Strengthening urban and peri-urban food systems to achieve food security and nutrition in the context of urbanization and rural transformation
The High Level Panel of Experts on Food Security and Nutrition (HLPE-FSN) produces the report “Strengthening urban and peri-urban food systems to achieve food security and nutrition in the context of urbanization and rural transformation”, at the request of the Committee on World Food Security (CFS). The HLPE-FSN report will be presented at the 52nd plenary session of the CFS in October 2024.
With this e-consultation, the HLPE-FSN is seeking your feedback on the proposed scope of this report and the guiding questions below.
SCOPE AND RATIONALE
Almost sixty percent of the global population is currently living in urban centres (UNDESA, 2018; Acharya et al., 2020). These centres are widely seen as engines of growth and employment, producing over 80 percent of the global GDP, but also facing huge challenges in guaranteeing access for all residents to essential services such as health, education, transportation and food (Ibid.). Urban populations are rapidly increasing, with a growth curve particularly sharp in Africa and Asia. The fifteen fastest-growing cities in the world, for example, are in Africa. Alongside urbanization, there has been a “geographical decoupling” (Langemeyer et al., 2021) of cities from sources of food supply, with urban and peri-urban land use being reoriented for “more profitable” uses. As such, cities and towns are fast losing peri-urban agricultural lands, which have historically provided them with fresh and healthy food. Urban areas are also experiencing higher rates of extreme weather events that affect people’s livelihoods and incomes, while inequalities among urban populations are growing (Pelling et al., 2021). These trends mean that urban and peri-urban areas also concentrate risks for food insecurity and malnutrition, which became clear during the COVID-19 pandemic (see for example Rede PENSSAN, 2021), exacerbated by natural disasters and conflicts. At the same time, urban and peri-urban areas are resourceful, serving as hubs for education, technology and innovation, health and social services as well as for food production, processing and distribution, all roles that could be enhanced.
Often, in impoverished urban areas, informal economic and market relationships in food systems can be critical for food security, but suffer from policy and regulatory neglect. Informal food systems comprise a complex network of suppliers, transporters, hawkers, retailers and street and market food vendors, in addition to farmers, and contribute to making food more accessible and affordable to urban consumers. Yet, these informal sector actors mainly rely on their own resources and capital and have very little policy support for strengthening their enterprises and ensuring quality, such as support for access to market intelligence, transport and logistics, cold chains or waste reuse facilities (Tefft et al., 2017). In fact, in the absence of specific food system planning, the sale and consumption of highly processed foods is growing in most urban centres, while local commerce offering healthy, fresh food at affordable prices, and often in smaller quantities, is neglected, contributing to the so-called “food deserts”. These trends typically have negative impacts on food security and nutrition (Peyton, Moseley and Battersby, 2015; Battersby, 2017; Acharya et al., 2020).
This policy incoherence insists on a general lack of coordination between policies and actors concerned with food security, agriculture, environment, etc., and urban planning, and it is exacerbated by the general dearth of city-level data, analyses and empirical evidence to inform decision-making on urban and peri-urban food policy. As such, it is difficult for policymakers to plan, prioritize, design and track urban and peri-urban food system interventions and ensure coherence across policies and sectors. Furthermore, governments and other organs like famine early warning systems (FEWS) have also not been as good at monitoring food insecurity in urban areas as they have been in rural areas, beyond very basic indicators such as food prices (Moseley, 2001; Krishnamurthy, Choularton and Kareiva, 2020).
Cities can play a vital role in shaping food system policies to bolster their resilience in several ways. They can source locally or regeneratively grown food where appropriate, facilitate sustainable urban and peri-urban production of nutritious food, avoid food waste by strengthening investments in circular bio-economy (broadly defined as an economy based on the sustainable use, re-use and regeneration of natural resources), build inclusive food markets by investing in infrastructure for smaller scale traders and retailers to market healthier food products. They can also play a role in promoting resilience by mitigating and adapting against the adverse impacts of climate change (HLPE, 2020; Heck and Alonso, 2021).
Urban and peri-urban agriculture is an important option with potentially positive impacts on dietary diversity, the quality of city spaces, and community action and empowerment. Yet, in most cities, especially in the Global South, there is little state support for urban and peri-urban agriculture. Instead, current regulations in cities and the rising market value of peri-urban land limit opportunities for local production. A recent FAO survey indicates that municipal governments play an enormous role in identifying and connecting food system actors to foster innovative community-based initiatives to support food security and nutrition (FAO, 2020). In the face of the dramatic consequences of the pandemic, for example, home gardens provided nutritious and healthy food supplements and ecosystem services (Lal, 2020). Local markets multiplied, as did initiatives by family producers for home delivery of baskets of fresh food and initiatives for food donations to low-income communities. Many people in urban areas, especially new migrants, undocumented people and informal workers, were forced to go to food banks and charities, with great harm to their dignity and agency (Rao et al., 2020). These experiences point to the importance and potential of the territorial dimension of food systems for the realization of the human right to food (Recine et al., 2021).
