Cultivating food access: How cities are fostering equitable and resilient urban food systems
Food is more than just a necessity; it is a cornerstone of health, dignity, and well-being. Yet, access to healthy, affordable, and culturally appropriate food remains a challenge in many cities. In recent peer exchanges for the Malmö Commitment Network, cities including Malmö, Sweden; Del Carmen, Philippines; San Luis Potosí, Mexico; Austin, Baltimore and Pittsburgh, United States, have emphasized the importance of building food systems that are inclusive and responsive to the needs of all people, especially those experiencing vulnerability due to economic or social conditions.
Financial access: Affordability as a growing barrier
Food access is influenced by a range of intersecting factors, with affordability remaining a central concern across regions. In Malmö, rising food prices across all categories are putting additional pressure on households. Similarly, in Pittsburgh, farmers markets face ongoing challenges in remaining accessible to communities with low income. In Austin, more than 16 percent of people in Travis County experience food insecurity, a number expected to rise as federal support programs are reduced.
San Luis Potosí is also grappling with moderate to severe food insecurity, closely linked to limited purchasing power among residents. In parallel, in Del Carmen the cost of staple items such as eggs has more than doubled in recent years, largely due to increased demand driven by tourism. While tourism brings economic opportunities, it has also significantly raised daily living costs for local residents. In Porto Alegre, as in many parts of Brazil, rising food prices continue to challenge household budgets.
Geographic access: Distance, isolation and climate vulnerability
Geographic barriers also have a significant impact on food access. In Pittsburgh, many neighborhoods do not have grocery stores nearby, and residents often depend on public transportation or informal arrangements to reach food sources. In Malmö, people who do not drive, including older adults and people with disabilities, face difficulties reaching retailers in more remote areas.
Del Carmen, located on Siargao Island, depends heavily on food transported from the mainland. This creates serious risks during typhoons and other climate events, which can interrupt food supply chains and damage crops and fishing infrastructure. In San Luis Potosí, residents of rural and peri-urban areas often travel long distances to find fresh and nutritious food due to a lack of local transport infrastructure.
To respond to these diverse challenges, cities are implementing a wide range of interventions. Some are focusing on providing direct support to people with low income and to groups at higher risk of food insecurity, such as children, youth and older adults. Others are improving connectivity through investments in food distribution networks, community spaces and land use planning to reduce geographic barriers to food access.
At the same time, several cities are investing in local food production and livelihoods, strengthening community resilience by supporting farmers, fisherfolk and small-scale producers. Together, these strategies reflect a holistic commitment to building more inclusive and sustainable food systems.
Municipal response programs: Support for communities at high risk of food insecurity
Cities are actively implementing programs to support communities facing the greatest barriers to food access. These include people with low income, children, youth, older adults and those living in geographic isolation.
In Sweden, all school-aged children are entitled to a tax-financed hot meal every school day, as mandated by the national Education Act. These meals must meet nutritional standards and are designed to support children’s health and development. Approximately 60 percent of the ingredients used are certified organic, and the meals are prepared to minimize carbon footprint.
In line with its broader commitment to creating healthy and inclusive food environments, Malmö is actively working to implement the Whole School Food Approach in public schools and pre-schools as part of its participation in the EU-funded SchoolFood4Change project. This holistic approach integrates sustainable food provision with education and promotes long-term change by involving the whole school community. The project is supported by key partners, including ICLEI.
Similarly in Porto Alegre, each year, approximately twenty-three million school meals are provided to around sixty-two thousand students, with an emphasis on minimally processed foods and accommodations for students with special dietary needs. This effort is part of Brazil’s National School Feeding Program (PNAE), which aims to partially meet the nutritional needs of students by offering at least one meal per day.
The program is implemented and funded jointly by the city and national government, with Porto Alegre managing the service directly through school kitchens. The city also implements direct support measures, such as a food assistance card offering monthly financial support to families experiencing food insecurity, alongside the expansion of community kitchens and popular restaurants that provide affordable meals for people in socioeconomic vulnerability.
In Austin, a broad network of programs responds to various community needs. These include home delivery of food, Veggie RX “prescription” vouchers redeemable at local markets, and mobile food distribution for women, infants and children. The city coordinates these efforts through the Austin and Travis County Food Plan, which brings together public agencies and local partners to address access issues through health, planning and transportation policies.
