More than 50 percent of the world's population currently lives in urban areas and this is expected to rise to 70 percent by 2050, particularly in developing countries.

Increasing effects of climate change, including storms, floods and other extreme weather events, pose an added threat to how people in cities, especially the poor, access food.

To address these needs, food systems - from production, distribution and consumption - must be made more sustainable, according to FAO. This includes guaranteeing access and active involvement of all stakeholders, farmers and smallholders, along the whole supply and value chain. Crucial to this is drastically reducing food losses and waste, which are especially high in urban areas. This includes measures such as redistributing edible unused food and using waste as compost or to generate energy.