Given the social and economic significance of urban areas, it is imperative to address the challenges of urbanization in relation to rural transformation to “build back better” in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and disruptions to supply chains caused by the war in Ukraine, internal conflicts and natural disasters. It is vital that policies address poverty and inequality, build resilience and social inclusion and foster sustainable livelihoods. The specific needs of diverse rural and urban contexts, the difference between different types of urban areas (e.g. megacities and towns in largely rural areas) and the linkages between them in the rural-urban continuum, should be considered in formulating food policies. The New Urban Agenda, for example, calls for the integration of food and nutrition security into urban and territorial planning (UN Habitat, 2016). The report could also explore the specific issues concerning food security and nutrition that cities face in situations of conflicts, natural disasters and other crises, especially where there is dependence on imported food and vulnerability to price volatility.
A more in-depth analysis of food systems is needed in the context of urbanization and rural transformation to ensure that the right to food and nutrition security, in all its six dimensions (HLPE, 2020), are met. In particular, the report could investigate the potential of territorial and informal markets, the circular economy, and shorter supply chains to strengthen the linkages between urban and peri-urban food production and consumption. The role of food environments in urban areas is particularly important, considering the coexistence of organized distribution (supermarkets) with territorial and informal markets, and the adverse impacts of supermarketization pushing out small and/or informal food retail outlets (Peyton et al. 2015). As such, parts of cities, often the poorest, have become ‘food deserts’ for fresh and healthy produce, thus affecting city diets, which are already characterised by increasing prioritization of processed and convenience food. In addition, urban centres, and especially informal settlement areas, are often characterized by lack of basic infrastructure such as access to potable water and sewages. Specific attention to water and sanitation needs is thus required in relation to food utilization in urban and peri-urban areas.
At the same time, urban and peri-urban areas are home to interesting innovations for food production, processing and distribution, such as vertical gardens, ethical purchasing groups and marketing innovations, which could be replicated in other contexts. To strengthen the role of urban and peri-urban food systems, it is essential to reflect on the architecture of food security and nutrition governance, and especially on how city councils, urban planning experts and other partners can engage with actors that are traditionally involved in food systems and food security and nutrition policies to enhance synergies. Some of the policy measures that have been recommended in recent years to enhance the role of urban and peri-urban food systems concern the promotion of equitable access to land and productive agricultural resources for small-scale producers. They also include investment in rural and urban infrastructure, the development of territorial markets and short supply chains, prioritizing people living in poverty in cities and rural areas to access nutritious food and healthier living conditions, and anticipating the inter-connected future of urbanization and rural transformation (HLPE, 2020; Heck and Alonso, 2021).
Building on the outcomes of the CFS Open Ended Working Group (OEWG) on Urbanization, rural transformation and implications for food security and nutrition (CFS 2017/44/6 and CFS 2016/43/11), recent literature and policy debates, the report will explore these issues and formulate policy recommendations to the attention of the CFS.
QUESTIONS TO GUIDE THE E-CONSULTATION ON THE SCOPE OF THE HLPE-FSN REPORT
The HLPE-FSN is seeking your feedback on the proposed scope of the report “Strengthening urban and peri-urban food systems to achieve food security and nutrition in the context of urbanization and rural transformation”, in particular, you are invited to:
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A |
Share your comments on the objectives and proposed content of this report as outlined above. 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? |
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B |
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. |
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C |
Share recent literature, case studies and data that could help answer the following questions: 1. What are the main bottlenecks hampering the contribution of urban and peri-urban food systems to food security and nutrition? 2. 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? 3. 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? 4. 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? 5. 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? 6. 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? 7. 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? 8. What are the potential benefits and challenges of territorial markets for strengthening food security and nutrition for urban populations? 9. 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? 10. How can citizens be engaged and empowered to drive inclusive, transparent, participatory processes for urban transformations, ensuring synergies and complementarity with city councils? 11. Which experiences of urban communities to increase access to fresh food and healthy diets can inspire broader public policies? |
The results of this consultation will be used by the HLPE-FSN to elaborate the report, which will then be made public in its V0 draft for e-consultation, and later submitted to peer review, before finalization and approval by the HLPE-FSN drafting team and the Steering Committee.
