Cities Urged to Act as Urban Food Insecurity Surges

Addressing urban food insecurity requires vision, coordination, and sustained commitment from governments, academia, the private sector, and NGOs. Credit: Shutterstock

Millions of people in the United States and around the world continue to face food insecurity, meaning they cannot access safe and nutritious food necessary to live their fullest lives — and often do not know where their next meal will come from. According to Feeding America, 47 million people in the United States are food insecure. Globally, 673 million people experience food insecurity.

Traditionally, efforts to address food insecurity have focused on populations in rural and suburban areas. However, recent census data and statistics show that more people now live in urban areas. According to the 2020 U.S. census, 80% of the U.S. population resides in urban areas, and this figure is expected to rise to 89% by 2050. Similarly, a United Nations report notes that over half of the world’s population lives in urban areas — a proportion projected to grow to 70% by 2050.

As city populations expand and urban food insecurity persists as a pressing challenge, reimagining urban and peri-urban spaces as centres of food-growing innovation is no longer optional; it is essential.

A groundbreaking 2024 report by the High-Level Panel of Experts on Food Security and Nutrition revealed that more than 75% of the world’s food-insecure population lives in urban and peri-urban areas, relying on markets for their food instead of producing it themselves. Therefore, it is increasingly vital to extend food security initiatives to these urban and peri-urban populations.

Several interconnected strategies can help address this growing issue.

First, expanding urban agriculture through community gardens, rooftop farms, container gardens, and other innovative urban farming methods can transform unused land and spaces into productive food-growing areas. Investing in food production near cities provides numerous benefits — including shortening supply chains, reducing dependence on imports, improving nutrition, and strengthening local resilience against climate-related shocks and disruptions in the food system.

Second, there is a need to enhance food distribution within urban communities. Even when food is available, unequal distribution and limited access can still lead to hunger. Investing in mobile markets, expanding cold storage facilities, and developing innovative ways to deliver food to vulnerable households can help close this gap and ensure food reaches those who need it most.

Third, governments and city councils must promote sustainable and inclusive urban food systems. City planning should intentionally incorporate food security goals — such as allocating land for local food production, establishing city food policy councils, and ensuring equitable access to affordable, healthy food for all urban residents.

Several U.S. cities are already leading the way. For instance, Seattle has established a local food programme aimed at creating a strong and resilient food system. Similar efforts are underway in Detroit, Minneapolis, Austin, and Chicago.

In addition, strengthening social protection programmes and safety nets for vulnerable urban populations is essential. Initiatives like school feeding programmes, food vouchers, and nutrition assistance projects can play a major role. These should be complemented by public education and awareness campaigns that promote healthy eating, reduce food waste, and encourage local food production.

Addressing the urban food insecurity crisis requires vision, coordinated action, and sustained commitment from city governments, academia, the private sector, and non-governmental organisations.

By investing in inclusive, adaptive food systems and empowering communities to shape their food futures, cities can transform from hunger hotspots into vibrant, nourished spaces where everyone has access to healthy, affordable, and nutritious food. The time to act is now.

Author: Esther Ngumbi, PhD, Assistant Professor, Department of Entomology and African American Studies, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign