REPORT + WEBINAR: Priorities for inclusive urban food system transformations in the global South

CIRAD (2021)  Priorities for inclusive urban food system transformations in the global South. 23 pp.

The supply of food in cities in low-income countries is mainly ensured by small-scale production and retail, which have proved effective in feeding cities cheaply. Far from being unorganised, this system is structured by a succession of complementary actors and spaces (producers, collectors, wholesalers, retailers as well as small transport, storage and processing companies). What’s more, micro-, small- and medium-sized enterprises innovate to meet new consumer demand for quality, particularly in terms of health and safety cleanliness. These businesses are generally presented in opposition to large-scale agribusinesses considered "modern" and efficient.

Therefore, the authors of the brief developed six types of urban food systems specific to cities in the South. From their characteristics, they draw five levers for action that could help strengthen the capacity of cities to adapt to their growing populations, emphasising in particular energy- and capital-efficient initiatives.

Related: 

6 July 2021. Side event to the Science Days for the UN Food Systems Summit. Priorities for inclusive urban food systems transformations in the global South

The side event, in collaboration with the RUAF Global Partnership on Sustainable Urban Agriculture and Food Systems, Michigan State University, National centre for scientific and technological research Burkina Faso and the Unesco Chair on World Food Systems will bring together academics and operators working on urban food systems in Asia, Africa and Latin America.

• Introduction: Dao The Anh, vice-president of Vietnam Academy of Agricultural Science, co-author of the research brief, facilitator of the event
• Accounting for the diversity of urban food systems: Patrick Caron, Cirad, University of Montpellier, former president of HLPE-CFS, co-author of the research brief
• The role of MSMEs in inclusive urban food system transformations: Paule Moustier, Cirad, Head of MoISA, first author of the research brief
• Synergies between SMEs, supermarkets and e-commerce in low and middle income countries: Professor Thomas Reardon, Michigan State University
• Inclusive innovations to meet urban food consumer demand in Burkina Faso: Charlotte Yaméogo, Institut de recherche en sciences appliquées et technologies, Ouagadougou
• Collaboration between Quito municipality and farmer groups for an inclusive food system: Alexandra Rodriguez, responsible for the Participatory Urban Agriculture Project, Quito municipality