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The document argues that food insecurity in South Africa is a result of policy and market failures, specifically citing the casualisation of agricultural labour and the failure of land redistribution models. It advocates for a Universal Basic Income Grant (UBIG), the adoption of agroecological farming to improve resilience and yields, and the removal of legal and practical barriers to women's land access. The authors suggest that the state must move beyond market-led food security and implement active industrial policy, land reform, and a dedicated food affordability framework.

The report identifies a critical gap in food loss and waste (FLW) research in Southeast Asia, noting an over-reliance on technocratic efficiency and a lack of focus on power structures and gender equity. Through case studies in Bali (coffee), regional small-scale fisheries, and Bangkok (urban agriculture), the authors find that socio-institutional innovations—such as social forestry and collective action—are generally more effective than standalone technologies like biogas digesters or solar dryers, which often suffer from poor maintenance and limited local uptake. The report argues that FLW is deeply linked to gender and social inclusion (GESI) gaps, as women often dominate critical loss points in the value chain but lack the resources and decision-making power to implement improvements. It recommends a rights-based, participatory approach aligned with agroecology and the City-Region Food Systems (CRFS) framework to achieve a just food systems transformation.

The report examines food loss and waste (FLW) in Southeast Asia, arguing that current technocratic approaches to efficiency often ignore embedded power structures and gender inequalities. Through case studies on coffee in Bali, small-scale fisheries in the region, and urban agriculture in Bangkok, it finds that socio-institutional innovations—such as social forestry and rural-urban linkages—are generally more effective than standalone technologies like biogas digesters or solar dryers. The authors recommend a rights-based, participatory approach to FLW reduction that integrates agroecology and gender-transformative frameworks to ensure a just food systems transition.

The document highlights the challenges facing African subnational governments in managing urban food systems due to rapid urbanisation, limited authority, and fragmented policy frameworks. It argues that while local governments often lack explicit mandates and funding for food security, they are critical for building climate resilience and social equity. The brief recommends that philanthropic investment focus on multi-stakeholder platforms (MSPs), capacity building for local actors, and the institutionalisation of food councils. It specifically proposes four actionable funding opportunities, including a South-South learning lab and the expansion of the AfriFOODlinks network, to transition urban food systems toward agroecological principles.

The Rodrigo Bueno neighborhood in Buenos Aires transitioned from an informal settlement facing high climatic risks and eviction threats to a resilient community through a collaborative strategy initiated in 2016. The Buenos Aires Housing Institute utilized a 'Territorial Team' to build trust with residents over eight years, leading to the formal recognition of land ownership in 2017 and the construction of 611 energy-efficient housing units with solar-powered water heating. Climate resilience efforts included canal remediation with a stormwater control system and a retaining wall to mitigate flooding. Additionally, the project fostered economic opportunities, such as the La Vivera Organica plant nursery founded in 2019, which provides local produce and connects the community to the broader city.

The document details the mission, funding, and legislative changes proposed for the USDA's Office of Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production (UAIP). It highlights the office's role in supporting urban farming and composting to build climate resilience and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, while providing a side-by-side comparison of current law and the House's proposed amendments to expand technical assistance and food waste-to-energy projects.

WRI implemented over 30 nature-based projects in Mumbai, Kochi, and Jaipur, including urban farming and water-body restoration, to combat climate risks like urban flooding and extreme heat. These initiatives, which included a school-based gardening project in Mumbai scaling to 250 schools and an urban farm at Jaipur Central Jail, led to the establishment of India's first national-level forum on urban nature-based solutions to share best practices and scale these approaches across Indian cities.

The document outlines how various policy sectors—including agriculture, trade, land use, and energy—interconnect to influence urban food security in Southern Africa. It emphasizes that urban planners can improve food accessibility and resilience by designing food-sensitive infrastructure, optimizing transportation for fresh food, and allocating land for community gardens and markets. The note further advocates for inclusive governance, urging policymakers to engage informal food actors, such as street vendors, and diverse stakeholders through participatory workshops and capacity-building programs to ensure equitable food systems.

The document outlines the challenges of urban food insecurity in Zambia, drawing on household surveys from 14 cities. It advocates for a diverse urban food system that integrates formal and informal sources, such as street vending and urban agriculture. The toolkit details how the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) can be used for food-system investments and maps specific local and national policies—including those related to land, energy, and climate change—that can be leveraged to improve food access and affordability.

The document is a supplemental petition by Earthjustice and the New York City Community Garden Coalition (NYCCGC) requesting that New York City agencies designate community gardens as Critical Environmental Areas (CEAs). It argues that these gardens provide essential services in underserved areas, including food security, flood resiliency, and mitigation of extreme heat. The petition highlights ten specific gardens as examples of these benefits and requests a city-wide assessment of all community gardens on City-owned land to ensure their legal protection against development projects.

