Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
13
Conclusion
Mark Redwood
In the face of urban development and the stunning rise of value in urban land
markets, urban agriculture (UA) continues on. Although it is not an activity
that will ever make huge financial sums, it is a keystone in the lives of millions
of people in the South. The argument that UA will inevitably be replaced by
buildings and other built infrastructure is a fallacy: UA has always existed and
will continue to do so. Moreover, as we reconsider how the sustainable city of
the 21st century will evolve, the inherent promise of UA to reuse wastes and
minimize the environmental impact of food production will be a significant
part of this visioning process.
UA will never replace or compensate for rural agriculture, but should be
seen as a livelihood that enhances food security, nutritional health, and creates
employment. It can also be both a permanent feature of a city or a temporary
relief for a crisis situation. UA does not necessarily mean community or public
management; it is an activity that can be managed privately, on private land. In
fact, in the face of ever increasing populations and changes in food markets, UA
will see an increase in its relative importance. At the end of the day, however,
UA will not survive without protection from planners from development
interests. This means cities can offer temporary occupancy permits, appropriate
zoning of specific lands for agriculture, support for food markets,
encouragement of farmers' organizations, and extension or training for farmers.
Experience shows that a simple package of policies can result in major change.
Researchers and scientists have done their job: UA is now firmly on the
development agenda. This topic is only a small drop in a large body of work
currently available. It is now up to international agencies, donors and, most
importantly, national and local governments to take up the challenge of
implementing programmes and support for UA.
This topic presents UA as a crucial part of the equation that will lead
cities to a state of food security. Urban food security is about increasing
people's access to food, increasing its affordability and improving marketing
