Promoting sustainable food systems in the Mediterranean: fostering collaboration and knowledge exchange among cities
On 13 July FAO is organizing a webinar to present strategies on advancing urban food systems transformation in the Mediterranean area
The Mediterranean region is experiencing a rapid increase in urbanization, with over 70 percent of the population currently living in cities. This ongoing trend has significant implications for the production, processing, marketing, and consumption of food, while also posing severe challenges to urban populations in their access to healthy diets and social protection mechanisms. In response to these pressing issues, local governments across the region are recognizing the importance of engaging in food systems-related initiatives.
The Role of Cities in Shaping Sustainable Food Systems
The recent UN Food Systems Summit process emphasized the crucial role of cities in food systems transformation. As a follow up of the event, an Urban Food Systems Coalition was established to facilitate coherent and coordinated engagement, action, and governance between national and local governments. This coalition also aims to support local governments in participating in global policy debates and positioning themselves as key players in agrifood systems transformation.
City-to-city cooperation has proven to be a valuable instrument in supporting cities in the development of food policies by facilitating knowledge sharing and technical assistance. Learning from one another and working together, cities can overcome challenges and contribute to positive transformation.
The Need for Information on Sustainable Food Systems in Mediterranean Cities
While cities worldwide are increasingly recognizing the importance of food issues and participating in city networks, there is still a lack of information on public policies and local initiatives promoting sustainable food systems in Mediterranean cities.
To address this gap, FAO, in partnership with the NGO Let's Food, has undertaken a study to identify urban food system initiatives in the Mediterranean. The study aims to determine their contribution to the shift towards more sustainable and inclusive food systems, identify the need for technical support to scale up successful initiatives, and promote city-to-city exchanges in the region.
The Webinar: Advancing Sustainable Food Systems in the Mediterranean
Under the Framework of the Urban Food Agenda and the SFS-MED Platform, FAO is organizing a Webinar to present the outcomes of the study and facilitate a roundtable discussion. The webinar will bring together municipalities, food systems stakeholders from across the Mediterranean, and international city networks to address the key question: how to foster collaboration and knowledge exchange among Mediterranean cities to advance sustainable food systems in the region?
Following the opening remarks provided by Corinna Hawkes, Director of the Food Systems and Food Safety Division in FAO, the discussion will be informed by representatives of local governments (from the municipalities of Tirana, Tunis, Montpellier and Bari), civil society(Let’s Food, ICLEI), academia (the International Centre for Advanced Mediterranean Agronomic Studies – CIHEAM) and international networks and organizations (the Milan Urban Food Policy Pact, UN-Habitat).
The webinar will provide participants with an opportunity to share their experiences in promoting sustainable food systems in Mediterranean cities. They will also discuss the added value of city-to-city cooperation initiatives, identify needs and expectations for successful peer-to-peer learning, and explore ways to strengthen collaboration among Mediterranean cities and key partners. The outcomes of this webinar will contribute to the development of strategies and policies that promote sustainable and inclusive food systems throughout the Mediterranean region.
As urbanization accelerates in the Mediterranean, addressing the challenges of sustainable food systems becomes increasingly vital. Collaboration, knowledge exchange, and city-to-city cooperation play pivotal roles in overcoming these challenges. By sharing experiences, leveraging successful initiatives, and working together, Mediterranean cities can transform their food systems into models of sustainability, inclusivity, efficiency, and resilience. The webinar will be a significant step toward fostering collaboration and advancing sustainable food systems in the region, creating a better future for both urban populations and the environment.