A high-level workshop held in Istanbul, co-organized by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and the FAO Investment Centre, focused on creating a more sustainable, efficient and resilient urban food logistics system for the city. With over 15.7 million residents, Istanbul faces mounting challenges, including urban congestion, pollution and evolving food demands, which are exacerbated by the rise in e-commerce and home delivery services.
Participants from the public and private sectors explored solutions such as:
- Upgrading logistics infrastructure.
- Shortening food supply chains.
- Supporting local producers.
- Expanding cold chain transport.
- Promoting electric vehicles and smart routing.
- Investing in greener packaging and digital retail innovations.
- Aligning governance with frameworks like the Milan Urban Food Policy Pact.
The workshop was part of the ACES initiative, promoting low-carbon, climate-smart agrifood practices. It also featured findings from the EBRD/FAO report Building resilience in urban food logistics systems, highlighting post-COVID strategies from nine cities, including Istanbul.
To read the full article, visit the FAO Investment Centre website.
