Asociacion Mexicana de Bancos de Alimentos AC
The Pitch
Urban Harvest built a citywide food recovery network that redirects surplus food from supermarkets and producers before it reaches landfills and redistributes it to vulnerable groups through refrigerated logistics, closing the loop through composting hubs, community gardens and nutrition education in underserved neighborhoods.
The Problem
In Mexico City, more than 25% of the population faces moderate to severe food insecurity, while nearly 40% of edible food is wasted, decomposing in landfills and generating methane emissions that accelerate climate change.
The Process
- Partnered with supermarkets, central markets, restaurants and small producers across Mexico City to establish food donation pipelines
- Deployed refrigerated trucks to run daily collection routes of food across the city
- Distributed food in partnership with the Red de Bancos de Alimentos de México (BAMX) network, Mexico’s primary nationwide food rescue network with 58 food banks
- Implemented composting hubs and community gardens in underserved neighborhoods to close the loop on organic waste
- Scaled the model nationally across 30 states through standardized operating protocols and knowledge-sharing partnerships with the Global FoodBanking Network, peer cities and Latin American organizations now replicating the approach
The Impact
- Reached more than 2.5 million people directly each year by providing access to nutritious food through the BAMX network
- Reached more than 50,000 people through awareness campaigns, community gardens, composting hubs and food education workshops
- Redistributed more than 171,646 tons of surplus food annually, preventing it from ending up in landfills and redirecting it to vulnerable populations
- Supported climate goals by avoiding emissions of more than 590,142 tons of CO₂
- Reduced food costs for low-income households, with families receiving food assistance reporting grocery savings of up to 30%
