Input from CANADA General points • Practitioners vs. Policy: The report could provide more useful analysis to practitioners of urban agriculture and not just facilitate a policy discussion on urban and peri-urban agriculture (UPA). • Science context gap: There is a need for more agronomic measurement, assessment, scenario modeling discussion, need to identify key research questions, and the important role of technology and innovation. The report currently does a poor job of including this real-world context that is crucial to guiding sound policies and devising effective policy instruments. More specifically: o Agronomic Constraints: The report is lacking important analysis on the agronomic constraints to urban agriculture, in particular to specify key growth-limiting and growth-reducing abiotic and biotic factors. Strongly suggest inclusion of more thorough agronomic discussion on UPA (perhaps in section 4.5). Many key resources exist but are not referenced (Constraints to urban agriculture in southeast Nigeria | Humanities and Social Sciences Communications (nature.com); Agronomic considerations for urban agriculture in southern cities | 10 (taylorfrancis.com); Sustainability | Free Full-Text | What Constraints the Expansion of Urban Agriculture in Benin? (mdpi.com); Full article: Which urban agriculture conditions enable or constrain sustainable food production? (tandfonline.com)) o Research Agenda: The report seems limited to discussing policies that influence UPA and should provide some analysis and advice on what the key agricultural and economic research questions are that are needed to advance and improve UPA, or how best to frame a research agenda to support UPA. This is important to inform the research agenda of the CGIAR. For example, is UPA better served by research outputs that focus on the urban-rural linkages around local food consumption pathways or are there distinct research questions common across cities in different areas of the world. Propose another section (under 6.0 or new section) that specifies research technical questions for UPA and clarifies if UPA is a distinct area of research and independent of local context, or best addressed within local agricultural research agenda, but by elaborating the rural research agenda into specific urban contexts. o Emerging technologies: There is only a single sentence that mentions emerging technologies such as hydroponics and aeroponics systems, vertical farming, building-integrated agriculture, rooftop agriculture, and controlled environment agriculture. There is also no specific mention of smart farming, precision/decision agriculture, artificial intelligence-based tools for food supply optimization, data collection etc.. The report would be strengthened if it included a summary and context on the role of emerging technologies in supporting urban agriculture, resilient and sustainable food systems. The need to prioritize access to technology is highlighted in Section 4.5.1.3 Technology and innovation: drivers of transformation in UPA practices (page 61). Here there needs to be a broader discussion on ways forward for sharing of scientific and technological knowledge, data, tools linked with different technologies. • Urban agriculture growth and water demand: With an estimated 50% increase in urban water demands in the next 30 years, how water is managed is crucial. The report mentions this in different ways, but it would be informative to include available future outlooks on water demand linked with rural agriculture and urban agriculture. • Nature-Based Solutions: Including a section briefly discussing the role of Ecosystem/Nature-based solutions (EbS/NbS) as measures, from a whole-systems perspective, that seek to improve the efficiency, resiliency, and sustainability of food systems, would strengthen the report. Specific Points Section 1.3 Framing questions and core concepts (P.4) The questions seem comprehensive in addressing key aspects of urban and peri-urban food systems. However, there may be some elements that could further enhance the understanding or efficacy of strengthening these systems by drawing attention to cultural aspects as well as technology and innovation: On cultural Aspects, exploring how cultural preferences, traditions, and societal behaviors impact food systems can be crucial. This includes understanding the influence of cultural diversity, food habits, and preferences in shaping these systems. On technology and Innovation, investigating the role of technology and innovation in improving urban and peri-urban food systems can be valuable. This could involve looking at how technological advancements, such as vertical farming, precision agriculture, or food preservation techniques, can contribute to enhancing food security and nutrition. Chapter 4 | Urban and peri-urban food systems (related to question 3 (p.4)) The structure of this chapter is currently weak. Since this chapter aimed to address question (#3) of the framing questions {What are the characteristics of urban and peri-urban food systems, and what aspects of urban and peri-urban food systems need to be strengthened in order to achieve urban and peri-urban FSN?}, one could expect the report to consider the following key elements of the UPA : 1. Supply Chain Dynamics: Examining the complexities within the food supply chain, including transportation, storage, and distribution mechanisms, can offer insights into potential bottlenecks or inefficiencies that affect FSN outcomes. 