Cities of the future will have an expanded “social safety net,” including more “digital food” for the needy, according to the deputy chief of the World Food Programme (WFP).

Deputy Executive Director, Amir Abdulla, was speaking at the recent Habitat III Conference on reshaping the cities and towns of the future, in Quito, Ecuador.

He said WFP was already directing more of its efforts towards feeding refugees in cities, and as up to 70 per cent of the world population will be urbanized by 2050, striking a balance between cities and rural areas was essential.

Matthew Wells spoke to Mr Abdulla in Quito.

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