Book Description

Smallholder farmers are responsible for most of the food consumed in the world, as well as most of the investments made in agriculture. They operate largely in a range of local and national markets that are embedded in territorial food systems, also known as “territorial markets”. For consumers, these markets serve as key retail outlets for access to the foods needed for healthy diets, in particular fresh fruits and vegetables, fish, meat and staple foods. However, despite their importance, data concerning territorial markets – such as the availability of food groups, food retailers and consumer profiles – are not often collected. As a result, territorial markets can be neglected in strategies aimed at improving nutrition, reducing poverty and fostering local economies. In Lebanon, the importance of territorial markets as an essential food retail outlet was studied using a survey conducted in nine territorial markets. This study on mapping territorial markets aims to better understand the functioning of these markets via sound data and evidence generation, with an emphasis on market inclusivity and access to healthy and diversified diets, taking into consideration the impact of Lebanon’s economic and financial crisis on these markets.