“Food security exists when all people, at all times, have physical, social and economic access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food that meets their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life” (FAO, 2001).

Food experts across different disciplines have clearly reiterated that food insecurity on the contrary, whether at the global or local level, is not a supply problem but a distribution and affordability issue. The global food system already produces more food than what is necessary to feed the entire planet. At the same time, one-fifth of food goes to waste, the equivalent of one billion meals a day. Yet, 786 million people suffer from hunger, and a total of one billion suffer from malnutrition. This shows that the real issue is not whether there is enough food for everyone but rather how food is distributed and who can afford it.

Recent events - from the COVID-19 pandemic and the conflict in Ukraine to the 2023 farmers’ protests, rising trade tariffs, and Europe’s military buildup - have intensified the urgency of building resilient and secure food systems.

ICLEI Europe has been a strong proponent of sustainable, resilient, and fair food systems for many years, exemplified by the establishment of the ICLEI Global CityFood Programme and ICLEI's active involvement in several food-focused cross-country initiatives. Building on this wealth of experience, ICLEI Europe’s new Position Paper on “Urban Food Security and Resilience in Europe” outlines essential approaches for creating food-secure and resilient urban areas while providing concrete, actionable recommendations to aid local governments in reaching these objectives. The Position Paper urges EU policymakers to realize that food-secure and resilient food systems can contribute to and enhance EU competitiveness. Local governments can play an important role in a competitive EU, especially by investing in sustainable and resilient food systems.

Adopting a food systems approach, ICLEI suggests four main pathways for the EU and local governments towards food-secure and resilient cities:

• Relocalise food systems and promote short food supply chains: municipalities can utilise public land, land-use planning, and targeted infrastructure investments to support small-scale farmers and strengthen the local economy.
• Promote fair and sustainable food production: the EU should prioritise sustainable farming and fishing practices, such as organic agriculture, while local governments can implement sustainable food procurement policies to ensure that food is sourced from environmentally sustainable and socially responsible supply chains.
• Invest in healthy food environments and food education: EU residents should be empowered with the knowledge and skills to choose, prepare, and consume nutritious food. On the other hand, they should be protected from aggressive food marketing. Local governments are well positioned to address access to healthy, nutritious diets and food literacy, e.g. by regulating food environments and investing in (community-led) food initiatives.
• Promote food democracy and multi-sectoral and multilevel governance: local governments can play a key role in supporting the establishment of Food Policy Councils or similar networks as platforms for stakeholder collaboration. Cities can develop integrated food strategies that prioritise access to healthy and nutritious food in all relevant sectors.

Read our full Position Paper: Urban Food Security and Resilience in Europe.