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Resilience of the food system in medium-sized cities
Virtual Event, 06/08/2024
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Background
Nearly 70% of the world's population is expected to live in urban areas by 2050, up from more than 50% in 2018, with the most significant growth occurring in intermediate cities of up to 1 million inhabitants. This rapid urbanization, coupled with the overall increase in global population, creates enormous challenges related to all aspects of sustainability.
Moreover, it is occurring at a time of climate emergency; weather patterns are increasingly unpredictable and
climate-related disruptions and stresses such as droughts, floods, storms, etc. are becoming more frequent.
Cities are relevant to the causes of climate change as they are responsible for 70% of global greenhouse gas emissions. A large amount of food reaching urban residents is produced and transformed by a globalized food industry, the third largest contributor to global emissions, and responsible for massive depletion of natural resources and loss of biodiversity.
Cities are also highly vulnerable to the effects of the climate crisis. Events such as hurricanes, floods, prolonged droughts and temperature spikes can cause severe disruption to the infrastructure and systems on which cities depend. This includes the impact on stakeholders, activities and assets of city food systems (food production, aggregation, processing, distribution and storage, markets, consumption and waste management) in urban, peri-urban and rural hinterlands and further afield.
The most vulnerable socio-economic groups (including marginal actors in the food system, people living in informal settlements without basic infrastructure and sanitation, women, youth, people with disabilities and others) are the most affected and have the least opportunities for recovery, jeopardizing not only their livelihoods, but also their food security and nutrition.
Cities can be hubs of technological and social innovation that devise solutions to reduce carbon footprints and create environments for health and well-being.
Objective
This webinar is oriented to cities and their food systems, considering the global perspective of cities, the situation of the region, as well as orientations and proposals underway to promote innovative solutions for urban planning of agri-food systems, improve the resilience of intermediate cities in the face of extreme weather events.
Panelists
Mario Lubetkin, FAO Assistant Director-General and FAO Regional Representative for Latin America and the Caribbean.
João Intini – Food System Policy Officer,
Angela Blanco, Emergency and Rehabilitation Officer, FAO Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean
Guido Santini, Technical Coordinator of the City-Region Food System Program, FAO NSP
Ana Albornoz, Mayor of Santa Juana, Chile, member city of the Intermediary Cities and Agrifood Systems Network (CISA).
Marisson Melo, Head of International Relations Consultancy, National Supply Company (CONAB), Brazil.
Kevin Lagos, Manager, Management Planning and Evaluation Unit, Suplidora Nacional de Productos Básicos, (BANASUPRO), Honduras.
Rodrigo Perpétuo. Executive Secretary, Local Governments for Sustainability (ICLEI).
Moderators
Sara Granados, Food Systems Specialist - Governance FAO Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean.
Makiko Taguchi, Agriculture Officer, FAO NSP
Carmen Zuleta, FAO NSP City-Region Food System Program Specialist, FAO NSP
Live broadcast
Documents
Regional Representative

Regional Representative
Mr. Mario Lubetkin has been Assistant Director General and FAO Regional Representative for Latin America and the Caribbean since 1 August, 2022.
Key Documents
Publications

How to use antibiotics effectively and responsibly in poultry production - for the sake of human and animal health
2024
The use of antibiotics and thus the threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) can be reduced by adopting the right husbandry practices. This publication provides practical tips to the livestock producer aiming at improving animal health and hence the reduced use of antibiotics
FAO's four priorities in Latin America and the Caribbean
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