Urban and peri-urban agriculture sourcebook – From production to food systems
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FAO
July 2022
(Must read. Mike)
Executive summary
According to the United Nations, 68 percent of the world’s population will be living in urban areas by 2050, and around 90 percent of this increase will occur in small cities and towns in Africa and Asia.
The impact of these global trends in population increase and urbanization is compounded by other global trends such as climate change and pandemic shocks. The overall increase in food security and malnutrition, rise of diet related non-communicable diseases, such as obesity, are a few of the issues affecting the food system. The recent COVID-19 pandemic demonstrated the importance of stable food production, shorter and simplified supply and distribution chains (FAO, 2020a).
In this context, urban and peri-urban agriculture (UPA) is increasingly becoming a valid solution adopted by urban and peri-urban dwellers, and promoted by local institutions to face the above-mentioned challenges.
FAO’s global survey (FAO, 2020b) revealed that many cities have identified the importance of promoting local food production and improving access to locally produced food – e.g. newly created initiatives that have responded to the pandemic, or the expansion of existing programmes to ensure continued food supply and to protect the most vulnerable residents.
Urban and peri-urban agriculture is not a new concept, as it has been practiced for decades at the global level, through formal and informal practices. Global society has recognized the importance of UPA and the need for it to be integrated into urban planning. In this regard, innovative actions are being implemented to promote the development of UPA in both the global South and North.
Since the 1990s, FAO has been working with Members and key partners such as the RUAF Foundation to promote UPA through various activities, the Food for Cities/City Region Food Systems (CFRS) Programme, Growing Greener Cities programme, the Framework for the Urban Food Agenda and Green Cities Initiative. RUAF, Rikolto, Ryerson University, who co-authored this sourcebook, as well as city networks such as the International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI), C40 Cities, Milan Urban Food Policy Pact (MUFPP), among others, are active partners that bring together experiences and share innovation. Partners also include private companies, promoters, agencies, individuals working with cities and citizens to promote resilient and sustainable urban agriculture production and value chains.
It is time to renew the focus on UPA and its evolution by collecting and classifying typical cases and examples, analyse the key elements and challenges faced by practitioners, so as to provide useful information for those who are interested in taking an active part in urban food production.
The purpose of this book is to set out the key lessons learned and to provide recommendations and guidance based on existing cases and examples for a wide range of actors involved in urban food systems. In particular, the aim is for this publication to serve as a sourcebook for local decision-makers, policy advisors, urban planners, specialists, practitioners and others involved in UPA. The sourcebook is also for those involved in the design and implementation of production schemes, planning of urban food strategies, and policies concerning agriculture in urban and peri-urban areas.
