Following UNFSS 2021, the five action chairs: WWF, CARE, EAT, GAIN and ICCCAD as well as the Club of Rome and C40 established the Transforming Urban-Rural Food Systems (TURFS) Consortium (formerly called the Food Forward Consortium - FFC), with the aim of building an inclusive global coalition of dedicated non-state actors to catalyse food systems transformation, at scale, locally and globally.

TURFS harnesses each member’s expertise, influence, and credibility, to achieve inclusive, systemic impact at the intersection of biodiversity and environment, climate, nutrition, livelihoods and other socio-economic aspects. Alongside Joao Campari (WWF's Global Food Practice Leader and the chair of UNFSS Action Track 3) and the Global Food Practice team, WWF-Sweden leads WWF's engagement in TURFS.

The consortium is helping cities make it easier for their residents to eat food that is good for people, the planet and prosperity, by reshaping the way we produce and consume food in urban and rural areas to prioritise health, sustainability, resilience, and fairness.

Cities are uniquely positioned to facilitate and accelerate food systems transformation. Globally more people live in urban areas with the bulk of food produced being consumed and wasted by urban residents. Presently, more than half of the world lives in cities. This is projected to rise to 70% of the global population by 2050.

TURFS aims to empower cities to reshape the way we produce and consume food in urban and rural areas. Prioritising health, sustainability, resilience, and fairness, the consortium seeks to help cities lead a global shift in our food systems. By collaborating with cities and their surrounding rural areas, the consortium will share and implement best practices and innovative solutions to change food systems at local, national, and international scales.

With support from the Laudes Foundation, the Transforming Urban-Rural Food Systems Consortium has developed a flexible strategy to help cities positively change how food systems in urban and rural areas are managed.

TURFS aims to support cities to:

1. Use best available evidence in decision-making and reference science-based targets
2. Create an enabling environment for regenerative food production and consumption
3. Increase public support and engagement for food system transformation, through broad campaigns and targeted engagement to improve consumption of healthy and sustainable foods
4. Engage businesses and promote private sector commitment of resources towards the goal of healthier and more sustainable consumption patterns, including reduced food loss and waste
5. Enhance resilience and ensure on-going food security during emergencies through robust early warning and comprehensive risk management mechanisms
6. Lead other cities and influence national governments and international fora around the agenda of healthy, sustainable and just food systems transformation at scale