Food Policies, Family Farming and Climate Justice in the Amazon Towards COP30

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the sustainability of the food system in the Metropolitan Region of Belém (RMB), based on the interface between public institutional procurement policies (the National School Feeding Program, PNAE, and the Food Acquisition Program, PAA) considering local production, spending patterns, the strengthening of family farming, and the principles of climate justice. METHODS: The analysis of the PNAE was based on 2022 data from the School Census (school and student profiles) and from the SiGPC invoices (values and types of FF foods). Foods were classified into 12 groups. The characterization of FF and the PAA data were based on reports on urban and peri-urban agriculture and on settlement mapping. RESULTS: The RMB has 929 public schools and 390,552 students. In 2022, municipalities allocated BRL 31 million to the PNAE, 43.5% of which came from FF, surpassing the legal target. Fruits represented the highest spending, followed by vegetables and seasonings. In the PAA, the Abril Vermelho settlement sold 28 tons of food, mainly fruits, legumes, and tubers, with pumpkin and cassava root standing out in quantity, and scallion and chili pepper in value. The production prioritized permanent crops, agroecological practices, and culturally significant foods. CONCLUSIONS: The results highlight the potential of the PNAE and PAA in the RMB to strengthen FF, promote healthy and sustainable eating, enhance regional food products, and contribute to environmental restoration. These policies represent strategic tools to integrate food security and climate justice by promoting low-impact local production, recognizing inequalities, and increasing the resilience of food systems, in alignment with the goals of COP30.