SOURCE FOOD GROWN REGENERATIVELY, AND LOCALLY WHERE APPROPRIATE
Since 80% of food will be consumed in cities by 2050, cities can significantly influence the way food is grown, particularly by interacting with producers in their peri-urban and rural surroundings. Regenerative approaches to food production will ensure the food that enters cities is cultivated in a way that enhances rather than degrades the environment, as well as creating many other systemic benefits.
Regenerative food production is considered in a broad sense as encompassing any production techniques that improve the overall health of the local ecosystem. Examples of regenerative practices include:
Farming types such asagro ecology, rotational grazing, agroforestry, conservation agriculture, and permaculture all fall under this definition. Regenerative practices support the development of healthy soils, which can result in foods with improved taste and micronutrient content. Cites cannot of course implement these techniques alone. Collaborating with farmers, and rewarding them for adopting these beneficial approaches, will be essential. In parallel, cities can use circular urban farming systems, such as those that combine indoor aquaculture with hydroponic vegetable production in local loops.
The feasibility and benefits of increasing local sourcing have been the subject of intense debate. While urban farming can provide cities with some vegetables and fruits, it is currently limited in its ability to satisfy people's broader nutritional needs. However, cities can source substantial amounts of food from their periurban areas (defined in the report as the area within 20 km of cities), which already hold 40% of the world's cropland. While local sourcing is not a silver bullet, reconnecting cities with their local food production supports the development of a distributed and regenerative agricultural system. It allows cities to increase the resilience of their food supply by relying on a more diverse range of suppliers (local and global), and supporting native crop varieties. It offers city dwellers the opportunity to strengthen their connection with food and the farmers who grow it, often increasing the likelihood that people will demand food grown using regenerative practices that benefit the local environment and their own health. Local sourcing can also reduce the need for excess packaging and shorten distribution supply chains.