Promoting sustainability in food distribution

WP 1.2 addressed sustainability in food distribution as a governance and organisational challenge shaped by procurement models, market structures and territorial dynamics. The Work Package assumed that distribution systems are not neutral channels between production and consumption, but structural components influencing equity, resilience and accessibility within food systems.

A first research line examined public and institutional procurement as leverage points for sustainable transition. Universities and large public institutions were analysed as strategic actors capable of influencing supply chains through purchasing decisions, catering management and waste reduction policies. Pilot experiences demonstrated that sustainable procurement practices can function as operational food policy instruments, generating measurable effects along value chains rather than remaining declarative commitments.

A second axis compared short food supply chains and large-scale retail systems without adopting a normative stance. Alternative supply chains were found to generate local value and reduced upstream environmental impacts, while facing structural limitations in scalability and last-stage distribution efficiency. Consumer behaviour analysis revealed persistent tensions between ethical preferences and convenience constraints, although participatory consumption contexts — such as local markets — showed stronger economic and relational sustainability outcomes.

Public policy analysis further highlighted variability in the implementation of environmental criteria within collective catering systems. Evidence indicated that rigid and standardised frameworks are less effective than adaptive models combining regulatory guidance, economic incentives and participatory processes. In such contexts, sustainable food policies demonstrated cascade effects involving producers, managers and end users.

Territorial dimensions were also investigated through the relationship between food, geographic origin and rural development. Origin-linked productions were shown to contribute to employment and economic stability beyond production areas, while simultaneously revealing vulnerabilities associated with climate change and environmental stress. Sustainability in this context emerged as a dynamic equilibrium requiring continuous adaptation rather than a fixed target.

Additional research explored climate mitigation mechanisms in agriculture, including CO₂ sequestration measurement and carbon credit schemes. While measurement tools enable recognition of virtuous practices, findings raised questions regarding the structural effectiveness of market-based compensation mechanisms.

Finally, WP 1.2 examined social dimensions within distribution systems, including gender roles in short supply chains and the educational function of school catering. Evidence confirmed that participatory and community-based programmes can influence dietary behaviour and contribute to waste reduction, reinforcing the integrative role of food distribution systems in societal sustainability.

WP 1.2 strengthened analytical and operational understanding of distribution as a governance domain. By integrating procurement analysis, market comparison, policy evaluation and territorial assessment, the Work Package supported more equitable and resilient food access systems.