. DuALIne is a foresight exercise currently being conducted by CIRAD and INRA. CIRAD is working in particular on questions relating to countries in the South.

The aim of the duALIne foresight exercise is to take stock of knowledge and identify the main levers for action on the critical aspects of food supplies. In particular, the aim is to look at the question of food with respect to its impact on the environment, health, the economy and social aspects, in both industrialized and developing countries, taking account of global changes. Those changes include increasing resource shortages (water, energy, etc) and cost, global population growth and urbanization, climate change, and growing inequality between rich and poor countries. The eventual objective of the exercise is to identify the resulting research requirements.

The symposium aims to debate the results of duALIne, launched in November 2009, which associates numerous public experts from various fields, along with private partners.

CIRAD is working in particular on questions relating to countries in the South . Those countries vary significantly, yet have many things in common. Their agrifood industries and distribution systems have often been developed based on those in the North. They are faced with changes such as liberalization and urbanization that are happening faster than elsewhere, facilitating the emergence of systems with marked disparities and inequalities. In terms of governance, some of these countries have weak governments and rely on international aid and foreign investment, notably by multinationals. Lastly, they are the first countries to be affected by climate change and its consequences. For countries in the South, sustainability is sometimes seen as a new constraint in relation to a model system from the North from which they have often gained little benefit. However, some of these countries have already anticipated the search for alternative systems that could inspire many others. What is the definition of sustainability in this particular context? How can we study the sustainability of food systems in the South? How can we allow for the range of situations in such studies? This is the challenge we face .

The symposium is to be held at the Espace du Centenaire, Maison de la RATP, 189 rue de Bercy – Paris 12 (Metro: Gare de Lyon).