On October 16th, in celebration of World Food Day, the City of Vancouver joined over 40 cities across the globe in signing an Urban Food Policy Pact to address food security and sustainable development.
“Vancouver is pleased to join a global movement that supports food security, ensuring access to safe, nutritious, affordable food for all,” says Mayor Gregor Robertson. “As a city we’re committed to supporting and promoting sustainable food systems through our Vancouver Food Strategy, as healthy food systems are central to the health and well-being of our communities.”
The Pact will commit cities to:
- Develop sustainable food systems that are inclusive
- Ensure access to healthy and affordable food
- Strengthen urban agriculture practices
Vancouver aims to be a global leader in urban food systems through the Vancouver Food Strategy. In 2013, City Council adopted the Vancouver Food Strategy as part of the Greenest City initiative to become a global leader in urban food systems by 2020. Developing sustainable food systems is also part of the Healthy City Strategy.
The goals outlined in the Vancouver Food Strategy express how we want our food systems to take shape in the future, including:
- Supporting food friendly neighbourhoods
- Empowering residents to take action
- Improving access to healthy food
- Making food a centrepiece of the green economy
