Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Washington, DC USA
There has been considerable discussion and analysis about how the world will feed over 9 billion people in 2050. What we haven’t been asking is how we will feed over 6 billion people living in towns, cities and megacities, many of whom will have more income and be demanding a more diverse diet. Further, how can we do this without increasing greenhouse gas emissions and without making people fat. Most of us think about food and agriculture as rural issues. This must change. The challenges we face and the solutions we find with respect to climate change; access to safer, affordable and nutritious food; as well as job creation and livelihoods are all linked in some way to this question of urban food.
We know from history that more people living in cities drives economic growth, higher incomes and poverty reduction. For this to happen, people need jobs. Unfortunately, current demographic trends are being accompanied with greater numbers of people migrating to cities and living in low-income informal settlements characterized by a high prevalence of poverty and food insecurity. This does not need to be the path.
The demand for greater quantities and more diverse types of food in sub-Saharan Africa, which is projected to push Africa’s food market to over US$1 trillion by 2030, provides a major opportunity to drive job- and wealth-creating growth in all parts of the economy – agriculture, manufacturing (viz processing) and services.
We all know that urban life puts a premium on convenience. We want food that tastes good, is affordable and nutritious but is also easily accessible. Unfortunately, many of the more convenient food choices are products or meals that are high in saturated fat, high in salt, high in sugar, and are neither good for our waistline nor our health. Our urban food systems need to respond to the growing demand for safer, nutritious food that is more convenient and affordable to all consumers and environmentally sustainable. This is where our agri-food system comes in – adding the value consumers are demanding (quality, safety, nutrition, and convenience) creates business and job opportunities.
Moving the urban food agenda forward will require strong partnerships between city and national governments, private sector and consumers and civil society to prioritize investments and policy to catalyse the process. Suggested actions may include the modernization of wholesale and retail markets, refrigerated warehouses for all food system actors or agri-food parks in peri-urban areas. As small- and medium-scale businesses and diverse informal sector actors dominate the food sector, listening to their views is key to retool policies, incentives and regulations that address their needs. Food safety legislation and enforcement, along with improved food labelling must be strengthened in many countries, to protect consumer welfare as well as to increase the competitiveness of local products. Many cities (e.g., Singapore, Shanghai and Havana) have embraced the diverse forms of water-efficient, urban agriculture as an integral part of their urban development, producing a significant portion of their fruits and vegetables while creating jobs, enhancing resilience and strengthening their communities’ connection to food and the environment.
Finally, to reap the demographic dividend created by the large number of young, working age adults in sub-Saharan people, the agri-food sector must work with governments, universities, technical schools and private sector to upgrade curricula, strengthen IT skills and enhance opportunities for young people to put their training to use in the food industry, whether in management, agri-business, processing, logistics, food services or as entrepreneurs.
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