The Future of Urban Food Security

“The idea of a sovereign and well-fed city is not new. It is a refreshment of the medieval model, in which the city and the countryside functioned as a whole. The layout of the buildings served not only for defense or communication but also to create microclimates conducive to cultivation and exchange.” This insight comes from Joanna Erbel, Alicja Wójcik, and Jakub Depczyński in the curatorial text for this year’s edition of the “Warsaw Under Construction” (Warszawa w budowie) festival, which will run for two more weeks under the auspices of the Museum of Modern Art in Warsaw.

The fundamental truth is that city residents need to eat. The shorter and stronger their food logistics chains are, the more resilient the community becomes. In Poland, Wrocław is a leader in this area, where the topic of food security has been extensively researched by experts like Jacek Tyburek. This ecosystem includes home gardens, allotment gardens, food cooperatives, local and regional markets, and spaces like PGR Bródno, which serve as “green classrooms” where we should learn how to feed ourselves.

At 4CF The Futures Literacy Company, we have been analyzing the future of the agri-food sector and the bioeconomy for years. Our research and strategic foresight projects for international organizations such as the FAO and SCAR clearly indicate the directions we must consider to secure our future food systems.

(Photo credit: J. Erbel)