Historically, ministries of agriculture are normally Africa’s primary food and agricultural policy makers. This has given room to advance technologies, policies and programs to improve the productivity and performance of agri-food systems in Africa. Looking forward, as the center of gravity in Africa’s agri-food systems shifts increasingly towards urban areas, city planners, mayors, district councils, trader organizations, and public health professionals are becoming key players in shaping and implementing agricultural policy. Effective governance of urban food systems needs a marrying of the ‘old’ and the new, across the rural and urban space, around food systems planning, management, and governance