Sustainable public food procurement has the potential to impact both food consumption and food production patterns. It may enhance access to healthy diets for consumers of publicly procured food (such as schoolchildren) and promote the development of more sustainable food systems (through its demand and spillover effects). Sustainable public food procurement also has the potential to decrease rural poverty by stimulating the development of markets, providing a regular and reliable source of income for smallholder farmers and helping these farmers overcome barriers that prevent them from enhancing their productivity.
