Valued Exchanges: Supporting Health, Nutrition and Cultural Foodways in Agroecological Food Markets in Dakar, Senegal

While there is evidence that agroecological practices can improve food security and nutrition for smallholder farming households, there is less evidence in urban areas, particularly for low-income households. This study asks: what agroecological food system interventions could be implemented to address multiple forms of malnutrition? Dakar, Senegal, was chosen as a case study due to the prevalence of malnutrition, and the presence of a dynamic network of local civil society-led projects in support of agroecology, including support to domestic market outlets. Three market sites were selected based on : urban or peri-urban, agroecological food products sold, including fruits and vegetables, low-income consumers purchase food at this market. The methodology is a combination of qualitative and quantitative data collection tools. Semi-structured interviews (n=40) were carried out with actors involved in agroecological food markets, including consumers, producers, traders, market vendors and development partners (bilateral cooperation agencies, international organizations). Three focus groups with consumers in the sites were held with women. A structured survey was carried out with 120 consumers. Preliminary findings show that health, food safety and quality are major motivations for involvement in agroecological food markets, whether they are consumers, vendors or producers. Urban markets rely on direct sales and/or short chains, often with development organizations supporting the initiatives, giving them considerable power within these markets. Trust and reputation are at the core of the relationship, which depends on vendors’ capacity to effectively respond to consumers’ concerns. Although agroecological products are priced competitively, there is a perception that agroecological products are more expensive than conventional products and inaccessible to low-income consumers. We explore several key concepts to understand the dynamics operating in Senegal, including structural inequalities, cultural foodways, social embeddedness, and dominant narratives about agroecology, local food and safety that help build connections between low income households and urban agroecological markets.