A global network supporting cities to transform their food systems
The Food Systems Network helps cities develop and implement integrated food policies that reduce emissions, improve health and increase resilience.
As part of C40’s wider work to transform essential city systems, the network enables cities to learn from each other’s approaches, solve shared policy challenges, and access practical tools and resources.
It also supports the C40 Good Food Cities Accelerator, where cities make ambitious commitments to expand access to healthy, sustainable, plant-rich food and cut food waste.
How the Food Systems Network supports collaboration between cities
The network enables cities to:
- share knowledge through peer-to-peer learning
- collaborate and problem-solve on shared challenges
- build capacity through workshops and study tours
- access tools, frameworks, and guidance to support policy development
- create and share new knowledge, including case studies and data visualisations
- coordinate and implement effective food system solutions across sectors
Core areas of action of the Food Systems Network
Food procurement
Using food procurement for public facilities such as schools, canteens, hospitals, elderly homes, and civic buildings to foster more sustainable and healthy diets.
Food environment
Engaging with businesses and market traders to transform the social and physical environment that affects the types, availability, and nutritional information of food available in neighbourhoods.
Food waste
Addressing food loss and waste reduction, including by facilitating recovery and redistribution for people in need and implementing food waste valorisation.
Urban-rural linkages
Facilitating connections between peri-urban producers and urban consumers, and promoting regenerative agriculture to decrease production emissions and increasing access to local, healthy, and sustainable food.
Governance
Supporting cities in developing food strategies, including food as part of their climate action plans, and creating food boards and councils for inter-departmental and external coordination.
Cities in the network
Abidjan, Accra, Addis Ababa, Amman, Amsterdam, Auckland, Austin, Barcelona, Boston, Buenos Aires, Cape Town, Chicago, Copenhagen, Curitiba, Dakar, Dar es Salaam, eThekwini (Durban), Fortaleza, Guadalajara, Hong Kong, Istanbul, Johannesburg, Lagos, Lima, Lisbon, London, Los Angeles, Madrid, Medellin, Melbourne, Milan, Montreal, Nairobi, New Orleans, New York, Oslo, Paris, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Quezon City, Quito, Rio de Janeiro, Rome, Rotterdam, Salvador, São Paulo, San Francisco, Seattle, Seoul, Singapore, Stockholm, Tel Aviv, Tokyo, Toronto, Tshwane, Vancouver, Warsaw, Washington D.C., Wuhan