Implementing the New Urban Agenda: Urban and Territorial Integration Approaches in Support of Urban Food Systems

Abstract

This paper provides an insight on the opportunities provided by the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the New Urban Agenda (NUA) in advancing food systems within the context of urbanisation. To get a clear perspective on the opportunities posed by the NUA, the approach used involves an in-depth analysis of existing literature prior to and leading to the adoption of the NUA, including the Habitat Agenda, Issue Paper number 10 on Urban–Rural Linkages, the Monteria and Bellagio Communiqués, the UN-Habitat position paper on Urban–Rural Linkages, the International Guidelines on Urban and Territorial Planning (IG-UTP) and other related documents and processes that closely relate to the subject. The paper additionally gives an overview of existing policies and activities by a number of actors towards implementation of the NUA.

The paper focuses on the role that sustainable urbanisation can play in supporting food systems, especially as it relates to and the application of an integrated territorial approach and urban–rural linkages. The paper also undertakes an extensive review of the NUA as it relates to urban food systems and finally a review of selected documents, processes and actions that may complement the NUA in developing sustainable food systems. Section 1 starts with a background of food systems in the context of urbanisation and a background of the processes leading to the development of the NUA. Section 2 gives some reflections of the 1996 Habitat Agenda as it relates to food systems, whilst Sect. 3 discusses the opportunities for implementation of food systems outlined in the NUA. Section 4 highlights the key global processes and frameworks supporting sustainable urban food systems, and finally, Sect. 5 makes conclusive statements.

The designations employed and the presentation of the material in this publication do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the Secretariat of the United Nations concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area or of its authorities or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers of boundaries. Views expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect those of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme, the United Nations or its Member States.

We acknowledge the inputs of Andrea Oyuela, UN-Habitat and Jane Battersby, African Centre for Cities.