Better city, better life. This is the slogan of World Cities Day. Considering half of humanity currently lives in cities and one in three people live in slums, the slogan is becoming more poignant every day.
This year’s theme, ‘designed to live together’, emphasizes the importance of planning urbanization in order to maximize the opportunities that cities present. While urbanization is associated with economic growth, if done haphazardly it can destroy resources and further stimulate inequality. But if we proactively plan cities and we can make the future of urbanization more equitable and sustainable.
The World Cities Day ceremony marks the end of Expo Milan, which focused on ‘Feeding the Planet, Energy for Life’. It seems appropriate that this falls on World Cities Day because we are left asking: how will the world’s future food system sustainably feed a mostly urbanized planet?
When in Milan last week, I heard the Mayor of Milan, Giuliano Pisapia, remind us that 6 of the 9 billion people in the planet in 2050 will be living in cities, and that many of them will suffer from the consequences of malnutrition. It is imperative that global, national and local policy makers act now to create a regulatory environment that enables sustainable and nutritious urban food systems.
International policies are starting to highlight the correlation of nutrition within urbanization and city planning, but more must be done. The SDGs will be implemented from 2016 and have emphasized nutrition and urban development as a key priority. In order to achieve these goals, the links between these topics should be emphasised.
We need to continue to identify opportunities and create mutually reinforcing strategies. Each year, malnutrition kills 3.1 million children under the age of five and leaves 159 million stunted, trapping generations in lives of poverty and unfulfilled potential. Reducing malnutrition can make people healthier, more productive and improve economic stability and growth. This can lead to larger revenues to improve city life. On the flip side, if cities are planned properly, with improved infrastructure, water and sanitation systems and access to nutritious markets, we can improve the nutritional status of millions.
Other forums such as Habitat III (creating the New Urban Agenda) and COP21 offer exciting opportunities to continue the much-needed dialogue on urbanization, food security and sustainability. The connections between them are vital and we must keep these topics at the top of the agenda.
Local governments are taking action. In Mexico City the government is encouraging the “greening” of city rooftops for smog reduction and vegetable and fruit cultivation. Mexico City is also paving the way as one of the 100 global cities signed up to the Milan Urban Food Policy Pact, encouraging urban policy to address food systems. We can learn from this.
National governments need to take city size into account when considering urban food policy. Small and medium sized cities are the fastest growing urban agglomerations – we need to ensure they plan urban food policy effectively and efficiently. Larger cities need innovative solutions for their overburdened infrastructure in order to create mechanisms to help the urban poor.
Urban consumers are more reliant on markets and the urban poor spend up to 85% of their income on food, so even small price changes can have big impacts. Governments need to work with the private sector to make sure poor households are able to access affordable and nutritious foods. As cities are become more globalized, governments must advocate for accommodating international policies.
It is also important that we increase the resilience of food systems by shortening food supply chains into urban areas. This could be accomplished through urban agriculture projects. Bringing agriculture into the city can improve access to high value, nutritious crops such as fruits and vegetables. New technological innovations are also making it more feasible to employ urban agriculture at scale, while reducing impact on the environment.
However, in order to ensure more nutritious value chains are being used to feed cities, it is critical that we improve rural-urban linkages, as most food comes from outside cities. This can include anything from making sure urban development don’t encroach too much on fertile land to improving infrastructures and reducing food waste along the value chain.
In order to continue to connect consumers and producers in the most effective ways, policy will have to reflect consumption patterns and make nutritious foods become desirable to the consumer. Education, behaviour change campaigns and marketing strategies all have a role to play.
In an ever-changing world, we must take action. If we design our cities right with effective policies, we can create a healthy planet where every child has a bright future.
The post Better City, Better Life – Designing Cities for Improved Nutrition appeared first on Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition.