The development of sustainable urban food systems, as well as sharing of knowledge and city experiences in comprehensive food system planning were the focal issues of the “International Conference on Urban Food Futures: Asian Perspectives”, organised in Dhaka on 11 and 12 June 2023.
The Food and Agriculture Organisation and Wageningen University and Research from the Netherlands convened the conference, in collaboration with the Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Co-operatives, Government of Bangladesh, to address pressing challenges related to urban food systems.
Mr. Md Mizanur Rahman, CEO of Dhaka South City Corporation, Mr. Md Selim Reza, CEO of Dhaka North City Corporation, Mr. Parimal Kumar Dev, CEO of the Municipal Association of Bangladesh as well as the ICLEI South Asia team discussed leveraging the potential of city networks to enhance sustainable food systems. ICLEI South Asia reiterated the importance of its network in Bangladesh and how its resources and expertise could play a pivotal role in the development of safe and sustainable urban food systems in the country.
At the event, the city corporations of Dhaka South, Dhaka North, Narayanganj and Gazipur jointly launched “The Dhaka Food Agenda 2041”, a visionary document that provides a roadmap for ensuring sufficient, safe, nutritious, and sustainably-sourced food for the residents of Dhaka. Overall, the conference provided an important platform to stakeholders for sharing experiences, insights and best practices for enhancing city-wide food system planning.