Danish municipalities support to the cultivation and consumption of legumes through public procurement strategies

Rikke Lybæk, Henrik Hauggaard-Nielsen
2021
This paper will, with point of departure in the situation in Denmark, investigate how to speed up the use of grain legumes within the municipal food basket, applying the theoretical approach of municipalities being 'consumers', 'regulators' and 'facilitators'. Through public procurement strategies ('regulator'), Danish municipalities have previously for example requested the use of organic food produce within municipal kitchens (kindergartens, elder people's homes, etc.), and hereby been an
more » ... rtant user and pull-market ('consumer') agent for an increase in organic food produce. Grain legumes like fababeans, lentils, peas and chickpeas have traditionally been a part of our diet, as being a healthy inexpensive source of protein, substituting for example meat produce, while playing an important role in the traditional crop rotation systems providing Eco System Services (ESS). Within the EU, political focus is currently on the cultivation of grain legumes for both animal fodder and human food, with the purpose of substituting imports of soy for livestock feed and increasing direct human food plant protein consumption. Various organizations are engaged in this transition including grain legume suppliers, retail markets and citizens. Presently, the market for domesticated grain legumes is developing fast. Through the theoretical lens described above -combined with case study analysis of four Danish municipalities, as well as a chickpea producer and a legume retailer both seeking a market entry -we will analyze how Danish municipalities can be important actors in developing a market for gain legumes. We find that especially larger Danish municipalities are very active within the area, having developed politically decided municipal food and meal strategies that includes grain legumes, where some even require supply of locally produced grain legumes. Others again, are merely starting up emphasizing grain legumes in their municipal food supply, but have on the other hand, supported ('facilitated') business cooperation between a grain legume producer and retailer within the local community. Thus, the analysis reveals the current patterns of support from municipalities, provided by the cases, but also reflect on the future not yet harvested support mechanisms.
doi:10.3217/978-3-85125-842-4-04 fatcat:cmnqhekesrhlfkgqh66i2bb3si