The MUFPP participated in the Cumbre Mercociudades summit, held from December 4-6, 2024, in Esteban Echeverría, Argentina, under the theme “Building a Sustainable Future.” The summit brought together representatives from 87 cities across Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico, Peru, Uruguay, Senegal, France, and various EU organizations.

Mercociudades is the largest network of local governments in South America, with 387 member cities across 11 countries (Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, and Venezuela), representing over 120 million people.

This year, Mercociudades and the MUFPP began a collaborative partnership, launching a series of webinars focused on urban food policies for cities within the network.

As part of the summit, the MUFPP co-organized the panel session titled “Innovations in Local Public Policies: Partnerships for a Systemic Approach to the Transformation of Urban Food Systems.” This panel showcased academic perspectives on healthy nutrition from UNaB – Universidad Nacional Guillermo Brown and best practices from the Prefeitura de Porto Alegre and Municipalidad de Rosario.

Additionally, the MUFPP delivered a presentation to the Executive Council of the network, advocating for the creation of a working unit on urban food policies and promoting the adoption of a food systems approach to build more sustainable and safe food systems.

A Milestone Achievement: The Creation of the Thematic Unit on Urban Food Policies

One of the key outcomes of the Mercociudades Summit was the creation, on the final day of the event, of a Thematic Unit on Urban Food Policies. This initiative was driven by the efforts of Prefeitura de Belo Horizonte and Municipalidad de Rosario, two cities on the MUFPP Steering Committee. This represents a significant milestone for the South American region, and the support of the MUFPP played a critical role in making it possible.

The work plan for the newly established Thematic Unit on Urban Food Policies includes the creation of a platform for exchanging information and best practices on urban food systems within the Mercociudades network. The plan also aims to foster mutual support and collaborative learning to drive policy transformations that influence food and sustainability decisions across the region.

This development is of particular importance for both the Milan Pact and Mercociudades, as it strengthens their shared commitment to creating sustainable food systems that benefit cities and communities across South America.