Policy measures to support local food systems

Enterprises engaged in food production are one of the focuses of the European Green Deal, as the implementation of its objectives will make impacts on agriculture, which is one of the most important industries supplying raw materials to food producers, as well as on energy and transport. Previous research studies have emphasized that processes within the local food system (LFS) occur over a relatively short geographical distance, thereby creating a number of economic advantages as well as making a significant impact on the community economy. In other words, this diversifies the rural economy, makes enterprises more economically independent, develops local potential and contributes to the image of the area. Most of the food produced in Latvia was sold in the domestic market, and only approximately a third of the food output was exported over the last decade. The expansion of the domestic market is therefore very important for local producers. Food production is spread throughout the country, and both home producers and rural small and medium enterprises producing food participate in the market, which contributes particularly to the socio-economic viability of the population living in rural communities. As a result, local food systems emerge, which is a complex phenomenon, as it involves more than just economic aspects. Food production, distribution and waste management are indirectly affected by several public policies, as the food production begins with the exploitation of primary production resources linked to the environment and ends with the development of cultural services, including the preservation of traditions and values. Accordingly, it might be argued that an LFS represents a very complex and diverse set of actors and their interrelationships, which is constrained by specific social, cultural, economic and institutional frameworks, and therefore the research aims to give insight into the public policy dimension in food systems and, based on the research findings, identify key problems and develop recommendations for the development of food systems in Latvia.