Urban Rural Linkages for Food Security and Vibrant Markets
Tarrytown, NY A short trip north of New York City took a team of 30 to Stone Barns; a bucolic farm, restaurant and meeting center only 40 minutes from central Manhattan, and an homage to New York City’s dedication to its neighboring foodsheds, to discuss the 17th session of the Commission on Sustainable Development (May 4-15). Attendees from around the world, including Iran, Kenya, Uganda and Namibia, representatives from the major groups, including the International Partners for Sustainable Agriculture, the International Trade Union Confederation, the Kenya Livestock Working Group, the National Family Farm Coalition, University of Cardiff, School Food FOCUS, the US Department of Agriculture as well as NYC food systems players discussed policies and programs that support the urban-rural linkages theme and the importance of local authorities and public-private partnerships in addressing the global food crisis. Over a delicious meal, participants shared their hopes for CSD 17, which began on Monday, and discussed plans for influencing the draft text, and, ultimately, the Chairman’s final text.
We were also fortunate to be joined by CSD 17 Vice Chair representing Asia, Javad Amin-Mansour of Iran, who listened to our dialogue and shared helpful guidelines for ensuring our effectiveness and partnership at the CSD. Mr. Amin-Mansour addressed themes on the CSD agenda, described the partnership process for policy making and outlined opportunities and methods for local, regional, national and international agencies and ministries to cooperate at the upcoming sessions.
From innovative farming practices to public and private partnerships, we shared successes and best practices from programs around the globe. We heard from the founder of Greenmarkets about linking rural producers with urban markets in New York State. An organic dairy and forestry farmer in Wisconsin spoke to the commonalities between desertification affecting the Midwest United States and Africa. Members of the Kenya Livestock Working Group, working with Heifer International described the importance of linking conservation practices to livestock trade to improve drought survival and preserve pasture land.
While we covered a wide range of issues, we recognized how collaborations such as this one will be crucial towards gathering support for critical new investments in agriculture and rural development.
We all agreed that cities and their markets provide a tremendous opportunity to regional farmers and food processors for economic development, food security, and vibrant markets. Investments in the infrastructure to connect countrysides to cities, and working with local authorities to do so, is vital whether you’re discussing New York, Nairobi, Rome or Brazil.
CALL TO ACTION: An ongoing collaboration by stakeholders on the Urban-Rural Linkages theme – interface with delegates, governments and major groups during CSD’s multi-stakeholder dialogue and beyond CSD-17.
For a calendar of events visit the New York City Host Committee’s website Calendar Page at http://sustainablefoodmonitor.org/event-calendar/.
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