Milan Strengthens Partnership with Zhengzhou Under Urban Food Policy Pact

Milan and Zhengzhou have made significant progress in their collaboration under the Milan Urban Food Policy Pact (MUFPP), building on momentum from their initial meeting in January. The latest online session on 23 January focused on operationalising cooperation on sustainable urban food systems and advancing Zhengzhou’s path towards formal Pact membership.

Milan’s representative presented the MUFPP’s achievements over the past decade, highlighting its 37 recommended actions spanning governance, sustainable diets, social equity, food production, supply chains, and food waste reduction. The presentation included insights from global and Asia-Pacific initiatives, demonstrating how cities like Bangkok, Singapore, and Shanghai have successfully implemented urban agriculture programmes, school meal initiatives, and circular food systems.

Zhengzhou showcased its strategic position as a major transportation and agricultural hub, producing over 130 million metric tonnes of grain annually. City officials highlighted modern farming practices, specialty crop production, and technological innovations whilst expressing strong commitment to sustainable urban and rural food systems development.

Key Outcomes and Next Steps

The cities agreed to prepare an urban agriculture case study report mapping Zhengzhou’s infrastructure, policies, and best practices. Once reviewed and accompanied by a formal subscription form, this documentation will formalise Zhengzhou’s participation in MUFPP-funded projects, workshops, and events.

Both sides discussed establishing a dedicated Food Policy Office in Zhengzhou, hosting a Milan Pact regional event in the Asia-Pacific region, and organising personnel exchanges between Milan and Zhengzhou officials. Immediate next steps include drafting the case study, forming a working group, and initiating the internal approval process with the mayor—all signalling substantial progress towards official Pact membership.

The IURC team emphasised that Zhengzhou’s engagement will inspire other Chinese cities to pursue international collaboration on sustainable food policy, reinforcing Milan’s leadership in urban food systems innovation.