Urban Food Actions Platform

Food production depends and impacts on ecosystem services and biodiversity, with spillover effects going beyond food. Urban and peri-urban agriculture and food processing can contribute to improving the resilience of territories in the face of climate change, natural disasters and disrupted suppy chains. Urban food consumption can also influence where and how food is produced. 

How can you optimize agriculture production while managing ecosystem services and biodiversity and improving resilience to climate change? Numerous examples are presented, explaining how to implement sustainable urban and peri-urban food production and processing; how these can mitigate the heat island effect, prevent floods, reduce the energy needed for cooling and heating buildings, improve social inclusion, (indirectly) raise awareness on combating food waste, or contribute to better access to healthy, diversified and fresh products. Resources on Urban and Peri-Urban Forestry are also available.

 

Related Resources

Governance and planning, Social and economic equity, Food production and ecosystem management, Food supply and distribution - Reports & Case Studies
This survey, conducted by France Urbaine, in partnership with Résolis and Terres en Villes, presents how French cities have acted to mitigate the negative effects of confinement on food systems: means and levers to ensure that everyone has access to food in sufficient quality and quantity.
France (Europe)
2020 - Kader Makhlouf ; Henri Rouillé d'Orfeuil ; Marc Nielsen
Governance and planning, Social and economic equity, Food production and ecosystem management, Food supply and distribution - Guidelines
This long article presents numerous measures implemented by C40 network cities facing pandemic impacts on the food system: (1) Ensuring food access and feeding vulnerable citizens. (2) Enhancing cities’ food supply chains to meet today’s needs and build better food systems.
(Global coverage)
2020 - C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group
Social and economic equity, Food production and ecosystem management, Food supply and distribution - Articles
These webpages from the Michigan State University is dedicated to evidence-based knowledge, critical thinking, and news on Covid-19 impacts on Food Systems from developing countries, more specifically from African countries and Nigeria.
(Africa)
2020 - Coll.
Food production and ecosystem management - Reports & Case Studies
ONLY IN FRENCH This study clearly shows the relatively ignored place of social urban agriculture in the food security of the city of Montreal.
Canada (North America)
2020 - Eric Duchemin
Food production and ecosystem management - Articles
Pittsburgh City Council is considering plans to provide city residents with free fresh produce by ramping up urban farming on vacant land owned by the public. Council debated three bills designed to facilitate urban agriculture.
United States of America (North America)
2020 - Bob Bauder