No. 05: Mapping the Informal Food Economy in Cape Town, South Africa

The informal food retail sector is an important component of urban food systems and plays a vital role in ensuring access to food by the urban poor. Yet, policy frameworks both to address food security and to govern the informal sector neglect informal retail in the food system and, as a result, the sector is poorly understood. This discussion paper argues that it is essential to understand the dynamics of the informal food retail sector, which is diverse in terms of products traded as well as the business models utilized. The paper attempts to identify the characteristics of the sector that impact on its ability to address the food needs of the neighbourhoods in which the businesses are located. It illustrates that far from existing independently of each other, the informal and the formal food retail sectors intersect at various points upstream as well as through customer practices. The paper argues that it is essential to view the formal and informal sectors as part of the same food system and to generate policy and planning responses that acknowledge the role of both in meeting local food security needs. Although the paper is focused on Cape Town, South Africa, the findings are of broader relevance

Systems in transition : from waste to resource : a study of supermarket food waste in Cape Town.

Includes abstract.Includes bibliographical references.This thesis explores the management of supermarket food waste in Cape Town. In doing so it highlights both its underutilisation and its potential transition from waste to resource. Through an extended micro study of a single case study store it traces the management of food waste from the supermarket into the wider systems of waste management in the city. It then explores the barriers and potentials for managing food waste further as a resource. While recycling has increased in the city over the past decade, this thesis demonstrates that at present there does not exist a comprehensive system for the recycling of supermarket food waste, particularly non-edible and animal protein wastes. As a result most of this waste is sent to landfill where it causes environmental damage and endangers human health

No. 24: Mapping the Invisible: The Informal Food Economy of Cape Town, South Africa

The informal food retail sector, which is diverse in terms of products traded as well as business models utilized, is an important component of urban food systems and plays a vital role in ensuring access to food by the urban poor. Yet, policy frameworks both to address food security and to govern the informal sector neglect informal retail in the food system and, as a result, the sector is poorly understood. This report attempts to identify the characteristics of the sector that impact on its ability to address the food needs of the neighbourhoods in which the businesses are located. The findings illustrate that far from existing independently of each other, the informal and the formal food retail sectors intersect at various points upstream as well as through customer practices. It is therefore essential to view the formal and informal food sectors as part of the same food system and to generate policy and planning responses that acknowledge the role of both in meeting local food security needs. If South Africa’s constitutional right to food is to be achieved, it will be necessary to develop a multi-departmental food system and food security strategy that champions and facilitates the progressive realization of the right of all residents to access sufficient, nutritious, safe and culturally appropriate food. Although the research in this report is focused on Cape Town, South Africa, the findings are of broader relevance

No. 05: Mapping the Informal Food Economy in Cape Town, South Africa

The informal food retail sector is an important component of urban food systems and plays a vital role in ensuring access to food by the urban poor. Yet, policy frameworks both to address food security and to govern the informal sector neglect informal retail in the food system and, as a result, the sector is poorly understood. This discussion paper argues that it is essential to understand the dynamics of the informal food retail sector, which is diverse in terms of products traded as well as the business models utilized. The paper attempts to identify the characteristics of the sector that impact on its ability to address the food needs of the neighbourhoods in which the businesses are located. It illustrates that far from existing independently of each other, the informal and the formal food retail sectors intersect at various points upstream as well as through customer practices. The paper argues that it is essential to view the formal and informal sectors as part of the same food system and to generate policy and planning responses that acknowledge the role of both in meeting local food security needs. Although the paper is focused on Cape Town, South Africa, the findings are of broader relevance

HCP discussion paper no. 5

The paper argues it is essential to view both the formal and informal sectors as part of the same food system, and to generate policy and planning responses that acknowledge both in their roles in meeting local food security needs. The informal food retail sector is diverse in terms of products traded as well as the business models utilized. The paper attempts to identify the characteristics impacting the informal sector’s ability to address food needs of neighbourhoods where businesses are located. The retail model practised by the informal sector makes food more accessible to those most vulnerable to food insecurity.Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC

No. 24: Mapping the Invisible: The Informal Food Economy of Cape Town, South Africa

The informal food retail sector, which is diverse in terms of products traded as well as business models utilized, is an important component of urban food systems and plays a vital role in ensuring access to food by the urban poor. Yet, policy frameworks both to address food security and to govern the informal sector neglect informal retail in the food system and, as a result, the sector is poorly understood. This report attempts to identify the characteristics of the sector that impact on its ability to address the food needs of the neighbourhoods in which the businesses are located. The findings illustrate that far from existing independently of each other, the informal and the formal food retail sectors intersect at various points upstream as well as through customer practices. It is therefore essential to view the formal and informal food sectors as part of the same food system and to generate policy and planning responses that acknowledge the role of both in meeting local food security needs. If South Africa’s constitutional right to food is to be achieved, it will be necessary to develop a multi-departmental food system and food security strategy that champions and facilitates the progressive realization of the right of all residents to access sufficient, nutritious, safe and culturally appropriate food. Although the research in this report is focused on Cape Town, South Africa, the findings are of broader relevance

Mapping the Invisible : The Informal Food Economy of Cape Town, South Africa

This report argues that it is essential to understand the dynamics of the informal food retail sector because of its vital role in ensuring greater access to food by the urban poor. Existing policy frameworks to address food security and to govern the informal sector tend to neglect informal retail in the food system. As a result, the sector is poorly understood. The report therefore attempts to identify the characteristics of the sector that impact on its ability to address the food needs of the neighbourhoods in which the businesses are located. Although the research is focused on Cape Town, the findings are of broader relevance