In a related effort to strengthen the connection between food access and public health, Baltimore has distributed over 23 million servings of fresh produce through local organizations since the pandemic. It also funds community food hubs that combine food distribution with nutrition education. Baltimore also facilitates medically tailored meals for people with chronic health conditions through local partners like Moveable Feast, which is accredited by the Food is Medicine Coalition.
San Luis Potosí supports residents with food baskets, milk distribution and fish deliveries, reaching tens of thousands of people. The city continues to adapt these programs to better serve people in need, addressing challenges such as limited storage in some homes and ensuring fairer access to benefits.
In Del Carmen, food access is approached as both a social and climate issue. The municipality runs its own programs such as BINHI at LAWA, which aim to strengthen the resilience of families with low income and prepare for disruptions caused by natural hazards. Larger stores now keep food reserves on hand in case of import delays, and the local government also works with national agencies on food security strategies.
Infrastructure and land use: Enabling more equitable food systems
Cities are also transforming how space, infrastructure and data are used to strengthen food access.
In Pittsburgh, the Adopt-A-Lot program provides residents with temporary access to vacant public land for community gardening and food production. Many of these lots are located in areas identified as Healthy Food Priority Areas, and they help residents grow food close to home and build community resilience.
In Austin, city departments track the location of food distribution points such as pantries and neighborhood centers. This helps identify gaps and allocate support more effectively. Mini grants are awarded to local organizations for improvements such as food storage, outreach and community engagement.
San Luis Potosí monitors food programs through its Ministry of Social Welfare, using data to guide program design and evaluate impact. This ensures better coordination of initiatives such as Mercados al Cien, which support local producers and connect them to urban consumers.
Investing in community resilience and local food production
Cities are strengthening food systems not only by improving food access, but also by investing in the livelihoods that sustain local production. By empowering farmers, fisherfolk and small-scale producers, these efforts help secure a stable and diverse food supply, reduce reliance on external sources, create economic opportunities, and build long-term resilience within communities.
In Del Carmen, the municipality supports fishing communities through the Del Carmen Multispecies Hatchery in Barangay San Fernando. The hatchery supplies fingerlings to local fisherfolk, strengthens livelihoods through training and technical support, and boosts food security by reducing dependence on imports.
Conservation efforts are also central, with the Del Carmen Mangrove Management Program protecting 4,871 hectares of mangroves. The program enhances fisheries, provides alternative income through eco-tourism, and supports food accessibility. In addition, the healthy mangrove ecosystems contribute to climate resilience by acting as natural barriers against storm surges and coastal erosion, safeguarding vital food production areas.
Baltimore has invested in the Black Butterfly Teaching Farm, which trains new farmers from historically underserved communities. Located on several acres of previously unused land, the farm grows food for local use, generates income through sales and supports education and mentorship for participants. These efforts promote community empowerment and expand access to fresh food in areas that need it most.
Since 2023, the City of Porto Alegre has been expanding the implementation of urban agroforestry systems as a resilient strategy to strengthen sustainable food production. This initiative has become even more crucial following extreme weather events that affected approximately 60 percent of the city’s agricultural output in 2024. The gardens have been established in schools, public squares and territories experiencing higher levels of vulnerability, serving not only as spaces for food production but also as environments for education and community-building.
Looking ahead: Collective commitment to food equity
The experiences shared by Malmö Commitment cities show that food access is not a standalone issue. It is deeply connected to questions of equity, resilience, infrastructure and justice. From school meals and mobile markets to climate resilient agriculture and community empowerment, cities are taking meaningful steps to ensure that all people, regardless of income, location or background, can access the food they need to thrive.
In this context, food markets are a key factor in ensuring access to healthy, nutritious and culturally relevant food. The recently published CityFood Market Handbook for Healthy and Resilient Cities, developed by ICLEI, highlights the essential role food markets play in addressing key challenges such as malnutrition, food insecurity, sustainable food production, and farmers’ and vendors’ livelihoods.
As this community of practice continues to grow, so does the potential to learn from one another. By strengthening local food systems through inclusive policies and grounded partnerships, Malmö Commitment cities are laying the foundation for healthier, more just, resilient and sustainable urban futures. Together, they’re demonstrating that a more equitable urban food system isn’t just possible—it’s already cooking.
*Featured picture: Mobile market, © City of Austin
