Incorporating Urban Agriculture into Urban Planning: The Tale of Three Cities

A comparative study: Urban Agriculture in Vancouver, Dar es Salaam and Copenhagen
 
Independent Study by Afton Halloran
University of Copenhagen
Faculty of Life Science
Jan 21, 2011
 
Abstract

Although generally thought of as a livelihood strategy for the urban poor in developing countries, urban agriculture is prevalent in both the global South and North. Urban agriculture has been heralded for its environmental, social and economic benefits. However, in some cities it is an unrecognized practice and some typologies of urban agriculture are even treated as illegal.

Urban planning has an important influence in determining the structure of a city. This paper argues that urban planners are important stakeholders, which influence the successfulness urban agriculture legitimization and its incorporation into the urban environment.

This paper explores the influence of urban planning structures on the development of urban agriculture within three cities: Copenhagen, Denmark; Vancouver, Canada; and Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Additionally, it outlines how the act of incorporating urban agriculture into urban planning structures can benefit urban farmers only when multi- stakeholder processes are implemented.

9. Conclusion

With increased urbanization and global food insecurity on the rise cities around the world are looking for solutions. Extensive research has shown that urban agriculture can provide environmental, social and economic services for urban dwellers and their urban surroundings (van Veenhuizen, 2006).

Urban planners and municipal governments are the ultimate determiners of the look and function of a city. Their stake in urban agriculture is highly influential, but often ill-informed opinions of the practice has allowed for the potential of urban agriculture to be overlooked (Harris, 2008; Kauffman et al, 2000).

In order to incorporate agriculture into urban planning it is important to include all stakeholders. Various institutions and organizations have used multi-stakeholder processes to create a fair and equal platform for actors to voice their opinions (Dubbeling in van Veehuizen, 2006).

This paper argues that urban agriculture is an integral part of the urban environment, but its potential cannot be fully realized until it is accepted and legitimised by urban planners. In arguing this point three cities (Vancouver, Copenhagen, and Dar es Salaam) from three different continents with a variety of urban agriculture typologies have been analyzed.

In conclusion, both Copenhagen and Dar es Salaam have promising potential to incorporate urban agriculture into their urban planning structures and legitimize urban agriculture, but they also have a long way to go. Much can be learned from the process in which Vancouver has undertook to be where it is today in terms of urban agriculture. Together these three cities represent various levels of urban agricultural development.

Read the complete study here.(2.4MB)