Building Resilient Food Systems 

Basic Data

Population size: 4,800,000
Population Growth Rate(%): 1.85
Surface Area (sq.km): 2,446
Population Density (people/sq.km): 1.638
GDP Per Capita (U.S.$): 137,234
GINI Index: 0.62
Main Source of Prosperity: tourism, finance, business services

Food systems in Cape Town are complex and loosely governed. Recent shocks and stresses (drought, COVID-19, load shedding and minibus taxi strike) underscore the need for a food systems approach that recognizes the increasing occurrence of risks that typically impact food access in vulnerable communities. The Food Systems initiative stems from the Cape Town Resilience Strategy (2019) and is included in Cape Town’s five-year development plan.

The Resilient Food Systems initiative seeks to address the burden of disease caused by food insecurity that results in child wasting and stunting or obesity, which drives the high incidence of non-communicable diseases (NCDs). Much of the food systems' work is advocacy and building knowledge. This is achieved through a Food Systems Working Group that includes internal and external players where knowledge, networks and the city’s work are leveraged upon towards food outcomes. The city also convenes a Food Indaba (meeting) internal to the city and Food Systems Community of Practice to coordinate and promote research. 

The initiative has been infused into the city’s development plan. It has also built partnerships towards addressing the long-term impact of reducing incidences of non-communicable diseases.