Local food production

What is meant by ‘regional’ and ‘seasonal’?

If one wishes to explore this topic, it is helpful to take a closer look at the concepts under discussion. ‘Regional’ and ‘seasonal’ – what do these two terms mean in the context of food production?

Regional

Regionality refers to where food is grown, produced and distributed. The term refers to the production and consumption of food within a defined geographical region. However, there is no standard definition of exactly how this region is to be defined. Consequently, a small district, a federal state or even an entire country may fall within the definition of regionality.

Seasonal

There is a time for everything – and this applies to the harvesting of agricultural produce too. A seasonal food supply refers to the consumption of food in line with its natural growth cycle. This varies depending on the foodstuff, the season and the climate zone. The concept of seasonality thus refers to the natural availability of raw materials throughout the year.

Combining these two aspects of nutrition therefore means focusing, when buying food, on produce that is available both at the current time of year and in the local area. For many consumers, regional and seasonal factors are important. They see this as the basis for sustainable food consumption, which offers a host of benefits.

Benefits of consuming locally produced food

People who make a point of buying local products when shopping usually do so in the hope of achieving one of the following positive outcomes:

• Greater freshness and better nutritional value:

Regional produce stands out for its freshness and flavour. As transport distances are shorter, food generally reaches consumers more quickly from the producer. This allows fruit, vegetables and other produce to retain their optimum level of ripeness and develop their full flavour and nutritional value.

• Strengthening local agriculture:

Buying regional products supports local agriculture. Among other things, this strengthens small-scale farming structures, secures jobs and can increase appreciation for agricultural produce. At the same time, this focus may have a positive impact on pricing, as regional demand reduces the price pressure exerted by the global market.

• Promoting regional value chains:

As well as supporting the agricultural sector, buying regional products helps to boost the local economy as a whole. This is because food producers and processing businesses in the region also benefit from local demand. This contributes to the wider economic prosperity of the community.

• Reduced dependence:

Strengthening regional structures also brings with it the benefit of greater independence. Promoting regional food security can help to ensure that supply chains remain resilient even in times of global crisis.

• Improved carbon footprint:

The transport of food around the globe results in greenhouse gas emissions. Buying locally sourced produce avoids long transport distances, which can lead to a reduction in energy consumption – and, consequently, a reduced environmental impact. At the same time, strengthening small-scale farming structures generally also helps to enhance biodiversity. Small-scale farms are more likely to adopt sustainable practices such as organic farming and to avoid the use of chemical pesticides and fertilisers – further positive environmental benefits in favour of supporting local produce.

• Greater transparency and knowledge-building:

By fostering greater familiarity with farming methods, production processes and quality standards, it is possible to build a closer bond between producers and consumers. The trust that results from this provides much-needed guidance and can help to increase public participation in shaping social and environmental standards.

Issues relating to regionality in food production

However, the assumption that regional products are necessarily more sustainable, healthier and more environmentally friendly than imported goods is not necessarily true. There are also a number of challenges and critical issues to be addressed when implementing the principles of regionality and seasonality in the food industry.

• Limited selection

As the scheme is restricted to regionally sourced food, the availability of certain foods may be limited depending on the region and the time of year. One of the main criticisms is that this limited variety may lead to a less varied and, potentially, less healthy diet.

• Food shortages

Relying exclusively on regional and seasonal food supplies can lead to significant shortages. This is because independence from global structures and a focus on local infrastructure can also cause problems. For example, regional weather events can have a negative impact on crop yields. Regional crop failures consequently lead to problems in the food supply. At the same time, in regions with strong population growth and limited agricultural capacity – such as urban conurbations – it can be difficult to maintain security of supply.

• Price rises

A potential shortage or a focus on local production processes could lead to a sharp rise in the prices of goods. It is therefore not unlikely that operating costs for farmers in certain regions will be higher and that labour costs, for example, will rise, which in turn will be reflected in the price of goods.

• Local production is not the same as sustainability

The call for greater regionalisation may also mean that the sustainability of the produce grown declines. Growing conditions vary from region to region. However, if one is determined to source certain foods exclusively from the immediate local area, this can lead, for example, to inefficient and excessive land use, increased use of fertilisers and other resources, or soil depletion.

• Focus on geographical proximity rather than energy consumption

Locally grown produce does not necessarily have a better carbon footprint than imported food. This is particularly true when the aspect of natural seasonality is given less consideration. For example, running greenhouses can be more energy-intensive than importing produce. If the focus is on low CO₂ emissions, efficiency is far more crucial than proximity. A further complicating factor is that small and medium-sized farms often operate less efficiently in terms of energy use than large-scale farms. They frequently lack the developed infrastructure and the necessary resources to overcome logistical challenges in a way that conserves resources.

The storage of seasonal food can also increase its energy consumption to such an extent that it is on a par with, or may even exceed, that of imported goods.

Conditions relating to the pros and cons of regionalism

In order to respond effectively to the call for greater regionality and its many implications, various aspects need to be taken into account. There needs to be transparency and consumer awareness of the factors that must be considered for a successful and environmentally responsible implementation.

However, the challenges and drawbacks associated with a focus on regional and seasonal food production should not be allowed to overshadow the many significant benefits. The current challenges facing the food industry call for sustainable change – and a focus on regional food supply is one of many ways to address these. In addition, many innovative processes and techniques are in the pipeline which will further improve the regional availability and diversity of food – such as the forward-looking possibilities offered by Urban Farming. And who knows what methods they’ll come up with in future to improve energy efficiency.

Conserving resources with Ehlert GmbH

If you’re looking to improve your procurement management in terms of sustainability in order to reduce your environmental footprint in food production, Ehlert is the right choice for you. Thanks to our many years of experience, we know exactly what matters. And as a specialist wholesaler for consumables in food production, we offer a range of 18,000 items that’s always available to you.

Our range offers everything your heart desires. And when it comes to sourcing the equipment you need for food production, Ehlert means you only have to go through a single supplier, rather than many different ones. Simple, high-quality and efficient – with the long-established specialist wholesaler from Verl.