Revista de Economia e Sociologia Rural
https://app.periodikos.com.br/journal/resr/article/doi/10.1590/1806-9479.2026.292633
Revista de Economia e Sociologia Rural
ORIGINAL ARTICLE

The contributions of Public Food Procurement in the construction of Sustainable Food Systems: a methodological proposal

A contribuição das Compras Públicas Alimentares na construção de Sistemas Alimentares Sustentáveis: uma proposta metodológica

Camila Lago Braga; Cátia Grisa

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Abstract

The importance of Public Food Procurement (PFP) in promoting Sustainable Food Systems (SFS) is widely recognised. However, few studies have addressed the evaluation of these purchases at a local level (municipality), taking into account the particularities of organizations and the dimensions of SFS. This study proposes a methodology to assess public food procurement in the municipality of São Luís (Maranhão, Brazil), based on five dimensions of SFS: food and nutritional security, sociocultural, economic, environmental and food democracy. The method involves constructing metrics to assess 12 categories and 48 indicators, which are combined to obtain an overall score (0-100). The aim is to check how close public food procurement is to SFS. The survey focused on 2019 and assessed public organizations in different sectors (education, health, security and social assistance) and management models (concession or self-management). In general, the scores were less than ideal for all categories and dimensions. The performance of the organizations was not linked to the management model or the sector, but rather to the way in which the public authorities conducted procurement, considering the legislation in force and the players involved.

Keywords

family farming, evaluation method, sustainability, food policy

Resumo

Resumo: É amplamente reconhecida a importância das Compras Públicas Alimentares (CPA) na promoção de Sistemas Alimentares Sustentáveis (SAS). Contudo, poucas pesquisas abordaram a avaliação dessas aquisições públicas em nível local (município), considerando as particularidades das organizações e as dimensões dos SAS. Este estudo propõe uma metodologia de avaliação destinada a analisar as compras públicas de alimentos no município de São Luís (Maranhão, Brasil), com base em cinco dimensões dos SAS: segurança alimentar e nutricional, sociocultural, econômica, ambiental e democracia alimentar. O método envolve a construção de métricas para avaliar 12 categorias e 48 indicadores, que são combinados para obter uma pontuação geral (0-100). O objetivo é verificar o grau de proximidade das compras públicas de alimentos em relação aos SAS. A pesquisa se concentrou no ano de 2019 e avaliou as organizações públicas em diferentes setores (educação, saúde, segurança e assistência social) e modelos de gestão (concessão ou autogestão). De modo geral, as pontuações se mostraram aquém do ideal para todas as categorias e dimensões. O desempenho das organizações não estava necessariamente ligado ao modelo de gestão ou ao setor, mas sim à forma como as aquisições eram conduzidas pelo poder público, considerando o aparato legal existente e os atores públicos envolvidos nas aquisições.
 

Palavras-chave

agricultura familiar, método de avaliação, sustentabilidade, política alimentar

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Submetido em:
11/12/2024

Aceito em:
06/10/2025

Publicado em:
02/02/2026

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