Plastic packaging provides a solution to the challenges faced in the transportation and distribution of food, particularly the reduction of spoilage and, ultimately, of food wastage. However, due to the devastating impact it has had on our environment, many people are calling for the ban of singleuse plastics in packaging. 

Today, plastic is ubiquitous throughout the food distribution network and many rely on these packaged goods to provide nutritious food for themselves and their communities. Without plastic, the number of people with access to fresh goods and produce would fall dramatically. Plastic can extend the shelf life of many goods, allowing for food to be shipped to every comer of the globe. 

It seems that plastic plays a huge part in food security for many. So why are we trying very hard to remove it? Are there other elements that we should consider when looking at the plastic problem? 

Plastic wastage and pollution is a global concem that should be treated with the utmost urgency. Not only is plastic infiltrating natural ecosystems all around the world, its production is also contributing to global greenhouse gas emissions. With plastic particles showing in our water supply and food, it is now costing our health and our planet. 

In addition, plastic pollution adversely affects developing nations. Poor countries often lack the infrastructure to support recycling schemes, not to mention the cases of developed nations sending their loads overseas. In 2020, for example, the UK alone shipped out 7,133 metric tonnes of waste to non-OECD countries, including Malaysia and Indonesia. 

The real problem, however, lies not with the plastic itself, but with the food value chain as a whole. At present, the chain is made up of incredibly long and complex networks, which involve transporting food hundreds, even thousands of miles from their original origin. Fundamentally, this means that the process has become reliant on plastic to safeguard the long journey.

We must refocus our efforts to examine the food system itself, instead of blaming plastic entirely Solving the deep-rooted issues within the value chain is a complex task, but a good start would be to look at shortening it through the localisation of food systems. By reducing food miles and, consequently, the time between farm and fork, the amount of packaging needed to maintain freshness naturally decreases. With lower food miles and fewer actors within the value chain, distribution networks need only to rely on larger and more durable packaging (crates) that can readily be reused. 

A systemic approach is therefore needed if we are to achieve food security, protect livelihoods in the value chain, and avert environmental destruction. Reducing, or even eliminating the use of plastic is possible, but only when enabling conditions are present to guarantee the quality and safety of food whilst ensuring that fresh food remains affordable, especially to low income consumers.

On May 25th, IISLA came together to host its very first Independent Dialogue for the UN Food Systems Summit joined by an array of experts, advocates, civil society and policymakers. In preparation, we set out to construct a landscape that was both inclusive and diverse. For us, it was important to include people whose voices aren’t typically heard in food system discussions, especially at the international level. Focused on natural and organic agriculture, we invited smallholder farmers and MSMEs into small focus group discussions to hear the challenges and issues they face in the current food system and what systemic interventions they could suggest. We see them being at the epicentre of conscious innovations, working towards revolutionising the food system through sustainable means.

To build on our own knowledge and understanding of the Philippine food system, our team curated this event with the purpose to gain perspectives from all food chain actors. Four pressing topics were thought-out and put into place, these were: food production; food processing and consumption; food distribution; and rural financing. IISLA mindfully attributed each attendee to a focus group session that suited them best. An astonishing amount of planning went into conducting these discussions in an informal, transparent and inviting atmosphere for participants to speak freely. The results of these focus group discussions then formed the basis of the dialogue itself.

To kick off this momentous occasion, we had the Department of Agriculture’s Undersecretary Leo Sebastian providing us with a message on behalf of DA Secretary William Dar. In his message, he presented one of the DAs core pillars – inclusive growth. He assured us that the DA is making it their priority to incorporate farmers and fisherfolk in their policies for food system change. Asserting that they are crucial actors to support and that facilitating their livelihoods can spur economic growth within the agricultural sector. In fact, in an effort to stabilise food production systems the DA implemented a ‘Plant, plant, plant’ programme. This programme urged farmers to plant more areas by providing them with seeds, fertilizers and technical assistance. In his final words, Leo Sebastian said that the DA is “striving for a food secure landscape where no one is left behind”. It is, however, unclear as to whether the DA is seeking to improve factors of sustainability and nutrition throughout mainstream food chains.

After our message from the DA, we had Dr. Glenn Gregorio from SEARCA, one of the champions for the UN Food System Summit. Dr Gregorio presented to us his findings from SEARCAs very own UN Independent Dialogue on transforming agricultural education and research. He informs us that everybody has a role to play in conceptualising, designing and implementing food and nutrition system innovations. To transform the system there must be a balance between economic, social and environmental concerns. Issuing that, civil society, the state and the market all play a crucial role in change within the food system. He urges for the promotion of responsible consumption and production through societal education. SEARCAs key strategy in food system change is to promote initiatives that increase production efficiency and income diversification across the value chain.

Before we broke out into small breakout sessions, IISLA’s Founder and CEO, Jennifer Viloria, presented to the participants an analysis of the situation of the food system in the Philippines based on the focus group discussions, backed by the extensive research that our team has been unearthing over the past few years. To read our working papers on the Filipino food system, click here. A whole hour dedicated to break out sessions was followed by a plenary discussion where all participants were invited to comment and interact with one another. Overall, it was a fruitful dialogue with a lot of action points for all stakeholders involved. IISLA now hopes that as we convey the result of this important dialogue to the UN, that they will be considered and finally put the smallholder farmers and MSMEs at the heart of all initiatives.

In 2016, Gina Lynn Valdez, a certified public accountant, started volunteering at Gawad Kalinga (GK) Enchanted Farm on weekends. With her skillset, she helped out in the bookkeeping of a social enterprise. For the next few months, while treading between her full-time job and volunteer work, Gina began questioning if she wanted to be in a corporate job for the rest of her life. The clear answer is  no. She decided to quit her corporate job and join GK Enchanted Farm full-time.

Working in an incubation hub for start-ups, Gina saw a common pattern among the other enterprises holding their residence in the farm. While social entrepreneurs were natural salesmen and marketers, they seemed to have difficulty with financial management. “What was lacking was an accounting and finance function. There was so much effort and resources being wasted, and many times, they would end up losing money and people,” Gina said.

This is not an uncommon scenario. Managing finances is one of the main reasons startups and social enterprises fail to scale. As a consequence to not being adept in cash handling, entrepreneurs cannot give the necessary reports to grantees and investors despite the social impact or profit generated by the business. “Whenever I produce a report, I get blank stares. Sayang (too bad), because the dream for any entrepreneur is really to scale up their business.”

In 2017, social enterprises started approaching her to outsource their accounting and bookkeeping needs. In 2019, Gina finally admitted she was ready to open an enterprise herself.  With the help of the management team of GK Enchanted Farm, she then officially founded Numbers That Matter PH.

Numbers That Matter PH, she realized, was a finance service intervention for social entrepreneurs. They offer outsourced accounting services, systems integration and improvement, cash flow management, and financial education to entrepreneurs, letting them realize that it is not just about having a good, profitable product.  It is also about having a sound financial position and management system.

Gina and IISLA’s Founder and CEO Jennifer Viloria met at the GK farm as well, volunteering in the same year. The two entrepreneurs connected because of their common finance background and mutual projects. “When Jennifer and I first met, I was quite happy, because I found someone who understands the importance of a good financial model in order to responsibly allocate resources where they should be allocated.”

IISLA and Numbers That Matter PH will be partnering for a new program that puts the spotlight on understanding and, ultimately, evaluating social impact vis-a-vis financial sustainability and conscious investment.  Through the said collaboration, impact investment in the Philippines is expected to take a promising leap.

The collaborative engagement between IISLA and Numbers That Matter PH will be launched in 2021. Check back on the blog for the official announcement.