Abstract
As urbanization continues to shape our world, the development of smart and resilient cities has become increasingly vital. With these cities gaining prominence in urban development, sustainable urban food systems (UFS) have been thrust into the spotlight as a crucial pillar for sustainable urbanization. This thesis establishes a comprehensive framework for the sustainable development of UFS within smart resilient cities in China. The research focuses on three primary objectives: developing a flexible methodological framework for diverse local UFS contexts, constructing a conceptual framework for achieving a circular urban food system, and formulating a roadmap within the framework of smart resilient city development. Additionally, a UFS sustainability assessment framework tailored specifically for smart resilient cities in China is proposed.The thesis suggests that the urban level is the optimal scale for overseeing and managing UFS sustainability and sustainable urbanization. It advocates for inclusive stakeholder participation to address specific contexts in UFS development, enhancing urban food security, environmental resilience, and social inclusiveness amidst rapid urbanization and technological advancements. Adopting a multidisciplinary approach, the research integrates urban planning, sustainability science, and food systems analysis.
Chapter 1 introduces the global and local context of urban food system challenges, highlighting motivations such as reducing greenhouse gas emissions and promoting urban resilience. It identifies significant gaps in existing frameworks, setting the stage for developing a robust urban-level food system assessment tool. Chapter 2 examines the limitations of current sustainable food system frameworks, identifying methodological deficiencies and the need for more precise tools. Chapter 3 reviews trends, gaps, and challenges in food system studies, underscoring the necessity for tailored urban food system frameworks. Chapter 4 addresses the shortcomings in indicator development within existing frameworks and proposes refined tools to measure UFS sustainability at the urban level.
In Chapter 5, the thesis proposes a conceptual model that integrates circular economy principles into urban food systems, demonstrating how these principles can address various challenges and enhance sustainability. Chapter 6 & 7 emphasize the importance of inclusive stakeholder participation, promoting a balanced integration of bottom-up and top-down approaches. This approach is further explored in a case study in Shanghai, employing advanced methods including the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP), fuzzy Delphi and a hybrid analytical approach.
Chapter 8 synthesizes the research findings, discussing the potential for technological transfer and upscaling. It provides actionable recommendations for UFS framework development and urban food system transitions, suggesting political instruments to support these initiatives in alignment with China’s carbon neutrality goals. It consolidates the main arguments and findings, highlighting the thesis’s contributions to the field and proposing directions for future research.
This thesis demonstrates the potential for applying the developed framework in other global cities, aiming to achieve broader impact and promote sustainable urban food systems. By integrating both top-down and bottom-up approaches, the proposed frameworks offer comprehensive and practical solutions. By contributing to the advancement of UFS sustainability assessments tools, this research seeks to equip policymakers, planners, and food system stakeholders with valuable insights and tools, ultimately contributing to global efforts toward more sustainable, resilient, smart and inclusive urban environments in the future.
| Date of Award | 17 Mar 2025 |
|---|---|
| Original language | English |
| Awarding Institution |
|
| Supervisor | Eugenio Mangi (Supervisor), Ayotunde Dawodu (Supervisor), Linjun Xie (Supervisor), Andrea Palmioli (Supervisor) & Ali Cheshmehzangi (Supervisor) |