In the framework of World Environment Day, an event titled "Green Cities and Urban Agrifood Systems" took place in Santiago. The gathering brought together high-level authorities and addressed the work led by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) to provide assistance to various initiatives in Latin America aimed at promoting the creation of green and sustainable cities. 

Unplanned urbanization has negatively impacted soils, biodiversity, and landscapes, leading to the fragmentation and destruction of natural resources and ecosystems in both cities and peri-urban areas, affecting the quality of life of populations. 

"The efforts to end hunger, food insecurity, and malnutrition in an urbanizing world can no longer be based on a traditional urban-rural divide. Urbanization, combined with changes in income, employment, and lifestyles, presents both challenges and opportunities to ensure food security and nutrition while balancing with the environment," said Mario Lubetkin, FAO's Deputy Director-General and Regional Representative for Latin America and the Caribbean. 

According to United Nations data, as of 2011, cities worldwide occupy only 3% of the land but represent between 60% and 80% of energy consumption, 75% of carbon emissions, and concentrate 70% of food distribution and consumption. 

During the event, the Long-Term National Strategy for Green Infrastructure and Nature-Based Solutions in Urban and Periurban Areas of Chile was signed, a project funded by the Green Climate Fund. 

"Work on green cities and urban agrifood systems in Latin America is an inspiring example of how public policies, international cooperation, and local initiatives can converge to address contemporary urban challenges. Through multi-actor governance schemes, sustainable food environments, circular economy and development, resilience, and risk management, countries in the region are creating healthier and more sustainable environments for their inhabitants," stated Corinna Hawkes, Director of FAO's Division of Agrifood Systems and Food Safety in Rome. 

"FAO will continue to support these efforts, promoting the development of integrated food systems and the implementation of green infrastructures that benefit both cities and the entire urban-rural continuum," said João Intini, Agrifood Systems Policy Officer at FAO for Latin America and the Caribbean. 

Initiatives and projects in Latin America 

In Latin America and the Caribbean, 50 cities from nine countries in the region participate in the Intermediate Cities and Food Systems Network (CISA Network), which receives technical support from FAO to promote cooperation and the exchange of knowledge and experiences on governance of agrifood systems among authorities and municipal teams. 

The CISA Network has become a space for exchange and reference, addressing the challenges of municipal administration, and involving the development of innovative governance structures that allow for the inclusion of the food agenda in urban planning and the participation of local governments in strategic investment projects by states. 

In Argentina, progress has been made in managing food surpluses through cooperatives such as the Cooperativa Obrera. The study: "Local Supply and Cooperative Consumption Model" systematizes this experience and its contribution to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The dissemination of this model has inspired other actors to implement similar practices that integrate production and responsible consumption. 

In Brazil, new impetus has been given to policies to combat hunger and food and nutritional security, coordinated by the Ministry of Social Development. Among them: the reestablishment of the National Council for Food and Nutritional Security, reactivating a strategic dialogue space between the government and civil society, highlighting the National Strategy for Food and Nutritional Security in Cities, the restructuring of income transfer programs, and the Brazil without Hunger Plan, which brings together 80 actions and programs from the 24 Ministries that make up the Interministerial Chamber for Food and Nutritional Security. 

In Chile, it is estimated that 88.6% of the population lives in urban areas, with 61.5% residing in large urban agglomerations. In the country, FAO promotes the Urban Food Agenda and the Green Cities initiative, aimed at improving the urban environment and strengthening the resilience of urban agrifood systems. 

Colombia has facilitated dialogue spaces and promotion of urban agrifood systems with municipal associations. The incorporation of the urban food agenda into the programmatic areas of FAO has allowed projects to include the strengthening of the urban-rural continuum. 

Since 2018, Costa Rica has worked on the creation of intermunicipal agencies for watershed management. These seek to improve the quality of life through the development of biodiverse corridors and spaces and the promotion of comprehensive water management. FAO has supported the review of the legal framework on urban planning and the implementation of food supply policies that contribute to food security and nutrition. 

In Paraguay, FAO has worked on the development of strategic guidelines for municipalities and the development of project profiles linked to the urban food agenda. These efforts have created opportunities for joint work with municipalities, producer associations, and local organizations. 

In Peru, FAO has supported the promotion of supply chains in healthy, sustainable, and resilient urban-rural food environments. Coordinated governance among national, regional, and local governments has allowed the implementation of policies and other normative and technical instruments that ensure the production, availability, and access to healthy diets and the development of healthy food environments, models of food and nutritional education, within the framework of healthy food policy, with an integrated approach, involving the participation of actors in the traditional food supply channel.