yR8fXydc_400x400Javier Guzman is director of VSF Global Food Justice.

In recent years progress and social acceptance that is taking the consumption of food products proximity is more remarkable, and this represents one of the clearest opportunities for the revitalization of rural areas and the creation of new farms.

However, for most of the population is not easy to find in your everyday life such products, healthy, proximity and seasonal and therefore able to integrate in their consumption pattern.

This is because, to a large degree, the absence of active public policies that actually promote and open roads to these new marketing channels proximity to reach the maximum possible population.

The most revealing fact comes precisely from the Ministry of Agriculture itself, the percentage of farms in Spain do direct selling is about a 3%, compared to countries like France, Italy and Portugal closer Fringe 20%.

The big difference data is not a casual matter or respond to cultural and social issues, undoubtedly one of the explanatory variables of this dramatic imbalance is the existence of public policies for food proximity. These countries have wagered, years, to turn public procurement of food (food purchased by the public administration and schools, hospitals etc ..) a shift lever, not only incorporating public tenders clauses that prioritize short marketing channels, but made public food procurement plans larger and ambition.

An example of this type of plans that could well be adopted in the Spanish state is the last approved in UK which has the particularity of incorporating a new strategy that is currently being tested in upstate New York, This is boosting the local purchase of food through vending machines, the famous vending.

[quote]The vending is another channel that administrations should study and launch with producers / as initiatives and pilot projects include plans to boost public procurement proximity, since the data are interesting.[/quote]

The government of New York is clear that local agriculture will be a major trend and a huge opportunity for the territory and the peasantry, In addition to building tourism alternatives linked to non-industrial agriculture. Why they have dedicated this year to launch a pilot program vending machines local food, with two goals: increased sales and income for farmers / as and create an advertising strategy for this type of agriculture. They have already installed 10 machines statewide and hope to install more if proven to have popular acceptance, these machines can be purchased, for example, Fresh apple slices Bronx.

This proposal may seem an extravagance, or an idea without much processing capacity, but perhaps deserves a leisurely analysis. It is a cheap initiative for the public coffers and allows many people who can not be in a consumer cooperative, or approach a local farmers market can get close products. In addition, for many may be the first time they have before this possibility did not know, therefore it contains an important component of awareness and education.

In our country, Regrettably, we go a few steps back. This year was presented, and rejected out of hand by the Spanish Parliament, an initiative of the short campaign promoted by organizations such as VSF Food Justice Globla, COAG (Coordinator of Agricultural and Livestock Organizations) y onions (Spanish Confederation of Associations of Parents of Students) It is claiming the existence of a procurement plan with environmental criteria and proximity. Instead, three proposals submitted no law in the Catalan Parliament, Basque and Andalusian themselves have been approved and are now in the hands of governments really take it seriously.

The vending is another channel that administrations should study and launch with producers / as initiatives and pilot projects include plans to boost public procurement proximity, since the data are interesting. According to a report published recently by DBK, market operating vending machines recorded a turnover of 2.050 million euros.

The machinery is around the 555.000 machines in Spain. Audience segment vending (which includes machines located in public places or in step) which brings together the 80% From the market, It stands at 1.6 3 5 million euros. On the other hand, captive vending business (whose machines are within local) it amounted to 4 15 million euros.

Today in our country there are no comparable experience to neoyorkino program, the closest thing is the initiative that has spent years developing in the city of Barcelona, replacing unhealthy foods machines in municipal buildings and incorporating fair trade food.

Now we need to go further, open debates unapologetic and explore all ways to amplify and strengthen short marketing channels, and it is not unreasonable to think of vending as one of them, nor far-fetched to see in public buildings, Train Stations, Metro, etc ... local food vending machines.

as we see, other countries are serious about the existence of a huge capacity of public authorities to promote healthy eating and close and transform the food system in favor of the peasantry and consumers, and not in favor as large multinational agrifood.

We are becoming more urban, more diverse, we have less time and our diet is invaded by prepared foods that have managed to be near us, but on the other hand there is growing demand for food increased proximity and ecological. It is therefore necessary to think, create and develop formulas that can provide solutions adapted to bring supply and demand.

We know that it is possible, but it started, we need public leadership in the promotion and test solutions that take into account the diversity and needs of consumers to make it easier to buy local food and reach as many people as possible. The more Sticking up for greater local agriculture will be the transformation of our food systems.