Science Articles

Exploring the concept of agroecological food systems in a city-region context

Agroecology and Sustainable Food Systems
2017
Vaarst, M., Escudero, A.G., Chappell, M.J., Brinkley, C., Nijbroek, R., Arraes, N.A.M., Andreasen, L., Gattinger, A., Almeida, G.F.D., Bossio, D. & Halberg, N.
PublisherTaylor & Francis
Source N/A
Volume / Issue42/6
Pages1-26
Total Pages27 pages
Article Link N/A
PDF Linkhttps://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/21683565.2017.1365321?needAccess=true
ISBN N/A
DOI10.1080/21683565.2017.1365321
Editor(s) N/A
Conference / Book Title N/A
Flag N/A
Tagscity-region, equity, governance, nourishment, resilience, resource efficiency; agriculture
Other N/A
Conference Title N/A
Conference Date N/A
Publication DateOctober 04, 2017
Article Date N/A
GS Citation N/A
AbstractBased on urgent needs for food security compounded by a changing climate which impacts and is impacted by agricultural land-use and food distribution practices, we explore the processes of action in implementing agroecological food systems. We identified the following characteristics for an agroecological food system: 1. Minimizing use of external inputs, 2. Extent of internal resource recycling, 3. Resilience, 4. Multifunctionality, 5. Building on complexity and incorporating greater systems integration, 6. Contextuality, 7. Equity and, 8. Nourishment. We focus on the city-region food systems context, concluding with practical drivers for realizing more agroecological food systems in city-region contexts. Agroecological food systems are widely diverse, shaped by context, and achieved through multi-actor planning in rural, peri-urban and urban areas. Application of agroecological food systems in rural–urban contexts emphasize the necessity of diversification, zoning rural–urban landscapes, planning for seasonality in a food systems context, and producing at scale. Rural–urban food systems are a relevant and challenging entry point that provides opportunities for learning how food systems can be shaped for significant positive change. Social organization, community building, common learning, and knowledge creation are crucial for agroecological contextualized food systems, as are the supports from appropriate governing and institutional structures.
Created: 1/14/2018 11:06 PM (ET)
Modified: 1/3/2019 1:37 PM (ET)
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