Current demographic trends indicate that 50% of the world's population
will live in urban areas by 2007. Improved food supply and distribution
systems are necessary to address increasing levels of urban food insecurity,
while ensuring higher farmer incomes.
Meeting the food needs of future urban dwellers requires strengthening of
capacities of national and local government institutions to recognise and address
problems of food insecurity arising from rapid urbanisation, define respective public
and private sectors' roles and support peri-urban and urban agriculture.
More efficient food supply and marketing would be of direct benefit to
urban consumers, with improved access to affordable and safe food supplies,
and to rural producers as well, through enhanced income earning opportunities.