We thank in advance all the contributors for reading, commenting and providing inputs on the scope of this HLPE-FSN report. The comments are accepted in English, French and Spanish languages.
The HLPE-FSN looks forward to a rich consultation!
Évariste Nicolétis, HLPE-FSN Coordinator
Paola Termine, HLPE-FSN Programme Officer
References
Acharya, G. Cassou, E. Jaffee, S., Ludher, E.K. 2020. RICH Food, Smart City: How Building Reliable, Inclusive, Competitive, and Healthy Food Systems is Smart Policy for Urban Asia. Washington, DC, World Bank. https://openknowledge.worldbank.org/handle/10986/35137
Battersby, J. 2017. Food system transformation in the absence of food system planning: the case of supermarket and shopping mall retail expansion in Cape Town, South Africa. Built Environment, 43(3): 417-430.
FAO. 2020. Cities and local governments at the forefront in building inclusive and resilient food systems: Key results from the FAO Survey “Urban Food Systems and COVID-19”, Revised version. Rome.
Heck, S. & Alonso, S. 2021. Resilient Cities Through Sustainable Urban and Peri-Urban Agrifood Systems. Montpellier, France, CGIAR. Resilient-Cities.pdf (storage.googleapis.com)
HLPE. 2020. Food security and nutrition: building a global narrative towards 2030. A report by the High Level Panel of Experts on Food Security and Nutrition of the Committee on World Food Security. Rome. http://www.fao.org/3/ca9731en/ca9731en.pdf
Krishnamurthy, P. K., Choularton, R. J., & Kareiva, P. 2020. Dealing with uncertainty in famine predictions: How complex events affect food security early warning skill in the Greater Horn of Africa. Global Food Security, 26: 100374.
Lal, R. 2020. Home gardening and urban agriculture for advancing food and nutritional security in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Food Security, 12: 871-876. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12571-020-01058-3
Langemeyer, J., Madrid-López, C., Mendoza Beltrán, A. & Villalba Mendez, G. 2021. Urban agriculture — A necessary pathway towards urban resilience and global sustainability? Landscape and Urban Planning, 210: 104055. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0169204621000189
Moseley, W. G. 2001. Monitoring urban food security in Sub-Saharan Africa. African Geographical Review, 21(1): 81-90.
Pelling, M., Chow, W. T. L., Chu, E., Dawson, R., Dodman, D., Fraser, A., Hayward, B. et al. 2021. A climate resilience research renewal agenda: learning lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic for urban climate resilience. Climate and Development, 0(0): 1–8. https://doi.org/10.1080/17565529.2021.1956411
Peyton, S., Moseley, W. & Battersby, J. 2015. Implications of supermarket expansion on urban food security in Cape Town, South Africa. African Geographical Review, 34(1): 36-54.
Rao, N., Narain, N., Chakraborty, S., Bhanjdeo, A. & Pattnaik, A. 2020. Destinations Matter: Social Policy and Migrant Workers in the Times of Covid. The European Journal of Development Research, 32(5): 1639–1661. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7590571/
Recine, E., Preiss, P.V., Valencia, M. et al. 2021. The Indispensable Territorial Dimension of Food Supply: A View from Brazil During the COVID-19 Pandemic. Development, 64: 282–287. https://doi.org/10.1057/s41301-021-00308-x
Rede Brasileira de Pesquisa em Soberania e Segurança Alimentar (Rede PENSSAN). 2021. VIGISAN National Survey of Food Insecurity in the Context of the Covid-19 Pandemic in Brazil https://olheparaafome.com.br/VIGISAN_AF_National_Survey_of_Food_Insecurity.pdf
Tefft, J., Jonasova, M., Adjao, R. & Morgan, A. 2017. Food systems for an urbanizing world. Washington DC, World Bank and Rome, FAO.
UNDESA (UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs). 2018. 2018 Revision of World Urbanization Prospects. New York. Cited June 2022. https://desapublications.un.org/file/615/download
UN-Habitat (United Nations Human Settlements Programme). 2016. The New Urban Agenda. Nairobi. https://habitat3.org/wp-content/uploads/NUA-English.pdf
- Прочитано 96 комментарии
Dear Concern,
Thank you so much for inviting me to contribute to the creation of effective policies to support urban and peri-urban food systems in order to achieve food security and nutrition in the context of urbanization and rural transformation. The following suggestions are provided for your evaluation and consideration:
Achieving food security and improved nutrition status in an era of rapid urbanization requires considerably more understanding of the relationship between urban and food systems. In case of urban settings for low-income groups, awareness raising about the benefit of healthy food and its accessibility in the neighboring stores is needed. The adverse impact of trans fatty acids containing unhealthy food like singara, puri, samosa, burger, which are frequently consumed around tea time at 11:0am and at tea break, should be avoided from the food consumption list. The person responsible for making such unhealthy food should be discouraged, and given assistance to start a business for selling healthier food.
