An Integrated Approach to Identifying and Characterising Resilient Urban Food Systems to Promote Population Health in a Changing Climate

This paper aims to determine key points of intervention in urban food systems to improve the climate resilience, equity and healthfulness of the whole system. It brings together evidence from an Australian-based three year mixed methods research project focused on climate change adaptation, cities, food systems and health. In an integrated analysis of the three research domains - encompassing the production, distribution and consumption sectors of the food chain- this paper examines the efficacy of various food sub-systems (industrial, alternative commercial and civic) in achieving climate resilience and good nutrition. The overarching analysis of the tripartite study found that: 1) industrial food production systems can be more environmentally sustainable than alternative systems indicating the importance of multiple food subsystems for food security. 2) A variety of food distributors stocking healthy and sustainable items are required to ensure that these items are accessible, affordable and available to all. 3) Finally, it is not enough that healthy and sustainable foods are produced or sold; consumers must also want to consume it. In summary, a resilient urban food system requires that healthy and sustainable food items are produced, that consumers can attain them and that they actually wish to purchase them