ABSTRACT
This chapter explores current trends in the intersection of biodiversity, food systems and urban-rural linkages (URLs). In the context of urbanization, biodiversity is often addressed in terms of blue and green corridors or natural habitats within urban and peri-urban spaces; here the authors focus instead on the dynamic interactions of biodiversity and food systems across the urban-rural continuum. Due to the dual processes of urbanization and globalization, diets are changing worldwide with increasing consumption of high-calorie, nutrient-poor foods high in fats, sweeteners and salt. The authors stress that dynamically changing food systems, with significant impacts on diets and nutrition, are inseparable from the relationships between rural and urban areas, and deeply connected to the underlying natural resource foundation of food systems. While rural migrants bring their food habits to towns and cities, they often cannot find familiar foods (and biodiversity). Different distribution systems, living conditions and quality of food access result in a subsequent hybridization of urban diets. The authors also highlight how recent global policy agendas – such as SDGs (goal 11 and related goals), the Milan Urban Food Policy Pact, the New Urban Agenda, or UN Habitat’s Urban Rural Linkages Guiding Principles – are beginning to address interconnected challenges and opportunities for integrating urban and rural areas, stressing that significant gaps still exist between place-based practices, the lack of research to generate practice-based evidence and related global policy. Pointing out that the formal literature of peer-reviewed, rigorous analysis and synthesis in this area of intersection is weak, they call attention to the promising level of practice in relevant innovations, investments and initiatives in all regions of the world. The chapter concludes with recommendations that could help inform a new consensus and policy narrative based on the intersection of biodiversity, food systems and URLs.
