FAO and the Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences (JAAS) held a three-day training workshop in Nanjing city, China from 21-23 November 2019. The first of the three workshops introduced the FAO CRFS Toolkit and Indicator Framework with local partners, and discussed ways to build sustainable food systems in Nanjing and its surrounding metropolitan region.

Participants from FAO, JAAS and other research institutes, universities, local public and private sectors presented reports on several topics including urban and rural food systems, the urbanization trend and urban food demand, the development model of urban agriculture, and the development of fresh food e-commerce in China.  Group discussions followed the workshop, which led to an exchange on Nanjing’s CRFS characteristics, such as food production and distribution, economic and social impact, and food policy and governance. 

Participants visited a local vegetable cooperative, the Nanjing food logistics center and a local supermarket to learn more about food production, distribution, and consumption, as well as food safety and security in the Nanjing metropolitan region.

FAO and JAAS have been working together since March 2019, the collaboration started with the Rural Revitalization and Integrated Urban-Rural Development Forum in Nanjing, China. JAAS aims to assist Nanjing to become part of the FAO City Region Food Systems (CRFS) programme and the Milan Urban Food Policy Pact (MUFPP). As well, as work with the Nanjing Metropolitan area (including 8 cities nearby) and expand into Yangtze River Delta Region - including Shanghai city, Jiangsu, Zhejiang and Anhui provinces.