Future Plates

As Africa’s cities grow and diversify, the way food is produced and the way residents access and consume food is changing too. But what kind of food systems are we building for the future?This episode delves into the rapidly evolving relationship between cities, food and people in Africa, looking ahead to the choices that will influence urban food systems for generations to come. From the paradox of being both “stuffed and starved” to the vital role of informal food economies, the episode asks what it means to treat food as an urban issue, not simply an agricultural or rural one.It spotlights how urban planning, governance, infrastructure, climate resilience and everyday food practices all impact how cities feed themselves, while introducing different possible futures, from more inclusive and resilient food systems to increasingly fragmented and unequal ones.This first episode sets the stage for a series exploring the challenges, choices and opportunities at the heart of the city–food nexus.Future Plates is an ARC production in partnership with AfriFOODlinks – a project funded by the European Union. Visit the AfriFOODlinks website for more information about the project: https://afrifoodlinks.org/ 

Africa’s children are the future of the continent. And as Africa’s population continues to grow and urbanise, the food they eat today will have consequences that reach far beyond childhood.In this episode, we consider what it takes to nourish Africa’s next generation, from the critical first 1,000 days of life to the food traditions and cultural values passed between generations. It looks at how food can be a source of love, connection, identity and community, while also revealing the profound inequalities that determine who has access to enough nutritious food.What will it take to create food systems and communities where every child has the chance to reach their full potential? Experts, food practitioners, city officials and teachers talk us through the lasting consequences of childhood malnutrition and stunting, and ask us to look beyond individual families to the wider systems and structural conditions that impact children’s health and access to nutritious food. Future Plates is an ARC production in partnership with AfriFOODlinks – a project funded by the European Union. Visit the AfriFOODlinks website for more information about the project: https://afrifoodlinks.org/

From supermarket chains and shopping trolleys to bustling markets, food stalls and neighbourhood spaza shops, how we buy food is constantly evolving in Africa. Despite the rapid expansion of formal retail, informal food economies remain at the heart of how millions of urban residents access food every day.This episode takes us into the markets and informal trading spaces that feed African cities. It also takes a close look at the scale and importance of the informal sector and its influence on how food moves, is traded and reaches people. Beyond their economic role, these spaces are also deeply social and cultural, places where people gather and traditions are shared.Through the voices and experiences of traders and practitioners, the episode asks what could be lost if informal food economies are overlooked as cities transform. It also unpacks how cities can reshape food systems without compromising the livelihoods, knowledge, relationships and cultures that already help people access food every day. As Africa’s cities grow, the episode considers what the future of food trade could look like, and why the markets already feeding millions may hold important lessons for building more inclusive, resilient and culturally rooted urban food systems.Future Plates is an ARC production in partnership with AfriFOODlinks – a project funded by the European Union. Visit the AfriFOODlinks website for more information about the project: https://afrifoodlinks.org/