In the midst of changing landscapes and expanding urban spaces, there is an increasingly heavy burden placed on limited natural resources such as water and land. This competition for resources places rural areas, which are key for food production, under pressure – causing serious impacts to food and nutrition security
Over and undernutrition are on the rise in these landscapes with consumers stuck in food deserts and producers having difficulty finding profitable markets, leading to a rise in lifestyle related diseases, such as obesity and heart disease, as well as increased mortality and poor childhood development. City governments and urban planners can play a key role in addressing these issues by putting food on the urban agenda, yet many cities lack a food agenda.
In this course produced by the Global Landscapes Forum’s partner organisation Wageningen University & Research, you will learn to look beyond the boundaries of your personal expertise and geographic location. Taking on an integrated spatial and food systems perspective to open up possibilities, bringing about structural change, and acquainting you with a variety of tools to analyze food and nutrition issues and their relation to your rural-urban landscape, enabling you to mobilize key stakeholders in your rural-urban landscape.
