Growing Partnerships for Sustainable Urban Food Systems

Food systems have evolved tremendously over the past decades, stepping up efficiencies in production and distribution to meet ever-growing food demands, particularly for urban areas. However, many aspects of our food systems remain unsustainable, including high GHG emissions and degradation to the natural environment. Further evolution is required, and cities and towns are key drivers to change given that their populations put pressure on food systems to deliver more and more sustainably.
In striving for more sustainable cities, food cannot be ignored, and local governments are central to shaping food systems that are more resilient and sustainable with the twin aim of ensuring food security and nutrition for all. It will take a multistakeholder approach; local governments working with civil society, academia, the private sector, local farmers etc. that is, all stakeholders in the food systems to make change happen. Through an interactive panel and workshop set-up, this session will describe a food systems approach, inviting partnership and promoting the connection between different stakeholders in the food system to identify entry points in joining up support to:

Set up and technically support multi-level food governance mechanisms tasked with the development of evidence-based policies and plans that guide actions to enhance food security and nutrition (from enhancing local production to modernizing markets);

Turn these food policies and plans into action then involves strengthening institutional capacities (including through city to city, peer to peer learning);

Help leverage investments necessary to deliver.