title: An integrated approach to identifying and characterising resilient urban food systems to promote population health in a changing climate.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine key points of intervention in urban food systems to improve the climate resilience, equity and healthfulness of the whole system.
  
  
  METHODS
  The paper brings together evidence from a 3-year, Australia-based mixed-methods research project focused on climate change adaptation, cities, food systems and health. In an integrated analysis of the three research domains - encompassing the production, distribution and consumption sectors of the food chain - the paper examines the efficacy of various food subsystems (industrial, alternative commercial and civic) in achieving climate resilience and good nutrition.
  
  
  METHODS
  Greater Western Sydney, Australia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Primary producers, retailers and consumers in Western Sydney.
  
  
  RESULTS
  This overarching analysis of the tripartite study found that: (i) industrial food production systems can be more environmentally sustainable than alternative systems, indicating the importance of multiple food subsystems for food security; (ii) a variety of food distributors stocking healthy and sustainable items is required to ensure that these items are accessible, affordable and available to all; and (iii) it is not enough that healthy and sustainable foods are produced or sold, consumers must also want to consume them. In summary, a resilient urban food system requires that healthy and sustainable food items are produced, that consumers can attain them and that they actually wish to purchase them.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This capstone paper found that the interconnected nature of the different sectors in the food system means that to improve environmental sustainability, equity and population health outcomes, action should focus on the system as a whole and not just on any one sector.
authors: The Regulatory Institutions Network,The Australian National University,Fellows Road #8,Acton,ACT 2601,Australia.
authors: Sarah W
authors: SW
authors: James
authors: The Regulatory Institutions Network,The Australian National University,Fellows Road #8,Acton,ACT 2601,Australia.
authors: Sharon
authors: S
authors: Friel
mesh_terms: D057231:Climate Change; D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources; D003258:Consumer Behavior; D004032:Diet / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000191:economics; D058735:Environmental Policy; D005523:Food Supply / Q000191:economics; D054624:Health Status Disparities; D006801:Humans; D038622:Internationality; D018803:Models, Economic; D009517:New South Wales; D018673:Nutrition Policy; D010349:Patient Compliance; D015397:Program Evaluation; D013598:Systems Theory; D014504:Urban Health / Q000191:economics
keywords: Climate change; Ecological footprint; Food security; Food systems; Health inequity; Population health; Urban settlements