Collection Overview 

Scientific Reports has launched a Guest-Edited Collection on Urban food security.

Contrary to the general perception that rural areas might be at a higher risk for food insecurity, recent reports from the United Nations estimate that around 75% of the global food insecure population lives in urban and peri-urban environments. While food is generally abundant in these areas, nutritional diversity is often limited and accessibility highly unequal, with the gap increasing with challenges posed by climate change and political instability. Strengthening food systems, and supporting community-based initiatives, is crucial to ensure food security in increasingly populated areas.

This Collection supports and amplifies research related to: SDG 2, SDG 10, SDG 11 & SDG 13

This will be a Collection of original research papers  and will be open for submissions from all authors – on the condition that the manuscripts fall within the scope of the Collection and of Scientific Reports more generally. We are welcoming submissions until 2nd July 2026.

Why is this Collection important?

"I believe that this topic is very relevant especially in a period like this in which strong international tensions involve food security in many urban areas of the planet. I think it is right to encourage authors who work in different geo-economic areas of the planet to ensure the broadest and most differentiated vision possible."

- Dr. Davide Marino, Guest Editor

"Urban food security is increasingly shaped by global environmental pressures, economic volatility, and social inequalities. Addressing these challenges requires systems-oriented and interdisciplinary research that connects production, distribution, consumption, governance, and justice. In particular, cities have significant untapped potential to strengthen resilience through urban agriculture and circular food production systems that recover nutrients and resources from urban waste streams. I hope this collection will highlight diverse urban experiences and stimulate new dialogue on how cities can build more resilient, resource-efficient, and sustainable food systems in an uncertain world."

- Dr. Michael Martin, Guest Editor

"A collection of essays on urban food insecurity is very timely as it touches on an issue that is of global significance. Food insecurity is prevalent in urban areas and the topic merits greater scholarly attention. Papers highlighting the challenges encountered in a variety of urban settings will shed light on the nuances of the problem and spur new research. Consequently, I am very excited to be involved with the collection and look forward to seeing the fascinating articles that will come our way."

- Dr. Dorceta E. Taylor, Guest Editor

Why submit to a collection?  

Collections like this one help promote high-quality science. They are led by Guest Editors, who are experts in their fields, and In-House Editors and are supported by a dedicated team of Commissioning Editors and Managing Editors at Springer Nature. Collection manuscripts typically see higher citations, downloads, and Altmetric scores and provide a one-stop-shop on a cutting-edge topic of interest.  

Who is involved?

Guest Editors:

• Davide Marino, University of Molise, Italy
• Michael A. Martin, KTH Royal Institute of Technology and IVL Swedish Environmental Research Institute, Sweden
• Dorceta E. Taylor, Yale University, USA

Internal Team:

• In-House Editor: Ines Trindade, Scientific Reports, Germany
• Commissioning Editor: Nancy Rogerson, Fully OA Brands, Springer Nature, UK
• Managing Editor: Sarah Jane Hunt, Fully OA Brands, Springer Nature, UK

How can I submit my paper?

Visit the Collection page for more information on the Collection, and how to submit your article.