Constructing sustainable ‘qualities’ for local food systems in developing countries: The case of the Songhai Centre in Benin

Post-harvest concerns, particularly in terms of quality (in its multiple forms), are both highly important and often down-played in the analysis of local food systems. The ability of actors in local food systems to provide consistent quantities of food products that meet these quality standards has not been consistently analysed in developing country contexts, nor has it been theorized sufficiently in terms of the institutions that are necessary for ensuring these qualities. This paper seeks to fill this gap by examining the construction of a sustainable local food system through a single case study of the Songhai Centre in Benin Republic. We show that a multi-actor innovation platform facilitates the creation of a local food system that produces products that meet actors’ perceptions of quality and ensure sustainability.