HCP discussion paper no. 11 : urban food security, rural bias and the global development agenda

The paper argues that the pervasive rural bias and anti-urbanism identified in the international and regional food security agendas have persisted. Rural bias remains the dominant feature of current thinking about food security policies. A range of non-governmental organizations and research organizations have continued to advocate ‘productionist’ solutions to household food insecurity in the form of urban agriculture. This bias focuses almost exclusively on rural hunger and increased support of smallholder agricultural production. The paper reviews current policies and agendas that govern food security and suggests more coherent policy recommendations.SSHRCESRC - DFI