Résumé
Food became a subject of major interest since the 2000’s, for consumers as well as for public actors, who gradually address food issues. This phenomenon is mainly related to the recognition of dysfunctions and crisis prevailing in the agro-industrial and dominant food system. Consequently, food production and distribution re-localization initiatives multiplied, aiming at developing “Alternative Food Networks” (AFNs). However, the recent focus on these networks, frequently based on short food supply chains, has led to leave aside some intermediary actors in the food systems, such as food distributors. Food distributors include independent retailers (butchers, grocers, etc.), supermarket chains, wholesalers and new emerging forms of retailing. Distributors are central to the food systems and perform specific functions, allowing them to play a special role in food system re-localization.The recent dynamics in the food sector has brought new interactions within the food system, bringing out issues of change in food governance mechanisms. Thus, this thesis studies the emergence of a food governance at a territorial level. We particularly examine the integrative nature of territorial food governance processes, studying one specific actor: food distributors.First, we analyzed three French case studies in Nantes, Lyon and Figeac, describing the ongoing governance processes, but also some of the difficulties related to addressing food issues by public actors. The integrative nature of food governance processes seems limited, regarding the absence of food distributors and retailers in these processes. Then, we conducted a “territorial” work by studying a territory, the “Grand Clermont” in Auvergne, to analyze food distributors’ practices regarding local foods. This approach highlights the types of interactions established between food distributors and public actors, but also the issues at the heart of these interactions. More generally, we describe the difficult identification of food distributors by public actors, mostly due to a lack of knowledge – and sometimes to mistrust – towards these actors. However, food distributor’s intervention in some food sectors (i. e. local economy, nutrition, etc.) can help thinking their potential integration to territorial food governance processes. Finally, this thesis outlines the main obstacles and constraints to the implementation of territorial food governance processes, from a distributor’s perspective. In particular, it highlights the specific role territorial public actors play in these mechanisms, initiating public food programs and federating stakeholders around food issues. Moreover, food distributor’s intervention in various food sectors can be seen as a potential way to build a territorial food governance.
Source: http://www.theses.fr/2018CLFAL017
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