Cities as Catalysts for Change

The Event highlighted how cities are at the forefront of addressing food security challenges, implementing localized solutions that can inform and inspire global strategies. As cities continue to face unprecedented pressures from urbanization and climate change, collaborative governance and community-led initiatives offer a powerful pathway to achieving sustainable, resilient agrifood systems worldwide. 

Cities play a pivotal role in transforming agrifood systems to enhance food security, resilience, and sustainability. This critical role was explored during the recent side event of the 52nd Committee on World Food Security (CFS52) held in Rome last month.

Under the session titled "Cities as Agents of Change in Agrifood Systems," FAO, ICLEI Local Governments for Sustainability, and the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) spotlighted how urban areas can drive sustainable agrifood systems by leveraging local governance, community involvement, and innovative partnerships. The event convened leaders and experts to share practical examples of multi-level governance and multi-stakeholder actions addressing food security, nutrition, resilience, and sustainability.

Zhimin Wu, Director of the Forestry Division at FAO, opened the discussion by underscoring the strategic role cities play in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). He highlighted key FAO urban initiatives, such as the Green Cities Initiative, noting that resilient, inclusive agrifood systems are essential for reaching SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), and SDG 13 (Climate Action), among others. Cities are uniquely positioned to tackle interconnected challenges related to food security, climate resilience, and public health.

A presentation by Mr. Kossowski Mayor of Courbevoie (France) focused on how mayors can create greener, more sustainable cities by reducing food waste. In Courbevoie, they involve all local players - supermarkets, restaurants, retailers - to ensure that leftovers are not wasted, but redirected to charities for those in need. The municipality has also taken other initiatives, such as educating children in school canteens about the value of food and the issue of recycling. Courbevoie also has a solidarity grocery store and is experimenting with recycling by installing food waste digesters. Courbevoie wishes to share its experience with other cities thanks to its recent membership of the FAO Green Cities Initiative.

Representatives from African nations shared insights on the role of local governments in building resilient and inclusive agrifood systems. 

Abel Dabula, Head of Programmes for GAIN in Mozambique, highlighted the challenging context faced by communities, where 89% of the population cannot afford the $3.50 per person per day cost of a healthy diet, and agrifood systems are severely impacted by climate change and conflict. GAIN collaborates with city governments, local market committees and vendors to co-design and implement inclusive, resilient food systems that prioritize nutrition and livelihoods of vulnerable populations. Examples are climate-smart, infrastructure investment, in the cities of Beira and Pemba, using a proven scalable model, with management and nutrition capacitation that also supports locally led, inclusive decision-making in the short and long term.

Grace Kaziya, Director of Lusaka's Department of Housing and Social Services, discussed the city’s management of over 30+ food markets and 60 cooperatives, which provide more than 30% of Lusaka’s fresh food from nearby districts. Highlighting concrete best practices from the GIZ-funded Transformative Initiative on Strengthening fresh food markets for healthier food environments, and the AfriFOODlinks project, Grace emphasised the importance of synergizing efforts across government, private sector, and communities to improve urban food environments and build resilient urban food systems- She notably pointed to the importance of continuing to strengthen the Lusaka Food Policy Council, and of establishing an urban food systems mandate in the Lusaka City Council.

On a national scale, Brazil’s National Secretary for Food and Nutrition Security, Lilian dos Santos Rahal, presented an extensive urban food agenda targeting 60 cities to improve food security for over 60 million people. Rahal described how Brazil’s multi-level approach integrates federal, regional, and municipal stakeholders to expand access to healthy food, reduce waste, and promote sustainable urban food environments. These efforts address the compounded challenges of poverty, hunger, and climate vulnerability in urban and peri-urban areas. She noted that recent natural disasters have cost Brazilian municipalities an estimated USD 60 billion, highlighting the urgent need for resilient, locally adapted agrifood systems.

Concluding the event, Corinna Hawkes, Director of FAO’s Agrifood Systems and Food Safety Division, stressed the importance of inclusive, multi-stakeholder governance in driving systemic agrifood transformations. She highlighted a recent global workshop that gathered representatives from UN agencies, city networks, NGOs, and research institutions to foster collaboration across governance levels.

Cities are uniquely positioned and agile to drive accelerated transformation in agrifood systems in a manner that is resilient, inclusive, equitable, and sustainable. Achieving this requires collective action across sectors and scales.