The Progressive Community Church in Gary, Indiana, has implemented a multifaceted sustainability strategy to combat high energy burdens and industrial pollution in the Emerson neighborhood. By installing a 7.6 kW solar array and energy efficiency upgrades, the church achieved net-zero electricity for eleven months of the year and assisted community members in accessing weatherization grants. Additionally, the church established the F.A.I.T.H. Farm, producing 15,000 pounds of food annually, and is developing an urban park to mitigate heat stress and improve air quality.

The report examines the challenges poor and vulnerable communities in the global South face when accessing traditional finance and highlights four sustainable, locally-led financing models: Village Savings and Loan Association (VSLA) groups, the Tresor Women Warriors profit-sharing model, Kiva crowdfunding via field partners, and the Abalimi Bezekhaya subsidised cost model. It argues that financial access must be paired with capacity building and private sector mentorship to effectively strengthen community resilience.

The document analyzes the trajectory of sustainable urban development, noting that while urban populations are projected to reach 68% by 2050, cities contribute significantly to global carbon emissions and biodiversity loss. It highlights a divide between the Global North's focus on infrastructure transformation and the Global South's need to 'jump start' sustainable development. The paper identifies key trends such as nature-based solutions, multimodal transportation, and a growing emphasis on equity and inclusive planning to address environmental racism and green gentrification.

The Municipality of Rosario, Argentina, established the Urban Agriculture Program (PAU) in 2002 to combat food scarcity and unemployment following the 2001 economic crisis. The program provides low-income residents access to underutilized land for agroecological production, creating livelihoods for nearly 300 urban farmers, 65% of whom are women. Beyond social benefits, the program reduces greenhouse gas emissions by localizing food production and improves urban resilience to flooding by enhancing soil absorbency. The initiative has been institutionalized through the 2015 Green Belt Project, which designated 800 hectares of peri-urban land for agriculture, and is integrated into the city's strategic and environmental plans.

The document evaluates green technologies for urban food production in Cape Town, categorising them into incremental and transformational levels based on Gliessman’s framework. It analyzes the financial viability of hydroponics, aquaponics, and complete Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) systems, while also identifying investment opportunities for different farm scales, from community gardens to large-scale commercial operations.

The submission argues that South Africa's draft NDC targets are insufficiently ambitious, aligning with a 3°C temperature increase rather than the 1.5°C or 2°C goals necessary to protect public health. It highlights the severe health risks posed by climate change in South Africa, including drought, heat, and infectious diseases, and notes that coal-fired power stations cause over 2,200 deaths annually. The authors advocate for a 'green' recovery from COVID-19, urging a shift from fossil fuel investments toward renewable energy and a commitment to phase out coal by 2034. The document proposes specific co-benefit policies in energy (e.g., adopting the Climate Justice Charter), food and agriculture (e.g., incentivizing urban agriculture), and transportation (e.g., electrifying public transit) to simultaneously reduce emissions and improve health outcomes.

The report documents community-led responses to the Covid-19 pandemic and climate risks across the Global South, highlighting the role of social capital, women's leadership, and local innovation in maintaining development progress. It identifies specific grassroots solutions—such as community grain banks, urban kitchen gardens, and village savings groups—and argues for a shift in external support toward flexible, locally-led financing and partnerships that recognise the expertise of community-based organisations.

The petition argues that New York City's community gardens provide essential public health, environmental, and social benefits, yet remain vulnerable to development due to a lack of legal protections. It requests the designation of forty specific gardens as Critical Environmental Areas (CEAs) and a broader assessment to grant CEA status to all City-owned gardens. The document details how these spaces mitigate urban heat and flooding, improve food security in 'food deserts', and support mental health and social cohesion, particularly in marginalized Black and Latinx communities.

The report finds that Postmasburg experienced severe food insecurity exacerbated by the COVID-19 lockdown, with significant drops in formal and informal employment and a high dependency on social grants. It highlights that 60% of surveyed households were below the food poverty line even before the pandemic, and that food aid distribution was insufficient and plagued by a lack of transparency.

The report examines the controlled environment agriculture (CEA) industry, comparing conventional farming with hydroponic and aquaponic systems in greenhouse and vertical formats. A life cycle analysis (LCA) reveals that while conventional agriculture currently has the lowest overall environmental impact, CEA excels in land and water efficiency. The document identifies energy and labor as primary cost hurdles but highlights innovations in LED lighting, AI, and renewable energy as potential solutions. It specifically evaluates St. Louis as a viable location for a pilot project due to its market demand, available stranded assets like caves and brownfields, and supportive local policies.