The Milan Urban Food Policy Pact, launched at Expo 2015 in Milan as a way to encourage cities to implement public policy to strengthen the sustainability of agrifood systems, can now count on an alliance of Latin American cities. The so-called Rio Declaration, signed by representatives of 12 Latin American cities at the end of the First Regional Forum of Latin American Signatory Cities of the MUFPP, establishes priorities to have the region develop food security through public policy that contribute to sustainability, to strengthening identity and to reducing inequalities. The document, built by the cities with contributions from Embrapa and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), will guide ongoing activities in 24 Latin-American cities that have adhered to the Milan Pact and will stimulate other locations to implement public policy on sustainable healthy food. The Forum gatheres 200 specialists from several countries of Latin America for lectures, roundtables and workshops on subjects related to the following three issues in food and nutricional security in the region: inequality, identity and sustainability. The managing committee counted on the participation of Embrapa Food Technology's team. The researcher Mariella Uzêda (Embrapa Agrobiology) and the analyst Gustavo Porpino (Secretariat of Innovation) gave lectures; and the analyst Aline Bastos (Embrapa Food Technology) moderated a discussion during the opening of the event on global food perspectives and local applications. An Embrapa stand showcased research and technologies related to food waste such as articulated packaging for fruit and coating that increases the shelf life of foodstuffs. A variety of green soybean developed by Embrapa was also publicized. Known as edamame, this vegetable has a slightly sweet flavor, and is rich in protein, minerals, vitamins and isoflavone. During the opening of the event, held by Rio de Janeiro's city hall from May 29 to 31 at the Rio Museum of Art, José Graziano, FAO's president, underscored that the Latin American alliance is relevant to turn global commitments into local action. For Graziano, the action routes should include the expansion of food bank networks, building popular restaurants, incentives to sustainable urban agriculture and the implementation of educational programs in schools with a focus on improving nutrition. “Food systems have to offer healthy diets, diets that increment quality of life. Latin America is one of the most urbanized regions of the world and 80% of all foods are consumed in urban areas”, he adds to lightlight the importance of the Pact to be implemented in Latin American cities. Strengthening of rural-urban links was not only mentioned in Graziano's video message but also by guest speaker Alain Grimard, representative of UN-Habitat. “Urban development can only be sustainable with sustainable rural areas”, stresses Grimard, for whom, in the context of Latin America, it is urgent to strengthen local markets and bring agricultural production closer to consumers. “If cities are the ones that drive the demand for food, it is natural that this agenda is integrated to cities”, he emphasizes. Embrapa's intermediation The Rio de Janeiro undersecretary of Economic Development and coordinator of the event, Epitácio Brunet, underscored that the project led by Embrapa in the European Union - Brazil Sector Dialogues brought Rio's city hall closer to European experiences and resulted in the organization of the Milan Pact Forum. “We are now going to work towards increasing the adhesion of more Latin American cities to the Pact and we have already signalled Lima to host the second Forum in 2020, and Buenos Aires to host a preparatory meeting in October this year”. Rio Declaration The Rio Charter on healthy sustainable urban food policy establishes the local commitment of 12 Latin American cities and governments that have undersigned the Milan Pact, in association with international organizations such as the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the World Health Organization (WHO), the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) and the Pan-American Health Organization (PAHO). It also establishes compliance with the agreements previously signed by the cities, like the UN Global CompPact, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the New Urban Agenda, the Quito Implementation Plan, Addis Ababa Action Agenda, the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy, the Bogota Commitment, the C40 Deadline 2020 and the Urban 20 Joint Declaration. The declaration celebrates a pact on public policies to promote urban food systems that are healthy, nutritional, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable, with a special focus on sustainability and conservation of biodiversity, on reducing inequality and strengthening local identities. Translation: Mariana Medeiros