Give peas a chance? Urban agriculture in developing countries. A review

Abstract

International audienceUrban agriculture is receiving increasing attention throughout the developing world, but debate rages as to whether it is a blessing or a curse. Some see it as savior for the poor, providing food, and livelihoods, yet to others it is responsible for harboring and vectoring pathogenic diseases and is an archaic practice that has no place along the path toward development. Consequently, the activity receives a mixed reception, and despite much support in many instances, it certainly does not enjoy universal unimpeded progress. Here, we undertake a global tour of urban agriculture throughout the developing world in an attempt to elucidate the various benefits, costs, and hindrances associated with the practice. Through this analysis we identify the need for better understanding of the following six aspects if urban agriculture is to make a meaningful contribution to food security and sustenance of livelihoods in the future: (1) the global and regional extent of urban agriculture; (2) the contribution of urban agriculture to communicable diseases, especially malaria but also diarrheal disease; (3) the role that urban agriculture does and/or could play in abating both malnutrition and obesity; (4) the impacts of urban agriculture on women; (5) appropriate methods of achieving governance and institutional support; and (6) the risks posed by chemical pollutants, particularly as Africa becomes increasingly industrialized. Overlaying these, we suggest that the time is ripe to extend the debate about urban agriculture’s positive and negative environmental impacts—especially in relation to carbon emissions—from primarily a developed world concern to the developing world, particularly since it is the developing world where population growth and consequent resource use is increasing most rapidly

Who Cares? The Importance of Emotional Connections with Nature to Ensure Food Security and Wellbeing in Cities

“…Currently more than half the human population is living in or close to cities [3,40] and in Australia this is closer to 89% [90]. In low-income countries approximately 28% of the total population lives in cities, however these countries currently have the fastest rates of urban population growth which is putting increasing pressure onto their food systems [43,85,91]. Worldwide around 15% of food is grown in urban areas [40].…”

“…Urban agriculture is primarily undertaken for subsistence purposes, but also for financial benefits (albeit usually with low returns), agricultural traditions, access and affordable dietary diversity and quality in low-income countries [43,91]. In comparison, urban agriculture in developed countries is undertaken for subsistence purposes (cost saving) but more commonly for psychological and personal factors such as the desire for high-quality food (fresh, convenient, organic, better tasting), previous exposure, health reasons (mental and physical), as well as political and environmental convictions (such as sustainability issues) [43,[93][94][95].…”

“…In comparison, urban agriculture in developed countries is undertaken for subsistence purposes (cost saving) but more commonly for psychological and personal factors such as the desire for high-quality food (fresh, convenient, organic, better tasting), previous exposure, health reasons (mental and physical), as well as political and environmental convictions (such as sustainability issues) [43,[93][94][95]. This discrepancy in motivations is partially driven by differing perspectives and experiences of nature, foodscapes and food security.…”

“…The food consumed by a city's population rarely can be met by the city's urban ecosystems, hence cities seldom have the capacity to satisfy their own food supply [43,61,62,91,96]. Large cities mainly feed themselves via global food systems.…”

“…Urban agriculture is unlikely to be the answer to feeding the future city's population, but its greatest merit is the combination of social, economic, landscape and leisure benefits that contribute to a system of healthy food production and a liveable environment [40,42,43]. "Urban agriculture is considered as a means to manage open spaces within the city and to achieve a liveable city with green spaces and recreation areas close by" [40] (p. 725).…”