The observations and comments therein are based on my experience with a hope they will of some use.
Do you find the proposed scope comprehensive to analyze and discuss the key issues concerning the role of urban and peri-urban food systems in achieving food security and nutrition? Are there any major gaps or omissions?
Not many. Gaps will surface during Pragmatization.
1.Food loss and waste prevention to a larger extent is important for betterment of urban and per-urban food systems.
2. MNCs and other foundations can divert their funds intended for charity to purchase foods that go waste
3. In view of the space constraint Vertical Expansion of Food Production is more feasible to meet location specific demands.
Share good practices and successful experiences on strengthening urban and peri-urban food systems in the context of urbanization and rural transformation, including in the case of emergencies or conflicts?
The White Spot Disease in Tiger prawn (Penaeus monodon) resulted in devastating losses to the aquaculture industry. All the aquaculturists switched on to Pacific White Shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei). Details of highly successful case study provided below.
Introduction of new shrimp species Litopenaeus vannamei has brought a sea change in Indian shrimp production and processing industry. Andhra Pradesh is a leading state in cultured shrimp production and the present study investigates the changing trends in cultured shrimp production and its impact on seafood processing of the State. Results of the study showed that 83.6% of the cultured shrimp production in Andhra Pradesh was attributed to L. vannamei. With the increase in production, structural changes became pre-requisite for seafood processing firms and they have incorporated changes such as establishment of additional plants, increasing the capacity utilization of existing plants and installation of more efficient equipment. There was an increase of 37.12% in installed capacity and 53.1% increase in capacity utilization of shrimp processing plants due to increased shrimp production. Spill-over effects were visible; employment opportunities and income of the employees increased. Strict implementation of scientific farming techniques and quality management are vital to sustain growth of the industry (Ashok, A., et al, 2015)
Ref: Arathy Ashok, L. N. Murthy, B. Madhusudana Rao, Jesmi Debbarma, M. M. Prasad1, V. Geetha Lakshmi and Nikita Gopal (2015). Impact of Pacific White Shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) on Shrimp Production and Seafood Processing in Andhra Pradesh. Fishery Technology 52: 53 – 57.
Based on the experience in-puts were provided for each query
- What are the main bottlenecks hampering the contribution of urban and peri-urban food systems to food security and nutrition?
i. Continuous increase in urban population.
ii. Migratory nature of population of intra-country and inter-country
- How can urban and peri-urban food systems be transformed and made more equitable and accessible both for food system actors and in terms of food security and nutrition outcomes?
1. Better transportation, especially for perishable food produce
2. Development of innovative value added products from glut produce. This caters to the urban nutritive requirements and also improvement in socio-economic conditions of the primary producers.
- How can urban food supply chains, formal and informal, local and global, be made more resilient to ensure food security and nutrition within urban settings?
1. Incentvize all the players to ensure quality from farm to fork
2. Development quality guidelines for all miscellaneous products.
- What changes are needed in urban planning to better support all dimensions of food security – including support for human rights, agency and sustainability? Which are some of the measures that can strengthen the agency of local actors in urban and peri-urban food systems?
1. Provide sufficient space for sale of produce
2. Hand holding of Small players in Business, Planning and Development
3. Making all transactions virtual.
- How can national and municipal governments strengthen the potential for low-carbon, inclusive, relatively self-sufficient and resilient cities and towns to drive improved food security and nutrition in the wake of climate change and other crises?
1. Enhancement in application of solar energy
2. Transportation by electrical vehicles
- What are the most appropriate policies (and gaps in existing policies) along the rural-urban continuum to address issues of land tenure, urban expansion into farmland and the growing competition for natural resources?
1. Absence of guidelines.
2. Implementation of existing policies.
- How can urban and peri-urban food systems ensure that food and nutrition needs of specific groups of people, such as migrants, the internally-displaced, children, adolescent, etc., are met?
This is very good question. All the times world over efforts are centered on enhanced level of food production and nutritive values of the same but not satiates of ethnic or migrant populations. This is not a major problem for South Asia that harbors one fifth of world population as food habits of habitants are more or less same. However, satiety needs can be met with imitation products.
- What are the potential benefits and challenges of territorial markets for strengthening food security and nutrition for urban populations?
1. Over all development in economy, GDP are immediate benefits
2.If we concentrate on population per se big players get benefit and if it is territorial markets small scale businesses develop.
- In what ways can the incorporation of climate resilient agricultural and circular economy practices in urban and peri-urban agriculture provide climate co-benefits for all and enhance climate resilience?
1. Reduction in poverty levels.
2. Generation of sustainable income.
3. Enhancement in wellbeing of humans. This in turn better health and lessening of DALY, improved QALY and ILY. Enhanced levels of productivity. Less burden on exchequer of respective nations in managing infections
- How can citizens be engaged and empowered to drive inclusive, transparent, participatory processes for urban transformations, ensuring synergies and complementarity with city councils?
As mentioned earlier making everything, virtual with simplest possible local language .
- Which experiences of urban communities to increase access to fresh food and healthy diets can inspire broader public policies?
1. Reduction in lifestyle diseases.
Dr. Mukteswar Mothadaka