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, Food production and ecosystem management - Articles
In the 1950s, Vancouver Island farmers were responsible for 85 per cent of the region’s food supply, according to the Capital Region Food and Agricultural Initiatives Roundtable. But by the early aughts, food imports had increased to 85 per cent. City councillors in Victoria, B.C. passed a motion early April...
Canada (North America)
2020 - Zi-Ann Lum
Governance and planning, Social and economic equity, Food production and ecosystem management, Food supply and distribution, Food loss and waste - Directories
The collection and sharing of concrete information is necessary and important. Canada has established a network of food communities to share concrete information on municipal, community and regional responses to COVID-19 (with ongoing sharing on strengthening the food system in cities, communities and regions currently funded for at least three...
Canada (North America)
2020 - Coll.
Governance and planning, Social and economic equity, Food production and ecosystem management, Food supply and distribution - Directories
Johns Hopkins Center for a Livable Future’s Food Policy Networks project has compiled a list of resources, models/examples, funding, and other shared practices in COVID-19 response useful for food policy councils and other groups working at the local and state level. The resources focus on: 1_FPCs’ roles of convening, collaborating...
United States of America (North America)
2020 - Coll.
Governance and planning, Food production and ecosystem management, Food supply and distribution - Articles
The disruption to food systems from COVID-19 highlights the need to reconnect local production and consumption. City regions food system is part of a multi-level response. Key insights from various city regions all over the world (Antananarivo/Madagascar - Nairobi/Kenya - Kitwe/Zambia - Toronto/Canada - Quito/Ecuador - Melbourne/Australia).
(Global coverage)
2020 - Coll.
Governance and planning, Food production and ecosystem management, Food supply and distribution - Articles
In Medellin, the City Food Region System implemented a few years ago, enabled local producers, consumers and local government to keep an active food distribution system. Overall, the program generates income for producers, lowers the costs of supplying vendors and ensures a secure channel of food supply during the crisis....
Colombia (Latin America and the Caribbean)
2020 - Juan Zuluaga Orrego; Guido Santini