Public procurers hold the power to influence the entire food value chain and through their decisions can affect both production and consumption practices. This position creates a strategic opportunity to leverage public sector demand for sustainable development. Seizing the potential, however, comes with great complexity as it requires innovation within the respective procurement system, connecting the actual procurement to a much wider process linking to policy goals and engaging various stakeholders.
The recommendations address the different stages of the food value chain to make it more sustainable: input industry, primary production, food processing & packaging, transport & logistics, retail, food service, individual consumption and finally, waste & disposal.