To feed a growing population, we urge to reshape the cities of tomorrow through the sustainability lens and reverse the current culture of abundance based on expectations of large quantities of food at low costs. The progressive depletion of natural resources, together with frequent extreme climate-related events require urban areas to develop mitigation and adaptation strategies, for the sake of our Planet but also for the human survival itself. Cities can play a critical role in addressing challenges linked to our global food system and extreme climate-related phenomena.
[Waste & Circular Systems]: Nearly one-third of global food production – 1.3 billion tons of food – is lost or wasted. As we move towards more circular systems, it will be essential to increase focus on points of inefficiency. We need to identify these areas and explore innovative solutions to reduce or altogether remove them. Innovation, connected technologies and circular food economy are a necessary step for a vital future. To work at their best, they require an inclusive food-secure ecosystem that increases access to affordable, nutritious food to the global community. To facilitate a long-lasting transformation, all the actors of the food chain need to be involved, from farmers to consumers (from the farm to the fork and beyond). No circular economy approach can be followed without the active participation of all the actors of society.
[Humana Communitas]: Citywide measures for recovering safe and nutritious food and redistributing it through charities and food banks, composting or utilizing discarded food to generate energy can make a significant impact in reducing food waste.
[Mediterranean Foodscape]: Having lower-cost, healthier ingredients available in local markets is only the start of a better diet. As diverse options, unlike unhealthy foods such as sugary drinks and salty snacks options become more affordable – including – taste and convenience, become the driving force in food choice. On this front, governments should consider nutritional risks the same way we address food safety, auto safety, or drugs and alcohol: more investment in education about risks (especially for school-age children and parents), and much stronger regulation of food labeling and marketing so that buyers can beware.
The participant will investigate insights about the complexity of policy-making, regulation of health, change production and consumption practices, combat malnutrition, and the promotion of sustainable agriculture. Also, barriers to social innovation and change will be interpreted.