Source: (2023), Milan Food Waste Hub Study Tour, Milan Urban Food Policy Pact
Author: Maiara Biscaro Uliana (TNO)
How local governments can engage in the global arena to reinforce their capabilities related to food strategies?
The Milan Food Policy is the first step taken by the municipality of Milan to address food-related issues at the urban level. Through 37 recommended actions, clustered in 6 different categories, the Milan Urban Food Policy (MUFP) has the goal to provide permanent and reliable access to adequate, safe local diversified, fair, and healthy food for all citizens.
As a commitment from cities, the Milan Urban Food Policy Pact was signed on 15th of October 2015 during the Milan EXPO. This legacy of the event was signed by more than 100 cities back then. The initiative is based on an integrated cross-sector approach between public agencies, social organizations and the private sector to improve health and ultimately the well-being of the citizens. The Policy itself defines two institutional tools for its implementation: one is the Metropolitan Food Council, and the other is the Monitoring Framework.
The current food systems have several negative impacts, such as long trade routes between producers and consumers, the pollution generated from logistics, waste of food that can still be used for consumption, and inequality in access to food resources by the most disadvantage population groups.
The MUFP aims in creating a more sustainable, resilient, and equitable metropolitan food system through a holistic and multilevel governance approach, by collaborating with local stakeholders such as public agencies that act on food supply, universities, and different layers of activism.
There are 5 top priorities for the cities: ensure healthy food and water for all citizens; promote sustainability of the food system; promote food education; fight against food waste; support scientific research in agri-food sector.
Source: (2024), MUFPP Steering Committee 2023-25, Milan Urban Food Policy Pact
An innovative approach
The Milan Food Policy deserves attention as a revolutionary initiative. The Metropolitan Food Council is responsible for creating a new institutional space that can manage continuously food-related challenges while adopting the Monitoring Framework, to assess the food system changes and progress. A set of indicators from the MUFP tool can be selected by the city to start the evaluation of impacts on the food system. These indicators are part of 6 different categories: governance; sustainable diets and nutrition; social and economic equity; food production; food supply and distribution; and food waste.
A key element of the innovation from the Milan Food Policy is the approach in governance and in implementation, bridging the activities of the Municipality with public agencies, social actors and the private sector.
Main positive lessons
- Stimulus to other local governments to address the challenge of having a more sustainable approach to their food systems.
- Facilitation of the exchange of knowledge through community, local organization and international partners.
Main barriers found
- The main challenges identified are the current status quo of the food system, and the siloed mindset within the administrative system of municipalities.
- In the past, the lack of a holistic perspective on the food system resulted in insufficient data concerning its key operational mechanisms.
Potential for reaplication and scale-up
In parallel to the Food Policy, the city of Milan promoted an international dialogue through the Milan Urban Food Policy Pact (MUFPP). The pact currently has around 280 signatures, from 84 countries. In addition, the advisory group of institutions and foundations of the pact is engaged and operates to advocate for the need of implementing a more sustainable food policy strategy in different contexts as well.