Food

The UAEU Partnership on Food gathers relevant stakeholders from all parts of the food chain in order to build a shared vision together with the necessary means for its sustainable implementation. It will bring added value by creating a major one stop shop platform of exchange enabling a better visibility on and synergies between the ongoing initiatives. Its role will be to provide input to European regulation and funding and multilevel governance actors so as to better address local challenges; connect and build capacity for cities to support positive food system transformation. Its sustainability and effectiveness is ensured through:

• a multi-layered organisation enhancing the visibility and contribution of cities and allowing alternative punctual involvement of multiple local authorities depending on the subject at stake and needed expertise and input;
• a series of data collection, analysis and visualisation digital tools facilitating an overall comprehensive perspective on the topic and action in the field as well as collaborative contributions, comparative scenario building and evaluation and informed decision making.

The transformation of food systems requires a systemic approach, and the Thematic Partnership will prioritise the role of cities in leading this transformation. Considering the current momentum and the need for comprehensive legislation to ensure food system resilience, the partnership will align itself with ongoing trends and initiatives. 

The main objective of the partnership is to foster coordination and collaboration between these initiatives, leveraging their combined efforts to drive transformative changes in food systems and position cities as catalysts for this change. The partnership recognises the importance of flexibility and a systemic focus, enabling it to adapt and align with ongoing processes.

The UAEU Partnership on Food operates based on core values that guide its monitoring activities. These values include maintaining a food system perspective, supporting multilevel governance, considering the real price of food (including externalities), and recognising food as a human right and a common good.

To promote sustainable and equitable food systems, the partnership should address key themes such as agroecology, food justice, access to land, and public land management. It emphasises the importance of localising food systems, incorporating the external costs of food production into prices, and encouraging public procurement of local and organic foods. By advocating for policy alignment and resource pooling, the partnership has the potential to drive systemic transformation within the European Union and contribute to broader objectives, such as the European Green Deal and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

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