Accessible, quality food
Economic growth, urbanization and changing lifestyles are all making consumers change their dietary habits. These profound changes in the agrifood sector raise questions regarding competitiveness, supply chain organization, and exclusion: the crises seen in the sector recently have not been linked to shortages but to the problems certain populations groups have in accessing food resources.
What type of horticulture is required to feed towns?
- Understanding the relations between genotype, environment, cropping practices and processing operations.
- Designing horticultural production systems centring on crop management sequences that respect the environment and quality.
On what criteria should the nutritional and sanitary quality and taste of food be judged?
- Identifying nutritional, sanitary and organoleptic quality markers.
- Minimizing the risks linked to the presence of toxic contaminants.
How can we develop processing techniques that draw on traditional know-how, technical innovations and product specificity?
- Developing processes that make use of traditional and technological know-how.
- Guaranteeing fresh product quality and raw material stability.
How can we help small-scale producers adapt to changes in markets, distribution, quality standards, etc?
- Helping small-scale producers in developing countries influence market regulation and anticipate its effects.
- Analysing the changes in consumer expectations and international economic regulations.
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Taking account of the increasing use of sanitary, social and environmental standards.
Update date: 24/11/2009