The Paradox of Food Systems Governance: The Case of Belo Horizonte City

This study investigates how the city’s food security governance has evolved into sustainable food systems governance aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The research seeks to understand the extent to which Belo Horizonte's food policies can address global challenges, particularly in the context of the Global South. The study is justified by Belo Horizonte's significant role in public Food and Nutritional Security (FNS) policies, which have been implemented for over 30 years since the 1990s. The city is part of international networks such as ICLEI and has joined platforms like CITYFOOD and Cities With Nature, in addition to being recognized as a UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy. The methodology employed includes document analysis, interviews with 12 public managers, and participant observation during the III International Seminar on Food and Nutritional Security, held in 2023. The data were analyzed using thematic analysis, supported by Maxqda software. The findings aim to contribute to the debate on food systems governance, highlighting the adoption of agroecological practices, the promotion of urban and peri-urban agriculture, and the transition to sustainable food systems. However, the research reveals a paradox: despite Belo Horizonte’s long-standing FNS trajectory, the city depends on external food producers, and the primary markets and initiatives are concentrated in areas with higher human development indices.