State of the City Food System Report: Cape Town

The State of the City Food System Report for the City of Cape Town highlights the impact of deep-rooted inequalities – infrastructural, structural and historical – on urban food access and nutrition. Historically, food systems in African cities have often been viewed as separate from urban processes such as planning, economy, and governance. This report challenges this view by actively integrating the food system with various urban functions.

Key points of the report include:

1. Integration of Food Systems: The report seeks to bring the food system to the centre of urban considerations, echoing Wayne Roberts' idea that "a city is what it eats."
2. Multifaceted Approach: The report examines the intersections of food systems with health, socio-economics, and urban infrastructure services, aiming to build a comprehensive understanding of both the known and unknown aspects of Cape Town's urban and food systems.
3. Data and Knowledge Compilation: It gathers and engages with existing published knowledge, including food and nutrition system assessments, stakeholder mapping, and urban food policies and programs.
4. Urgent Need for Change: Highlighting the high state of food insecurity and undernutrition in Cape Town, the report underscores the urgent need for changes in how urban functions impact food system outcomes.
5. Foundation for Future Work: The report is seen as a starting point for deeper investigation and engagement with Cape Town's urban food system, aiming to enrich future accounts and strategies as part of the AfriFOODLinks project.

Overall, this report aims to provide a holistic understanding of Cape Town's food system by considering its interactions with other urban functions and advocating for its central role in urban planning and governance.

Abstract based directly on original source.