Urbanization has become a global phenomenon that affects the food system. Some studies revealed that urbanization increases income/capita, thus transforming food consumption from cereals to animal products, vegetables, and fruits. Urbanization, particularly in developing countries, not only produces economic benefits but also various issues that might lessen peoples’ capacity to afford food. This study aims to analyze the impact of urbanization on food consumption, food composition, as well as farming performance. Series of consumption data since 1976 and statistical descriptive approaches were employed. The results showed a trend of declining the share of food expenditures, especially in urban areas, which is commonly regarded as a sign of increasing prosperity. Surprisingly, food composition remained stable, dominated by rice, due to lower-income and higher non-food expenditures of urban inhabitants mainly for housing, transportation, water and energy. The stagnancy of food composition provides less incentive for farmers; thus, farming is dominated by low-revenue paddy fields, uneducated laborers, and older farmers. Based on these findings, some recommendations can be suggested: (1) incorporating food composition and farming performance into food security policies, instead of merely focusing on the compliance of food supply and demand, (2) linking food issues with non-food issues, especially with urban planning, housing development, and transportation management to increase the income capacity of the society to purchase a greater variety of food, and (3) developing food diversification served by urban food vendors to support the benefits of the farming business.

Food security has become one of the global challenges; therefore, monitoring food consumption is required. As food consumption is a resultant of food availability at an affordable price, food expenditure actually is a key indicator to assess food security policy. Particularly, the link of food expenditure with socio-economic factors based on the perspective of spatial connectivity should be understood as nowadays food supply and demand between regions are increasingly connected. This study aims to define socio-economic driving factors of food expenditure that considering spatial connectivity between provinces in Indonesia. Data of household food expenditure and socio-economic factors by province including urbanization level, economic growth, gross domestic regional product (GDRP) per capita, poverty severity index, and unemployment rate were used. The preliminary test on the spatial correlation of food expenditure showed a significant result; thus, a spatial regression approach was employed. The results showed that declining food expenditure did not simply indicate increasing prosperity. Larger income disparity among the poor has become crucial to detect lower food expenditure caused by a lack of income. In addition, the increasing unemployment rate was followed by increasing food expenditure. Despite economic growth, increasing GDRP per capita and urbanization contributing to declining food expenditure, both poverty and unemployment are the main issues that threaten household’s ability to afford food. Furthermore, the effect of food expenditure in the neighboring region is also significant, but it shows a contradictory relationship as food expenditure in a region is decreasing when food expenditure in its neighbors is increasing, and vice versa. Therefore, reducing disparities in economic growth, GDRP per capita, urbanization, poverty, and unemployment rate between provinces is also crucial to support more equal food expenditure as well as to achieve the second goal of SDG’s (Sustainable Development Goals) in improving food security.

Slums represent a complex issue found in various regions, including Southwest Aceh Regency, caused by poor management and inadequate settlement planning. This study analyzes the spatial patterns of slum areas in Southwest Aceh Regency and proposes management strategies. The research utilizes Moran's Index analysis and LISA to identify spatial clustering patterns of slum areas, complemented by SWOT analysis to determine suitable environmental management strategies. Moran's Index analysis of slums in Southwest Aceh Regency for 2014 and 2020 reveals a positive spatial autocorrelation with clustered pattern, but less concentration in 2020. LISA analysis shows the spatial distribution of slum areas in 2014 showed high-high (HH) clusters concentrated along coastal and mid-district regions, while in 2020, clustering shifted and became concentrated in the regency capital. Overall, the distribution of slums in 2020 appears more dispersed. The primary environmental management strategy recommended for slum upgrading in Southwest Aceh Regency a Defensive Strategy. This involves strengthening stakeholder collaboration to improve sanitation infrastructure, thereby mitigating disaster risks such as flooding; reorganizing residential areas to accommodate urbanization while attracting developers; and educating the community to enhance compliance with environmental regulations. Additionally, maintaining financing programs despite potential budget reductions is critical to ensuring sustainable living conditions.