Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
or phenomenon. What may seem to be a lak of conceptual clarity can actually be
viewed as a strength, where variation in socio-economic and environmental condi-
tions allow for local innovation, offering 'best practice' examples of UA/UPA sys-
tems and policy approahes. Nonetheless, it is worth noting that the diversity of UA/
UPA production systems is a reflection of the various cultural, political, geographic,
economic and climatic conditions where it is found. Suh diversity in people, places
and production systems has led to several useful definitions of UA/UPA. It should be
no surprise that its complexity, purpose and benefits to practitioners and ecosystems
vary in the global North and South. In this hapter, the broader term UPA will be
used to discuss intra- and peri-urban food production systems.
Despite its 'age old origins', the UPA phenomenon did not emerge as a potential
development tool until the 1970s. The World Commission on Environment and
Development (WCED), or the 'Brundtland report', focused the world's atention on
sustainable urban development and the potential role of 'urban agriculture', or UPA,
in 1987:
Officially sanctioned and promoted urban agriculture could become an import-
ant component of urban development and make more food available to the urb-
an poor. he primary purpose of suh promotion should be to improve nutrition-
al and health standards of the poor, help their family budgets (50-70 per cent of
whih is usually spent on food), enable them to earn some additional income,
and provide employment. Urban agriculture can also provide fresher and heap-
er produce, more green space, the clearing of garbage dumps and the recycling
of household waste.
WCED (1987, p254)
Despite its importance as an informal survival strategy and income source, at-
tempts to formalize UA invite a host of constraints, both environmental (waste,
pests, pollution) and institutional (land tenure, health, political). Overcoming these
constraints requires consultation and collaboration amongst a range of stakeholders
(community, civil society, government). Because urban agriculture is contributing to
the nutrition and dietary diversity of urban poor households, some governments, re-
cognizing its importance, are actively exploring ways to integrate UPA into formal
urban planning policy (Dreshel and Dongus, 2010; hornton, Nel and Hampwaye
et
al.
, 2010).
As a holistic response to mitigate the impacts of global warming, urban agricul-
ture is viewed as part of a low-energy ecosystems approah, where cities become
