Governance of the World’s Cities:

Case Study of Urban Food Access and Food Waste

Daniel N. Warshawsky – School of Public and International Affairs

December 1, 2017

Today’s Learning Objectives

o The objectives of today’s presentation are the following:

• Recognize the importance of data in research and policy

• Understand the challenges associated with food access and

food waste in cities

2

Presentation Outline

• Part I: Conceptualize Urban Food Systems

• Part II: Governance of Food Access: Case Study of Johannesburg

• Part III: Governance of Food Waste: Case Study of Dayton

• Part IV: Study Implications and Future Research Frontiers for Livable Cities

Photo by Warshawsky (2013)

http://media.metronews.ca/images/

Part I: Conceptualizing Food Systems:

Urbanization and the Geography of Food Access

Food Deserts in Greater Dayton Food Deserts in Greater Cincinnati

5

Institutions in the Urban Food System

Part II: Urban Food Access:

Case Study of Johannesburg

Research published in Warshawsky (2013) The Professional Geographer

Locating Formal Food Vendors

in Johannesburg

Locating Informal Food Vendors

in Johannesburg

Food Economy in Johannesburg:

Dynamic but Sprawling

Formal Food Retailers Informal Street Vendors

Photo by Warshawsky (2012)Photo by Pick N Pay (2012)

Locating State Food Assistance

in Johannesburg

State Food Programs:

Spending with Uncertain Outcomes

Locating NGOs and CBOs in Johannesburg

NGOs and CBOs in Johannesburg:

Polarized and Difficult to Study

Research published in Warshawsky (2014) The Professional Geographer and Warshawsky (2013) The Professional Geographer

Robust Food NGO:

Food and Trees for Africa

Research published in Warshawsky (2014) Urban Geography

Photos by Food and Trees for Africa (2010)

Fragile CBO:

Thembalethu Community Creche

Research published in Warshawsky (2014) Urban Geography

Photo by Warshawsky (2014)

Part III: Cities and the Global Food Waste Crisis

16

17

1.What are the key spatial flows of food waste in cities?

2.Who produces, regulates, and reuses food waste in cities?

3.Why is food waste present in cities, and what theories explain these spatial patterns?

4.What are the impacts of food waste on building sustainable, healthy, and socially just cities?

Comparative Urban Food Waste Study:

Key Research Questions

18

Dayton Region Case Study:

Study Population and Methods

19

Food Waste Survey Results:

Food Purchasing Patterns and Food Waste Trends

20

Why do you throw out food? (circle all that apply)

Number of

Responses

(386 residents

surveyed)

Percentage

Past due date 172 44.4%

Bought too much food 101 26.3%

Smelly, moldy, or slimy 210 54.3%

Leftovers 94 24.3%

I don’t throw out food 54 14.1%

Other 10 2.5%

Don’t Know 1 0.2%

Refused 2 0.5%

Reasons Food is Wasted According

to Residents in the Dayton Region

21

Food Waste Survey Results:

The Causes of Food Waste

22

Which of the following are major reasons why food waste exists in Dayton?

(circle all that apply)

Number of

Responses

(386 residents

surveyed)

Percentage

Overproduction of food 168 44.6%

Low quality packaging or transportation of food 156 40.4%

Lack of government priority on food waste reduction 191 49.5%

Lack of consumer interest in food waste reduction 292 75.6%

Lack of consumer time or capacity to reduce food waste 257 66.6%

Lack of information in food waste reduction 293 75.9%

Other 10 2.7%

Don’t know 17 4.4%

Refused to answer 7 1.9%

Causes of Food Waste According

to Residents in the Dayton Region

23

Producers of Food Waste According

to Residents in the Dayton Region

What institution produces the greatest amount of food waste in Dayton?

(circle all that apply)

Number of

Responses

(386 residents

surveyed)

Percentage

Farmers 14 3.6%

Food processors and manufacturers 22 5.6%

Food grocers 54 13.9%

Farmers’ markets 1 0.2%

Restaurants 94 24.4%

Government, schools, and hospitals 37 9.5%

Consumers 156 40.5%

Don’t Know 9 2.3%

Refused 0 0.0%

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Food Waste Survey Results:

The Solutions to Food Waste

25

What institutions have the most significant impact on food waste reduction?

(circle all that apply)

Number of

Responses

(386 residents

surveyed)

Percentage

Farmers 21 5.5%

Food retailers 46 12.0%

Restaurants 67 17.2%

Manufacturers and processors 15 3.8%

Government, schools, and hospitals 25 6.4%

Non-profit organizations 13 3.3%

Individuals 179 46.3%

Other 4 1.1%

Don’t know 15 3.8%

Refused 2 0.5%

Institutional Impact on Food Waste Reduction

According to Dayton Area Residents

26

What programs have the greatest potential to reduce food waste?

(circle all that apply)

Number of

Responses

(386 residents

surveyed)

Percentage

Farmers 13 3.5%

Curbside food waste recycling and repurposing 33 8.6%

Composting 50 13.0%

Donate food to food banks, soup kitchens, and shelters 164 42.4%

Donate food scraps to animal feed 39 10.2%

Informal food waste picking (dumpster diving) 20 5.3%

Other 3 0.9%

Don’t know 48 12.6%

Refused 14 3.6%

Program Impact on Food Waste Reduction

According to Residents in the Dayton Region

27

Which of the following are key ways to reduce food waste?

(circle all that apply)

Number of

Responses

(89 residents

surveyed)

Percentage

Increase university, school, company, or organization regulation of food waste 22 24.7%

Increase government regulation of food waste 21 23.6%

Require that food waste bins are part of the city’s recycling programs 54 60.7%

Hold food retailers and manufacturers to higher standards for food waste reduction 40 44.9%

Mandate that people pay according to the amount of food waste they produce 28 31.5%

Other 23 25.8%

Refused 0 0.0%

Methods to Reduce Food Waste According

to Residents in the Dayton Region

28

Food Waste Survey Results:

Significance of Findings

Part IV: Significance of Research Findings for Dayton:

Gaps on Urban Livability, Food Access, and Food Waste

Source: USDA-ERS Food Desert LocatorSource: Dayton Daily News

Food Deserts in Greater Dayton Food Deserts in Greater Cincinnati

Research in the Dayton Region:

Active Local Food Institutions with Uncertain Outcomes

Research in the Dayton Region:

New Methods and Technologies

Live Link: http://www.arcgis.com/apps/MapTour/index.html?appid=6223bb59a5684ae18fd557a04eb0ac01&webmap=decf780d47fe44dc90b07455980580cb

Research to be published in Esri Press (2016) book called STEM and GIS in Higher Education

Questions?

Photo by Warshawsky (2009)