The Ellen MacArthur Foundation launched its new report, Cities and Circular Economy for Food, on 24 January at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos, Switzerland.
The report highlights the enormous environmental and health damages caused by the linear nature of how we produce food and manage waste and by-products. The findings brings to light how even when trying to make healthy food choices, people’s health is put at risk because of the way food has been produced. The report offers a vision for a regenerative food system based on the principles of the circular economy, in which cities play a major role as a driver for change.
During the launch event at Davos, Clementine Schouteden, the lead author of the report, and Andrew Morlet, Chief Executive of the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, presented and discussed the findings of the report with a panel including: Sean de Cleene, World Economic Forum; Jaap Strengers, SYSTEMIQ; Catia Bastioli, Novamont; Tony Milikin, AB InBev; Pablo Barrera, Yara. The panel engaged a room full of influential food system stakeholders, including CEOs of major companies, leading academics, to other global food system initiatives.
With the report now released, the journey towards realising the vision for a circular economy for food has begun. The Cities and Circular Economy for Food team is looking forward to the months ahead as it focuses efforts on taking a systems-level approach to mobilising this agenda and creating a healthier food system for all. More announcements are expected in the next few months.
You can download the full report from the Ellen MacArthur Foundation website.