Urban Agriculture Temporary Development On
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i | P a g e Abstract A case study is used to show the process of implementing urban agriculture (UA) on vacated terrain. By applying a qualitative method and studying literature, two cases have been investigated - one is in Rotterdam in the Netherlands (entrepreneurship) and the other is in Detroit USA (community-based, subsidized agriculture). This research is a master’s thesis done in a pragmatic way by questioning the features of implementing urban agriculture by highlighting the scope of the study linked with the supporting policies, agents involved, regulatory framework and the implementation characteristics. Illustrative tables are used to depict the cities draft food polices (themes) and supportive strategies. A diagram has been made indicating which government bodies are responsible for granting legal permits. Flowcharts have been designed showing timelines of the development processes in each case, the stakeholders involved and the UA functional characteristics. Comparing the cases depicts the vibrant character of urban agriculture and the variation of stakeholders involved, however, the initiative and the supporters’ keen interest have been vital because the development in both cases originated at the grass-roots level and the cities’ officials are paying close attention to it. However, when much needed financial or professional support comes from a higher level (national or state), legislation designed for the global market or the conventional food system can be a hindrance to the cities’ further development in establishing (regional/local) food systems. In order for cities to build up their self-reliance on food economics and related activities, resulting in more sustainable food systems and habitable urban areas, general ethical changes need to be made. Consequentially, laws, regulations and levels of authority will have to be re-structured so that multi-functional landscapes incorporating urban agriculture are accepted without difficulty. This will encourage cities in the western world to develop a feeling towards global ethics in sustainability. ii | P a g e Preface I have come a long way. My journey in recent years has been unusual, to say the least, and at times, demanding. I was raised on a farm in south-west Iceland, studied food science at the Icelandic University and worked in that field for approximately 10 years. I became more and more interested in alternative lifestyles, new ideas about food issues and the interaction of the environment and wellbeing. Weaving together dissimilar subjects and aspects has always fascinated me. In 2006 I got the opportunity to study again, and learned 'environmental and landscape planning' at the Icelandic Agricultural University. Many inter-related factors influenced my decision to go to the Netherlands and follow the master’s degree course in landscape architecture and planning at Wageningen University. I moved with my four kids, which I am raising alone, to Wageningen the autumn of 2010. The last two and a half years have been busy, putting dissimilar pieces of the ‘duty’ puzzle together was like standing on the sidelines at a football match every Saturday, bustling around doing all the daily chores 7 days a week and managing to create a haven of 'peace' where I could study. When I chose the topic of urban agriculture as the title of my thesis it was an attempt to link my background in the food industry to the planning field. I decided to do an international study to broaden my horizons and learn more. I have certainly learned a lot, but at times I thought as if I were trying to 'eat an apple in one go'. I find the topic of urban agriculture interesting as well as complicated and it is even frustrating at times. I have personally experienced how easy it is to become isolated in various ways, both in daily life while doing a large project such as this and also being involved in certain topics, disciplines and concepts that build up and become constraining. I don't think I can successfully link my background to this study, but I believe that my approach to the topic of the thesis is wholehearted and my personal belief, that looking at things from a broad perspective is extremely important in life. iii | P a g e Table of contents 1 Introduction ........................................................................................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Why do research on urban agricultural development? ............................................................................. 1 1.1.1 The research problem .................................................................................................................................... 1 1.1.2 The overall context and addressing the problem ............................................................................... 1 THE RELEVANCE OF URBAN AGRICULTURE FROM A GLOBAL PERSPECTIVE ...................................................... 1 THE RELEVANCE OF URBAN AGRICULTURE FROM A CITY’S PERSPECTIVE ......................................................... 3 WELL KNOWN BARRIERS ................................................................................................................................................. 5 THE DECISION-MAKING PROCESS - MANY AGENTS WITH DIFFERENT VIEWPOINTS ....................................... 6 LACK OF PRACTICAL DATA .............................................................................................................................................. 6 THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY ............................................................................................................................... 7 1.1.3 The objective ...................................................................................................................................................... 7 1.1.4 Research questions .......................................................................................................................................... 9 1.1.5 The structure of this report ......................................................................................................................... 9 2 Research design and methodology ............................................................................................................................ 10 2.1 A case study research ............................................................................................................................................. 10 2.1.1 Introduction ..................................................................................................................................................... 10 2.1.2 Why do such a case study? ......................................................................................................................... 10 2.1.3 Selecting case strategy ................................................................................................................................ 10 WHAT, WHERE AND HOW?............................................................................................................................................ 10 WHY THESE PROJECTS? ................................................................................................................................................. 11 2.2 Working methods .................................................................................................................................................... 11 2.2.1 Introduction ..................................................................................................................................................... 11 2.2.2 Grounded theory ............................................................................................................................................ 12 2.2.3 General process of the study ..................................................................................................................... 12 THE INITIAL SUB-RESEARCH QUESTION ................................................................................................................... 14 THE SECOND SUB - RESEARCH QUESTION ................................................................................................................. 15 THE THIRD SUB - RESEARCH QUESTION .................................................................................................................... 16 THE FORTH SUB - RESEARCH QUESTION ................................................................................................................... 17 THE FIFTH SUB- RESEARCH QUESTION...................................................................................................................... 18 2.2.4 Interviewees ..................................................................................................................................................... 19 3 Theoretical framework ................................................................................................................................................... 23 3.1 Shifts in urban land-use and food production - global perspective .................................................. 23 3.1.1 Introduction ..................................................................................................................................................... 23 3.1.2 Disconnection to the origin of food and population growth in urban areas ......................... 23 3.1.3 Demands on agricultural practices,