The right to adequate food in urban and peri-urban areas

29 October 2024. The right to adequate food in urban and peri-urban areas

• This event aimed to emphasize the integration of the right to food and the right to the city in all measures addressing food insecurity in urban and peri-urban contexts, advocating for equitable, sustainable, and resilient food systems through multilevel governance and human rights-based approaches.
• Policymakers, researchers, and stakeholders explored the role of local governments, power structures, and inclusive policies to ensure access to adequate food and urban services amidst challenges like climate change, food insecurity, increasing urban populations, conflicts and raising inequalities.

Speakers:

Opening remarks

• Juan Echanove, Team Leader of the Right to Food, Rural Transformation and Gender Equality Division (ESP), FAO
• Corinna Hawkes, Director, Agrifood Systems and Food Safety Division (ESF), FAO
• Keynote speech: Jane Battersby, Lead author of HLPE-FSN Report “Strengthening urban and peri-urban food systems to achieve food and nutrition”

Panel discussion

• Emily Mattheisen, FIAN International is a global human rights organization that advocates for the right to adequate food and nutrition.
• Iromi Perera, Colombo Urban Lab
• Elisabetta Recine, National Council for Food and Nutrition Security (CONSEA), Brazil and HLPE-FSN 
• Ximena Moreno, Civil Society and Indigenous People’s Mechanism (CSIPM), Committee on World Food Security (CFS)
• Arthur G. Kawamura, Private Sector Mechanism (PSM), CFS
• Afantchawo Koudasse, Network of Farmers' and Producers' Organisations in West Africa (ROPPA)

Resource:

HLPE (2024) Strengthening urban and peri‑urban food systems to achieve foodsecurity and nutrition, in the context of urbanization and rural transformation. Rome, CFS HLPE‑FSN, # 200 pp.

• The 19th report by the HLPE-FSN "Strengthening urban and peri-urban food systems to achieve food security and nutrition in the context of urbanization and rural transformation" highlights the critical need to address food insecurity in urban and peri-urban areas, where over 75% of the world's food-insecure population resides.
• Policymakers, researchers, and stakeholders explored the role of local governments, power structures, and inclusive policies to ensure access to adequate food and urban services amidst challenges like climate change, food insecurity, increasing urban populations, conflicts and raising inequalities.