Food Policies Beyond Food: Integrating the Indigenous Factor into Urban Food Policies and Territorial Impact Ecosystems - A Foundational White Paper by SMILY Academy

This foundational white paper was developed following the participation of the SMILY Academy to the Indigenous Food Policy Summit held in New York City on April 21, 2026 and organized by the New York City Food Policy Center and Hunter College. The Summit gathered international experts, Indigenous leaders, researchers, institutions and practitioners working on food systems transformation, climate resilience and regenerative urban governance. The document builds upon the dialogue initiated during the Summit and proposes an integrated framework for rethinking urban food policies through Indigenous knowledge systems, territorial governance, mission-driven economies and collaborative impact ecosystems. The white paper is intended as a strategic contribution to ongoing international discussions on climate adaptation, urban resilience, food sovereignty, ESG governance and public-private cooperation for territorial regeneration.