Global Forum on Food Security and Nutrition (FSN Forum)

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Emily Olsson

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Organization: University of Oxford
Country: United States of America
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I am currently working on my PhD thesis, which focuses on how to increase circularity in urban food systems in the Global South

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    • Congratulations to the team on a detailed report that presents the core concepts, framework and pathways to change with clarity and coherence. My comments on the zero draft can be found below. 

      Thank you and all the best,

      Emily

      1. The V0 draft introduces a conceptual framework informed by key principles established in previous HLPE-FSN reports (HLPE, 2017; HLPE, 2020).

      • Do you find the proposed framework effective to highlight and discuss the key issues concerning urban and peri-urban food systems?
      • Is this a useful conceptual framework to provide practical guidance for policymakers?
      • Can you offer suggestions for examples to illustrate and facilitate the operationalization of the conceptual framework to address issues relevant for FSN?

      The conceptual framework provides a clear way of thinking about urban food systems and the myriad of challenges and complexities that they face. However, the report doesn’t push it much further than that, making it difficult for a practitioner to operationalize, especially because the report emphasizes the heterogeneity of urban food systems. In order to bridge the gap, it might be useful to consider including: (i) indicators for practitioners to use to measure and monitor a food system or designing a project intervention; or (ii) a handbook of sorts (similar to ICLEIs) of which stakeholders to involve, what methods should be used to contextualize an urban food system, etc.; or (iii) a way in which policymakers and practitioners could prioritize investments and project interventions. Another possibility could be to include a compendium of case studies from which practitioners and policymakers could draw inspiration (similar to the FAO CSA Handbook).

      2. The report adopts the broader definition of food security (proposed by the HLPE-FSN in 2020), which includes six dimensions of food security: availability, access, utilization, stability, agency and sustainability.

      • Does the V0 draft cover sufficiently the implications of this broader definition in urban and peri-urban food systems?

      The report doesn’t delve as deep into the unique environmental aspects of urban food production, which weakens the argument for the inclusion of the ‘sustainability’ dimension. The authors could consider including more details on how urban crop and livestock production (through traditional means and newer technological ones) affect the local environment in terms of soil health, water quality, biodiversity, energy use and fertilizers/compost. Might be useful to consider a section on urban forests, as well. The inclusion of this information would help to strengthen the sustainability dimension.

      The report has a lot of rich information on urban nutrition outcomes, but it doesn’t seem linked to the food security outcomes; they come across as separate rather than interlinked. Certain elements of urban food security could be covered in more detail, particularly market dependence/reliance and transport needs (and associated fuel costs). It would also be interesting to include (if available) more information on chronic vs acute food insecurity in urban centers in the Global South. Are there likely to be more food crises located in urban centers in the future? How will conflict affect food security outcomes in urban areas? It may be worth reaching out to colleagues in FSIN (based in WFP) and IPC (based in FAO) on this because they may have data on previous and/or current food crises in cities, such as the ongoing one in Port-au-Prince.

      3. Are the trends/variables/elements identified in the draft report the key ones to strengthen urban and peri-urban food systems? If not, which other elements should be considered?

      • Are there any other issues concerning urban and peri-urban food systems that have not been sufficiently covered in the draft report?
      • Are topics under- or over-represented in relation to their importance?

      See previous answers and in addition, the information presented on the spatial elements of urban food systems is important, but it could be teased out more in the report by discussing in more depth the historical lack of connection between urban planning and food system outcomes, as well as including recommendations for urban planners (as one of the practitioner groups). Pothukuchi and Kaufman (1999 & 2000) could me two useful sources.

      4. Is there additional quantitative or qualitative data that should be included?

      • Are there other references, publications, or traditional or different kind of knowledges, which should be considered?

      I’m currently working on two articles – one is scoping review of circularity in urban food systems in the Global North and Global South, and the other is a framework for circularity in urban food systems. They may be useful in extending some of the arguments made in the report and would be happy to discuss further. However, I’m not sure if the publication timelines will align, as my articles won’t be published until later in 2024. I’m also conducting research on circularity in Medellin’s food system in the early spring of 2024 (in collaboration with the FAO in Colombia), and the results from that may make for a useful case study to include in the report.

      5. Are there any redundant facts or statements that could be eliminated from the V0 draft?

      6. Could you suggest case studies and success stories from countries that were able to strengthen urban and peri-urban food systems? In particular, the HLPE-FSN would seek contributions on:

      • evidence-based examples of successful interventions in urban and peri-urban food systems with the principles behind what made the process work;
      • efforts made to enhance agency in urban and peri-urban food systems;
      • efforts made to enhance the right to food in urban and peri-urban settings;
      • examples of circular economy and urban and peri-urban food system and climate change adaptation and mitigation, preferably beyond issues of production; and
      • examples of national and local government collaboration on urban and peri-urban food systems.
      See the attachments: