The Role of Cities and Local Governments in Transforming Food Systems Beyond COVID-19

Cities and local governments play a crucial role in transforming food systems post-COVID-19, particularly in urbanizing regions like Latin America and the Caribbean. Urbanization trends, rural-urban dichotomy, and the importance of local government actions in areas such as food supply, food safety regulations, and support for small-scale farmers are highlighted. These efforts are essential for enhancing food security, supporting environmental sustainability, and catering to the needs of both urban and rural populations.

• Food Systems
• Cities
• Local Governments
• COVID-19
• Latin America

pade Follow

Uploaded on Sep 13, 2024 | 0 Views

Download Presentation

Please find below an Image/Link to download the presentation.

The content on the website is provided AS IS for your information and personal use only. It may not be sold, licensed, or shared on other websites without obtaining consent from the author. Download presentation by click this link. If you encounter any issues during the download, it is possible that the publisher has removed the file from their server.

Presentation Transcript

1. The role of cities and local governments in the transformation of food systems, beyond COVID-19 Julio A. Berdegu Assistant Director-General Regional Representative Latin America and the Caribbean July 2020

2. Urbanization in Latin America and the Caribbean Decline in rural population, LAC 40 35 30 Rural Population (%) 25 20 15 10 5 0 1980 2000 2020 2035 Data: UNDESA 2018 Revision of World Urbanization Prospects

3. Urbanization in Latin America and the Caribbean Latin America and the Caribbean 70 Distribution of Urban Population by Size of 60 Agglomeration (% of Total Urban) 50 40 30 20 10 0 1980 2000 2020 2035 Large (5 million or more) Intermediate (1 to 5 million) Small (less than 1 million) Data: UNDESA 2018 Revision of World Urbanization Prospects

4. Urbanization in Latin America and the Caribbean Beyond the Urban-Rural Dichotomy, LAC 2020 (Percentage of Total Population 4% 80% of rural people live within 90 minutes of a small or medium city 46% Deep rural Rural - Urban Urban 69%

5. Food systems in the rural-urban territories Close to 100% of food primary production Very large proportion of: Food processing Services to agriculture Seven in 10 consumers Majority of poor urban and rural consumers (WB) Source of environmental services underpinning food and agriculture Deep rural Rural - Urban Urban

6. Source: https://foodsystemsdashboard.org/

7. Traditional action areas for local governments Food supply Technical assistance to small-scale family farmers Market information to small-scale family farmers Rural roads Wholesale, municipal and local market infrastructure and services Regulation of informal trade Food Environment Enforcement of food safety regulations Regulation and enforcement of informal trade Technical assistance and business advisory services to food system SMEs

8. New action areas for local governments Food systems governance Public-private food systems fora and councils Food supply Digital technical assistance to small-scale family farmers Digital market information to small-scale family farmers Wholesale, municipal and local market infrastructure and digital services Food Environment Local regulations and programs to promote healthy and sustainable diets in schools and public spaces Local regulations and programs to reduce food loss and waste Local regulations and programs to promote buying locally-produced foods

9. New action areas for local governments under COVID-19 crisis Food supply Maintain operations of wholesale, municipal and local markets with high health and safety standards Food Environment Ensure continuous access to healthy foods to people living in extreme poverty Food system governance Food systems councils Food systems strategies and action plans

10. Comprehensive food systems strategies Argentina Green corridor in Santa Fe Province 12 cities Colombia Food supply action plans in Antioquia, Nari o, Central Region, Putumayo. Costa Rica Municipal strategy on food security and food systems - Canton of Perez Zeledon, Canton of Santana Jamaica Kingston urban food system Mexico Urban food systems in State of Hidalgo seven cities involved. Peru Network of municipalities on urban food systems, Lima Food Systems Council

11. Local governments in small cities are heavily under- resourced Budgets Legal authority Technical capacities

12. Thank you Julio A. Berdegu Julio.Berdegue@fao.org