Urban food security, urban resilience and climate change - weADAPT

a given area. The rationale for this principle is that reducing the length of supply chainsreduces their vulnerability to disruption by any number of factors, which in turnstrengthens the resilience of these supply chains. The third principle is also a productof the first two principles and refers to the revitalisation of local economies and foodsystems through the prioritisation of and public support for local food production. Thereare numerous examples of new forms of local production, processing and sale takingplace in cities around the world, including those that enjoy the support of municipalgovernments Belo Horizonte in Brazil, Vancouver in Canada) and those moreautonomous initiatives (e.g. Todmorden, UK). The final principle and a consequence ofthe success of the preceding principles is resilience, in which urban food systemsincrease their capacity to adjust to substantial changes in broader urban systems.Our research has shown a wide range of activity at the local level, by schools andhospitals, by community groups, by households and neighbours, and by small scalecommercial food producers and processors. Many, but not all, share a vision of a morevaried and hence more resilient local food system that at the same time contributes togreater urban resilience and equity. However, we can only conclude that most of theselocal initiatives are flourishing without the support of robust policies and programs fromany of the three levels of government. If greater support was forthcoming we couldreasonably expect to see even greater activity that increases urban food security andhelps build urban resilience in the face of climate change.Urban food security, urban resilience and climate change 65