Urban Food Systems

Why Are We Tackling Urban Food Systems Challenges?

Urban food systems can promote community health, but they are affected by many factors. For example, social inequalities, inefficient supply chains, expensive real estate and city zoning requirements all contribute to food insecurity, food waste and constraints on urban growers. Climate change also stresses urban food systems by disrupting social and economic resources.

The solution is developing thriving urban food systems.

Technological and policy breakthroughs help agriculture adapt to urban environments and minimize pollution. These developments can also make healthy food physically and economically accessible to urban populations. Strong regional food and agriculture economies provide growth opportunities, securing farmers’ futures.

We work with and within urban communities to understand how systems – including the regional food system, transportation, housing and others – can promote food and nutritional security. This rigorous research portfolio brings together growers, suppliers and consumers to build healthy, sustainable urban food and agriculture systems.