Over 380 million smallholder farmers produce more than 70% of the food in the global south, and are responsible for more than 50% of the food produced globally. Yet many smallholder farmers struggle under the pressure of globalizing economic and political environments. The report seeks to provide guidance on how local governments and planners can step into food systems planning, particularly in the Global South. Much of the current literature on food systems planning centers on experiences in the Global North, and little fits the contexts, experiences, opportunities, and challenges of communities in the Global South.

The report draws from examples of plans and policies adopted by local governments across the globe as well as open ended interviews with smallholder farmers, food systems stakeholders, and policy stakeholders to present a framework based on the aspirations, successes, and challenges of communities in the Global South.