In the per-urban areas, water logging and improper fecal waste management are the major source of microbial contamination in water and soil (Dey et al. 2017), which increases the risk of child stunting and wasting. Improving the household environment through safely managed water and sanitation, and hygiene practices reduce the risk of childhood diarrhoeal disease (Dey et al. 2019), and child stunting and wasting caused by nutritional imbalances. Protection of soil and water contamination from industrial waste, tubewell’s waste water, and agro-chemicals are urgently needed to ensure safe production of high value crops, such as fruits and vegetables in the peri-urban areas. Conservation of surface water, its sustainability (Dey et al. 2017) in terms of availability and quality (Dey et al. 2018), timely its application, adoption of smart technology for remediation of degraded soil and water quality aiming to smart farming for enhancing food production and thus food security in the changing climate is urgently needed. It is very important to get insights on people’s knowledge on issues like this, which critically impact food safety and hygiene, but which have received little attention so far (Rabbi and Dey, 2013). Proper handwashing with soap and water before eating, after defecation, proper management of child faeces and periodic monitoring for adopting hygiene behavior including cleanliness of latrine can prevent under-five children diarrhoea in households (Dey et al., 2019).
Pesticides, for example, are often used even right before harvest, selling, and consumption, posing a serious risk to public health (Dey al. 2010; WHO 2022). In peri-urban environments where vegetables are produced, supply water or TW water is not always accessible, especially during the dry season. As a result, many farmers wash their produce using contaminated surface water, increasing the risk of microbiological contamination, food safety, and health. There is an urgent need for more education campaigns on the harmful effects of pesticides and tainted surface water on human health and food safety. Establishment of a community-based monitoring system to safeguard against the improper application of pesticides prior to harvest and sale. As a skilled employee earns more, development of skill in a specific area by each member of a family may enhance income generation as a whole to purchase healthy food. A strong understanding of cooking techniques can maintain an ideal level of nutrients in food for healthy life.
Thank you,
Dr. Nepal C Dey
Founding Managing Director, Research and Entrepreneurship Development Ltd.
References
Damalas, C.A. and Eleftherohorinos, I.G. (2011). Pesticide Exposure, Safety Issues, and Risk Assessment Indicators, Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2011 May; 8(5): 1402–1419. doi: 10.3390/ijerph8051402
Junaid, S.A., Umeh, C., Olabode, A.O., Banda, J.M. (2011). Incidence of rotavirus infection in children with gastroenteritis attending Jos university teaching hospital, Nigeria. Virol. J. 8, 233.
Dey, N.C., Parvez, M., Islam, M.R., Mistry, S.K., Levine, D. (2019). Effectiveness of a community-based water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) intervention in reduction of diarrhoea among under-five children: Evidence from a repeated cross-sectional study (2007–2015) in rural Bangladesh, Intl. J. Hygiene and Environmental Health, 222 (8): 1098-1108. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijheh.2019.08.006.
Dey, N.C., Parvez, M., Dey, D., Saha, R., Ghose, L., Barua, M., Islam, A, Chowdhury, M. (2017). Microbial contamination of drinking water from risky tubewells situated in different hydrological regions of Bangladesh, Intl. J. Hygiene and Environmental Health,2017, 220 (3), 621–636. https://doi. 10.1016/j.ijheh.2016.12.007.
Rabbi, S.E. and Dey, N.C. (2013). Exploring the gap between hand washing knowledge and practices in Bangladesh: a cross-sectional comparative study, BMC Public Health, 13, 89. [[https://doi:10.1186/1471-2458-13-89%5dhttps:/doi:10.1186/1471-2458-13-8….
WHO (2022). Pesticide residues in food. World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/pesticide-residues-in-food (entered on 6 March 2022).
Hola! Actualmente estoy participando en un proyecto de posgrado sobre el tema de la deforestación en zonas rurales y peri-urbanas, debido a expansión urbana, tomando como base el proceso de deforestación en la sierra de Guadalupe , una zona montañosa ubicada entre Ciudad de México y la región Estado de México, la zona más poblada e industrializada de México (con alrededor de 22 millones de personas).
