Neoliberal agenda and the dismantling of socially-efficient public food procurement programs: An emblematic case

Public food procurement (PFP) programs have been increasingly implemented worldwide as an instrument for helping countries meet their commitments to the SDGs. Conversely, governments committed to a neoliberal agenda can hinder the development of PFP-based programs due to their advocacy for fiscal austerity and the efficiency of the free market. The Brazilian experience in implementing and dismantling PFP programs can provide important lessons for researchers and policy-makers interested in the issue. Based on secondary data analysis, we investigate the dismantling of the Food Acquisition Program (PAA - Programa de Aquisica similar to o de Ali-mentos), a PFP-based program, to understand the strategies used by neoliberal governments to dismantle PFPs programs. Our results unveil the different ways governments with a neoliberal agenda can use to dismantle a PFP program and point to the risks that policies based on public procurement face under neoliberal governments.

Automated summary

Public food procurement (PFP) programs are vital for countries to meet their SDG commitments, but can face obstacles from governments with a neoliberal agenda. The Brazilian experience of implementing and dismantling PFP programs provides important insights into the strategies used by neoliberal governments to dismantle these programs. Our study reveals the different ways in which neoliberal governments can dismantle PFP programs and highlights the risks that policies based on public procurement face under such governments.