2. Economic and Market Forces: Considering the influence of market dynamics, trade policies, and economic disparities on food access and affordability in urban and peri-urban areas can provide a holistic view of the challenges faced. Page 26- The report highlights the ‘view food insecurity through an intersectional lens’ stating that ‘Gender disparities in food insecurity result from shocks and differences in education, income, opportunities, social networks, and entitlements’ Because of the intersectional nature of Food security and Nutrition, there is an opportunity to integrate an intersectional approach throughout the whole report and explore how food insecurity is experienced differently based on overlapping identities. Moreover, the report states that “Explicitly integrating gender in urban food policy and governance through targeted initiatives, research and planning is vital”; However, the report misses an opportunity to mainstream gender throughout the whole document. Furthermore, the report could expand the use of language around gender transformative change in Strengthening urban and peri-urban food systems to achieve food security and nutrition in the context of urbanization and rural transformation. Since intersectionality is such an important factor, the report could mention this word more than once. To make it easier to the reader, the report could include boxes with concrete examples of how more than 2 axis of identity factors such as education, household income, age, disability, race play into the variation of food insecurity incidence. Page 34- C) Convenience: time use, women’s roles, and institutional environment shape urban dietary consumption patterns Canada appreciates that the report highlights how gender roles play a role within food security. Page 68 GENDER Canada is pleased to see the report has included a section on Gender However, as mentioned before, the report could consider mainstreaming gender and consider how gender disparities in urban and peri-urban settings influence food insecurity and nutrition. Gender and intersectionality should be informing the whole report. After page 68 the word ‘gender’ is no longer mentioned. Page 68- The sentence: …by harassment or violence from elements of the public It would be important to elaborate on what are the “elements of the public”. We would recommend being specific, and fully address Gender-Based Violence (GBV) including all forms of harassment and violence within this context. Women and girls are more at risk of GBV, and it should be noted as such, however, the report should be informed by the principles of intersectionality and explore intersection of disability, age, religion, caste and other factors with food insecurity and nutrition. The report continues with mentioning that…. women street vendors had been sexually harassed, with 5% reporting rape. Following, we would recommend rewording this sentence to make clear that women are experiencing Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and address the disturbing correlation between food insecurity and GBV. The sentence `Enabling environments...’ The section should also address GBV. There is vast empirical evidence to support and illustrate this issue. Examples (in a box) would allow the reader to have better understanding of the extent of this problem. This report could include inspiring examples, with stories that illustrates concrete actions to prevent, penalize GBV and advocate to transformative gender change Page 86 - According to the HLPE (2020: 14), “a food and nutrition policy approach that is grounded in a sustainable food systems framework embodies critical policy shifts that have been occurring in recent decades and which have been consistently advocated by the HLPE across all of its reports (HLPE, 2017d)”. This report builds on those six critical policy shifts and associated policy recommendations, making explicit what are the most salient characteristics of those changes for urban and peri-urban food systems, as stated below. It would be helpful to list the six critical policy shifts as a reminder to the readers, (e.g. a footnote or a box text) Related citable work from AAFC and FAO (forthcoming): 2024. N.K. Newlands, A. Alfarra, A. Kubursi, Urban Food Security in a Crisis Prone World: The Urban, Water, and Food Nexus AAFC-FAO Book. Springer Nature. New York. Forthcoming. 2024. A. Alfarra, A. Kubursi, N.K. Newlands. Summary, Recommendations, and Roadmap for Global Food Security. Chapter 15, In: Urban Food Security in a Crisis Prone World: The Urban, Water, and Food Nexus. A. Kubursi, N.K. Newlands, A. Alfarra (eds.) Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) and Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) Springer Nature. New York. Forthcoming. 2024. N.K Newlands and A. Alfarra. Redesigning and Transforming Food Systems to be More Resilient to Disruption and Disaster: Lessons Learned from COVID. Chapter 2, In: Urban Food Security in a Crisis Prone World: The Urban, Water, and Food Nexus. A. Kubursi, N.K. Newlands, A. Alfarra (eds.) Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) and Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) Springer Nature. New York. Forthcoming.
Catalina Canas