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Brochure, flyer, fact-sheetBrochureFood waste management and circular economy in Mediterranean cities
Webinar outcomes
2022Also available in:
During this webinar, organized by the SFS-MED Platform and held on 25 May 2022, stakeholders from across the Mediterranean shared practical experiences of their engagement in circular economy practices for food waste management at urban/local level. Tackling food waste and circularity from diverse angles of the Mediterranean food systems, they reflected on success factors and challenges, discussing ways to facilitate partnerships and replication of solutions across the Mediterranean. The discussion was instrumental in demonstrating how food waste management and circular economy can be levers for sustainable food systems. A circular economy approach to food waste would enable to recognize and maintain the value and utility of food products, nutrients and resources for as long as possible, minimizing resource use and upcycling food waste and by-products. In this regard, cities can act as hubs of innovation and connectivity transforming food by-products into more valuable materials. Food waste management and circularity are key entry points for local governments to integrate food systems into local plans and actions. To do so, fostering multi-stakeholder approaches is paramount, so as to synergize and establish a collaborative ecosystem among local governments, civil society, research centres, private sector, international organizations, investors, etc. This cannot happen without education, information and knowledge sharing that enable to train, raise awareness and change the perspective/mind-set of local stakeholders. Last, but not least, this process shall be accompanied by increased investments and innovation. -
Policy briefPolicy briefAgrifood systems transformation in Mediterranean cities
Opportunities for collaborative action and shared learning
2024This technical brief aims to provide an overview of urban agrifood systems in the Mediterranean region and propose possible ways forward to collaboratively transform them. The brief is based on a study carried out by FAO in partnership with Let’s Food, which mapped and categorized over 300 urban food actions in the Mediterranean region, analysing the actors involved, and the topics and trends of agrifood initiatives. The study also conducted agrifood systems assessments in nine cities of interest, revealing common challenges and opportunities for urban agrifood systems in the region, and proposes five transformative food action areas to accelerate the transition towards sustainable urban agrifood systems, based on existing good practices in the region. The brief suggests to build mechanisms for shared learning that would leverage existing experiences and relationships with established organizations, networks and programmes, and facilitate dialogue and collaboration among Mediterranean countries and stakeholders to ultimately apply systems approaches in the development of integrated local agrifood policies and transformative food actions. -
BookletCorporate general interestSustainable agrifood systems in the Mediterranean
Levers for transformation
2025Also available in:
This interactive tool compiles expert knowledge about a series of catalytic levers for agrifood systems transformation, while telling inspiring stories from the ground about the people striving to transform the region’s agrifood systems through multistakeholder collaboration and innovative ideas. Most of the information was collected through a series of technical webinars curated by the SFS-MED Platform between 2022 and 2023.
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Book (series)FlagshipThe State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2021
Transforming food systems for food security, improved nutrition and affordable healthy diets for all
2021In recent years, several major drivers have put the world off track to ending world hunger and malnutrition in all its forms by 2030. The challenges have grown with the COVID-19 pandemic and related containment measures. This report presents the first global assessment of food insecurity and malnutrition for 2020 and offers some indication of what hunger might look like by 2030 in a scenario further complicated by the enduring effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. It also includes new estimates of the cost and affordability of healthy diets, which provide an important link between the food security and nutrition indicators and the analysis of their trends. Altogether, the report highlights the need for a deeper reflection on how to better address the global food security and nutrition situation.To understand how hunger and malnutrition have reached these critical levels, this report draws on the analyses of the past four editions, which have produced a vast, evidence-based body of knowledge of the major drivers behind the recent changes in food security and nutrition. These drivers, which are increasing in frequency and intensity, include conflicts, climate variability and extremes, and economic slowdowns and downturns – all exacerbated by the underlying causes of poverty and very high and persistent levels of inequality. In addition, millions of people around the world suffer from food insecurity and different forms of malnutrition because they cannot afford the cost of healthy diets. From a synthesized understanding of this knowledge, updates and additional analyses are generated to create a holistic view of the combined effects of these drivers, both on each other and on food systems, and how they negatively affect food security and nutrition around the world.In turn, the evidence informs an in-depth look at how to move from silo solutions to integrated food systems solutions. In this regard, the report proposes transformative pathways that specifically address the challenges posed by the major drivers, also highlighting the types of policy and investment portfolios required to transform food systems for food security, improved nutrition, and affordable healthy diets for all. The report observes that, while the pandemic has caused major setbacks, there is much to be learned from the vulnerabilities and inequalities it has laid bare. If taken to heart, these new insights and wisdom can help get the world back on track towards the goal of ending hunger, food insecurity, and malnutrition in all its forms. -
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Book (series)Technical studyJoint FAO-IOC-IAEA technical guidance for the implementation of early warning systems for harmful algal blooms 2023
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No results found.Globally, there are 3 400 to 4 000 described species of marine microalgae but only 1 to 2 percent are considered to be harmful. Harmful algal blooms (HABs) have significant impacts on food safety and security through contamination or mass mortalities of aquatic organisms. The impacts and mass mortalities of marine species caused by harmful algae are not new and have been recorded for decades. However, there is growing concern that these events will increase due to accelerating global warming, climate change and anthropogenic activities. Indeed, if not properly controlled, aquatic products contaminated with HAB biotoxins are responsible for potentially deadly foodborne diseases and when rapidly growing, HAB consequences include reduced dissolved oxygen in the ocean, dead zones, and mass mortalities of aquatic organisms. Improving HAB forecasting is an opportunity to develop early warning systems for HAB events such as food contamination, mass mortalities, or foodborne diseases. Surveillance systems have been developed to monitor HABs in many countries; however, the lead-time or the type of data (i.e. identification at the species-level, determination of toxicity) may not be sufficient to take effective action for food safety management measures or other reasons, such as transfer of aquaculture products to other areas. Having early warning systems could help mitigate the impact of HABs and reduce the occurrence of HAB events. The Joint FAO-IOC-IAEA technical guidance for the implementation of early warning systems (EWS) for HABs will guide competent authorities and relevant institutions involved in consumer protection or environmental monitoring to implement early warning systems for HABs present in their areas (marine and brackish waters), specifically those affecting food safety or food security (benthic HABs, fish-killing HABs, pelagic toxic HABs, and cyanobacteria HABs). The guidance provides a roadmap for stakeholders on how to improve or implement an EWS for HABs and biotoxins, where appropriate. It is important to note that not all countries and institutions can implement the same level of EWS for HABs, and this guidance is intended mainly for those who seek to broaden existing early warning systems, or who are just beginning to consider putting a system in place.