Today, over half the world lives in cities, projected to rise to 70% by 2050. This shift poses significant challenges for food security and nutrition (FSN), demanding tailored policies to achieve good food for all. Urban areas consume over 70% of global food, shaping national food systems.
The High Level Panel of Excerpts of Food Security and Nutrition (HLPE-FSN) Report reveals over 75% of the world’s 2.2 billion food-insecure live in urban and peri-urban areas where youth unemployment, infrastructure gaps, inequality, and grapples with risks like epidemics and conflicts. At the same time, these communities drive nutrition transitions and economic innovations.
Given that cities rely heavily on imported food, the logistics, transportation, processing, and retail aspects are of critical importance in building sustainable food systems. The report provides insights into urban and peri-urban food systems, their strengths, challenges, and diverse urbanization trends worldwide.
