Food systems transformation in an urbanizing world

Our urbanizing world carries tremendous implications for food systems and their evolution, management and performance. Specifically, what happens in the food system is increasingly understood as a key dimension of the challenges facing most governments: creating more and better jobs; addressing climate change and strengthening resilience; ensuring food security and improving nutrition and health. Food system issues have historically been approached at national and provincial levels; to date, they have not figured prominently among the priorities addressed by municipalities and metropolitan districts. This is changing. Interest in urban food systems is growing and municipal governments are addressing practical food problems facing their cities and citizens: poor access to nutritious food; food insecurity; the need for food system jobs; the high share of food in solid waste; dilapidated, inefficient and unsafe food markets; congested transportation; and resilient food systems. It is imperative to encourage a deeper and more systematic understanding of the needs arising from the shifting geography of the food system, with the supply and demand dimensions of urban and peri-urban areas a critical component of the global rural-urban transformation. This chapter discusses the principal drivers of food systems in an urbanizing world; examines the diversity and evolution of food systems, presents a conceptual framework for future food systems; and suggests entry points and options for addressing cities’ urban food needs.