Dicho proceso de deforestación perturbó definitivamente agroecosistemas y ecosistemas de la región en los últimos 40 años, vulnerando las capacidades de resiliencia agroambiental de la región. Sin embargo, creemos que en el análisis de dicho proceso y las estrategias a seguir para ralentizarlo, existen oportunidades sobre resiliencia que deberíamos tomar en cuenta para su posible réplica en otras regiones con problemáticas similares.
Este fenómeno de deforestación lo estamos abordando considerando desde la noción de sistemas complejos y su análisis a través de la modelización de su dinámica como sistema social .
Entre los resultados esperados, están:
1.- Información sobre mejores políticas de planeación rural-urbana
2.- Estrategias de recuperación de sistemas agroecológicos en la zona
3.- Generación de indicadores de sustentabilidad y economía circular para la región (en términos de conservar, recuperar y mejorar los recursos naturales de la zona)
4.- El involucramiento de actores locales ( institucionales, privados, municipales, civiles, etc.) en dichos procesos a fin de generar, a mediano y largo plazo proceso de participación ciudadana y transformación urbana hacia una economía verde.
Atte.
Felipe Nuñez
- You all did a good job stating the principal issues and the references are fairly well represented.
- Missing though are several points:
- The complete omission of the concept of CITY REGIONS, instead of the rural vs urban
- The extremely relevant experience of the MILAN URBAN FOOD POLICY PACT, that is based on very relevant experiences and proposes an approach of 6 axes that are very appropriate and opportune
- MORE in-depth analysis? Perhaps in certain regions/countries but not as the main activity!!! The Milan pact has plenty tools to start with, and lets not “loose” time in further duplications
Formuler un plan de travail pratique sur le "strengthening urban and peri-urban food systems to achieve food security and nutrition in the context of urbanization and rural transformation" avec les parties prenantes en mettant en relief les points A, B, C, du questionnaire comme outils d'evaluation participative et les elements de la composante de la matrice aux niveaux communautaire, local, sous-regional, regional et international.
Le resultat de ce plan constituerait un cadre et une serie d'outils pour les Etats membres, les agences onusiennes, les ONGs, les organisations intergouvernementales et la societe civile afin de faire le suivi systematique du strengthening urban and peri-urban food systems.
A.Encouraging all people to cultivate according to their own knowledge is very important whether those in the urban or rural areas increase their productivity to feed themselves to avoid importing food from foreign countries which is expensive and unsafe for the health of consumers because imported food poses a high risk to health.
B. Increasing agricultural productivity has both good and bad effects on the natural environment. Due to the growth of the population in the rural areas as well as in the cities, it is impossible to avoid the negative effects, the main reason is the expansion of urban residential areas and agricultural areas.
C:
1. What hinders the contribution of urban and urban food systems to food security and nutrition is the lack of understanding and the role of all people in increasing agricultural production.
2. The parties involved in food production must compete with each other to promote awareness, technology, and capital in production in a way that takes the work to be effective and the sharing is reasonable.
3. The food supply chain is a good thing during normal village conditions, it is diverse, fast, and abundant, but it also has a negative effect when there is a crisis, epidemic, or war, there is a lack of aid and there is no food.
4. The promotional agency must be strong to encourage the people to increase their production to support themselves if more production is to be sold.
Since 2019, in addition to my emeritus academic role, I have been an elected city councillor and have developed a clearer understanding of how to translate policy into municipal action. I welcome this consultation as it highlights the important role local government can play in enhancing resilient local food systems. Important to this is listening to local people and understanding drivers to behaviour. Food security in all dimensions is critical to allow consideration for the key rate limiting steps that limit food security. Availability is obviously important, but may depend on adequate income, linked to employment. Use of urban spaces, such as allotments ( UK model) can contribute if access is equitable ( refugees etc)and linked to communities so produce is available to all. We have local experience of establishing food co-operatives that support poor families, while also stopping food being wasted. Our group takes food that would otherwise be discarded by big supermarkets and distributes it to families and vulnerable groups including homeless people. While better to grow food locally, can’t ignore role played by big supermarkets that use longer supply chains. Local councils also have a role in regulating the marketing and promotion of unhealthy food. We have also found that to get councils to act, need a nutrition in all policies approach, with responsibility and accountability at leader level and regularly scrutinised by full council. School feeding, incorporating using school space to grow food, is a key part of local food security. Local government can also affect supply through their local procurement policies and insisting on local suppliers thus bringing jobs and shorter supply chains. This keeps the money local.
В настоящее время это мероприятие закрыто. Пожалуйста, свяжитесь с [email protected] для получения любой дополнительной информации.