Equitable cities are ones where everyone has fair access to the food, housing, transportation and other resources and services they need to thrive. Regenerative cities are those that reimagine our communities as living organisms that can recycle and re-use the things we currently think of as waste so that we can improve ecological and human health.
We at Planet Texas 2050 are using our research expertise to explore ways to make our cities both equitable and regenerative, as many of the resources they will need to support a growing population are being rapidly depleted, including food, water, and energy.
Phase 1 of our Equitable and Regenerative Cities flagship project will examine our food system, looking for ways to eliminate waste, rebuild natural systems, and keep products and materials in use longer. We decided to start with the food system because, well, everybody eats! And people can easily share about their relationship with food even if they don’t understand the entire food system.
To begin our work, we are reaching out directly to our Texas communities — consumers, restaurant owners, growers and distributors — to collect their stories and learn more about their relationships to food and the food system. These stories will help us better understand how people think of and interact with their food ecosystems. We will be able to use that knowledge to develop new approaches and strategies for reducing waste and making a healthier and more equitable food system. To learn more about the project and receive updates on our progress, visit our project website. Contribute your own food story and be a part of this important work!
