Rapid urbanisation is creating radically new challenges to feeding cities which by 2030 will contain 5 billion consumers, a great number suffering from some form of malnutrition. The food system is governed by both state and non-state actors including the private sector. All actors (local and national governments, civil society, the private sector, and international organisations) need to work better together to meet the challenge of a healthier, equitable and more sustainable food system for all.
Malnutrition now affects every country in the world and is having severe societal and economic impacts. Ensuring sufficient and healthy food for all is a great challenge for growing cities because urban food systems are vulnerable to climate change, economic shocks, violent crises, dramatic social changes (i.e. migration).
In October global leaders gathered in Quito, Ecuador at Habitat III to determine the New Urban Agenda for the next 20 years. GAIN hosted an official side event titled: Good governance for healthy, nutritious, and sustainable urban food systems co-sponsored the Food Smart Cities for Development a EU project coordinated by City of Milan, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands. This side event will discuss what constitutes a good urban food policy and will examine how to foster sustainable food systems which:
- stimulate local economies;
- provide affordable nutritious foods to all;
- mitigate the negative effects of climate change.