Urban gardening and neglected and underutilized species in Salvador, Bahia, Brazil

Abstract

Background Urban agriculture has been evidenced as a food production and environmental sustainability strategy, although it faces many obstacles in Latin American countries. Additionally, in urban areas, low consumption of fruit and greenery is noticeable, along with loss in food diversity, including the neglected and underutilized species (NUS), which involve potential to strengthen local food systems. For this reason, this work has sought to map urban gardens in the city of Salvador, Bahia, Brazil, characterizing their gardeners, and to systematize information regarding food produced and the use of NUS. Methods The municipality’s urban gardens were mapped and data was collected from the gardeners. The study included two steps: (i) garden localization; (ii) on-site visits for interviews with gardeners and verification of cultivated food, destination of production, availability, and use of NUS. Results Eighteen active food gardens were located, seventeen of which participated in the study: eight (8) communal (UCG) and nine (9) private (UPG). Respondents were on average 55.76 years old, mostly (52.9%) male, working at UPG (88.9%). Women predominated in the UCG (87.5%), with higher levels of education. For 52.9% of the interviewees, the garden was their main source of income. Food produced at the urban gardens was consumed by 82.4% of the gardeners and their families. In 70.6% of the gardens, production was also sold, while 47.1% donated. During the survey, 59 NUS were found and 76.5% of respondents reported consuming 19 of the species. NUS leaves, fruits, and seeds were found to be eaten raw, boiled, or sautéed in various preparations, especially Coleus amboinicus Lour. (76.5%), Eryngium foetidum L. (35.3%), Talinum fruticosum (L.) Juss., and Pereskia aculeata Mill (both 29.4%). Occurrence and utilization of NUS did not present significant associations with the gardens or gardeners (p > 0.05). Conclusions Salvador urban gardens, even in small numbers and without government support, have produced affordable food for the local population, preserved food diversity, and the tradition of NUS cultivation and use. Thus, urban gardens are reaffirmed as relevant spaces that should be included in public policies in order to promote food and nutritional security, biodiversity, and urban environmental sustainability.

Eryngium foetidum L. (Apiaceae): A Literature Review of Traditional Uses, Chemical Composition, and Pharmacological Activities

“…Some preparations are mujica [ 7 ], tacacá [ 51 ] caruru , and caldeirada de peixe no tucupi [ 9 ]. Fish dishes and moqueca (saltwater fish stew in coconut milk) [ 53 ], and pato no tucupi [ 54 ] include chicory as a condiment. In Asia, chicory is used in soups, noodle dishes, and curry (spice mix) [ 6 ].…”

The Role of Urban Agriculture in Enhancing Urban Food System Sustainability and Resilience

“…More specifically, UA practices are very effective strategies for improving environmental sustainability. Multiple evidence can be found in various types of UA like edible green infrastructure (EGI), Salvador urban gardens, private, community gardens, and growing-service systems" (GSS) (da Cunha et al, 2020;Russo & Cirella, 2019;Martin & Bustamante, 2021). For instance, it is argued that urban and peri-urban agriculture can make great contributions to minimising negative environmental impacts of the urban food system as it can dramatically reduce the food losses and waste along with the whole food supply via a relatively short transportation distance of food as well as its associated costs and emissions (Benis & Ferrão, 2017).…”

“…Moreover, Nchanji & Lutomia (2021) argue that shortening food system supply chains can also moderate the adverse impacts of diverse pandemics for poor and socially disadvantageous population groups while elevating the key role of circular economy in sustainable urbanism and food system. Since food production is a fundamental ecosystem service provided by UA, its nutritional benefits to food system sustainability are undoubted, like protein intake, nutritional security, diet diversity and an easy way to satisfy people's nutritional nee aided by shorter supply chains (Zimmerer et al, 2021;da Cunha et al, 2020;Nchanji & Lutomia, 2021).…”

Promoting Urban Agriculture and Its Opportunities and Challenges—A Global Review

“…Recording of environmental education sub-categories has similar frequencies in both developed and developing countries (Figure 5c). There is no significant difference in recording economic benefits between developed [5,28,30,[32][33][34]36,38,39,[47][48][49]53,54,56,57,61,[69][70][71] and developing countries [9,12,21,22,31,[42][43][44]59,[62][63][64][65][66][67][68]72] (Table 2). However, a distinction can be observed among recordings of different sub-categories.…”