Food for the cities programme


The visioning process runs through the different steps of the entire CRFS assessment and planning process. It generally starts from building a first general project vision that will grow into a more refined and consolidated -and political- vision for a sustainable and resilient CRFS that is agreed upon by all stakeholders involved as the project progresses.

At this stage- which marks the start of the further CRFS assessment and planning - building a general project vision will give direction to the implementation of the CRFS Scan and will help build consensus within the project team and multi-stakeholder Task Force regarding the overall project goal: “To build a more sustainable and resilient CRFS”.

FAO and RUAF define a sustainable and resilient CRFS as follows: Sustainable and resilient CRFS are envisioned to make affordable, nutritious, and fairly-traded foods from local and regional producers more easily available to all consumers in the city region from rich to poor, rural to urban.  Access to markets and support for alternative markets (e.g. community-supported agriculture, farmers’ markets, cooperatives, local guarantee schemes, etc.) become available to smallholders and other small-scale producers from urban, peri-urban and rural areas, not just large ones. Shorter value chains, and more broadly efficient and functioning agricultural value chains that link hinterland producers to urban market systems, can contribute to sustainable diets, generate employment and stabilize livelihoods in the localized distribution, processing and manufacture of food and fibre products. (To know more)

Key outputs of the "Vision" Phase

  • Initial project vision that will help guide designing next steps: The visioning process will also be helpful in strengthening a common understanding and commitment amongst the project team and local CRFS Task Force towards a joint goal.

Project tools and examples

Project Visioning Chart from Toronto

This vision chart was developed at the start of the CRFS project to determine possible City Region Food System activities.