Rising and volatile food prices, dependence on food imports, political, financial and economic crises, competition for access to natural resources, environmental degradation, and climate change affect current and future food and nutrition security of populations, urban as well as rural, including the most vulnerable people.
The challenges for citizens and the various authorities concerned, public or private, whether local, national or supranational, are to design and implement efficient food systems that support sustainable inclusive, resilient and effective development based on individual and collective responsibilities. This responsibility must be endorsed and carried forward by local and regional authorities in conjunction with their competences.
Regional food systems aim to meet these complex stakes. This issue affects many sectors (e.g. food, transport, health, education, water, habitat, migration, land policy, urban and peri-urban agriculture and forestry). Governments, local authorities, civil society, private sector, research sector, technical and financial partners must work together in concerted actions within agreed strategies, with rights, duties and clear responsibilities.
Key questions:
- What are the key levers that local and regional authorities can use to contribute to food and nutrition security?
- How does the territorial development approach promote cross-sectorial approaches to food and nutrition security and sustainable connections between urban and rural? Can this strengthen the resilience strategies?
- What are the links to develop between local and regional levels, national and global scales for policies on food and nutrition security?
- How to organize the contribution of local and regional authorities on food and nutrition security in the post 2015 agenda?
