Speaker
Description
Context description and research question: Ensuring healthy diets from sustainable food systems is an immediate challenge (Willett et al., 2019). On the one hand, there is an urgent need to limit the environmental impact of production systems while increasing their resilience in the face of climate change. On the other hand, consumer health is also an important point to consider when analyzing food systems (Tilman & Clark, 2014). The aim of this study was to assess locks and levers associated with lentil production at the country scale, in a European temperate climate country like France. The three dimensions assessed in more detail were agro-ecology, food safety and economics, three essential pillars for assessing sustainability and go to synergistic solutions. They were discussed in a broader context of protein and agro-ecological transitions.
Method and theoretical background: Data were obtained through 1-to-1 interviews and questionnaires, on-line surveys, literature search and access of national and international database. On the agricultural dimension, we identified and interviewed thirty-three farmers in different areas in France, reflecting different production systems. On the food safety dimension, we analyzed 607 responses to the on-line survey to assess microbiologic and chemical risks. On the economic dimension, we analyzed 45,885 purchases of lentils products in France, from 13,039 households. Statistical analyses on each dataset were carried out to compute agronomic, food safety and economic indicators. Data were analyzed through different tools (Excel, Stata and R software).
Results and discussion: On the agricultural dimension, first, 88% of farmers emphasized that redesigning crop rotation is a strong lever for sustainable lentil growing systems. Second, we found that farm economic profitability is an essential condition for farmers to produce lentils. Organic or geographical indication areas were identified to secure land allocation for lentil production and farmers' income. Third, lentil production was pointed out to be vulnerable to climate change, with climatic hazards having an impact on yields and thus on economic profitability. On the food safety dimension, the microbiological and chemical risks associated with lentil consumption were assessed as low considering the current consumption of the French population. However, we recommend to be careful in the future if the consumption increases drastically. On the economic dimension, we found that the per capita consumption of lentil-based food products is low, although given the relatively low level of prices, these may not be a limit to consumption. Moreover, we pointed out that the French market strongly depends on imports, and especially on Canada for lentil in can.
Our study revealed that there were still several obstacles to the development of the lentil agricultural and food system in France and that those identified obstacles cannot be neglected if we want to implement a viable protein and agroecological transition in the medium or long term in France and more generally in European countries with temperate climates. Obstacles associated with the agroecology-safety-economy triptych must be compared to the sector's positive effects in terms of health benefits and environmental impact. We recommend therefore to take our conclusions into a more general cost-benefit type approach encompassing these five dimensions in order to holistically evaluate the lentil sector and to place its strengths and weaknesses in relation to other important agri-food system in France such as cereals and meat food systems. Greater research on this perspective could facilitate protein and agro-ecological transitions in France and more generally in Europe as a long-term goal. Besides, nationwide policy measures to support lentil production on the one hand and to encourage consumption on the other hand, should be designed consistently.
| Keywords | lentil, market, agricultural practices, food system, country scale |
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