Urban Food Systems

Food is crucial to life. However, due to extreme climate change and rapidly rising populations, secure food access is not always guaranteed.

This course will teach you about food systems and their core concepts, in relation to urban growth and land-use patterns.

Key topics include spatial, social and economic accessibility, food choice and foodsheds. Additionally, these concepts are linked to city governance dynamics to help you understand stakeholder involvement and urban food policy making.

Putting theory to practice, these concepts will be connected to African city case studies, giving you a deep understanding of what shapes food systems in African cities.

Week 1: Basic Urban Food System Concepts
Introduction to basic urban food system concepts, and the context of urban growth and land-configurations.

Week 2: From Farm to Fork
Understanding food value chains, including urbanization impacts, vulnerabilities and opportunities.

Week 3: Food Accessibility
Considering the different dimension of food accessibility through spatial, social, economic accessibility and foodsheds.

Week 4: Food Choice
Understanding dietary choices in relation to the double burden of malnutrition, food security and dietary diversity.

Week 5: Urban Food Governance
Understanding and analyzing urban food governance, considering the stakeholder map and key governance activities, next to (peri)urban agriculture, food retail, food safety and infrastructure.