Environmental Resilience: Food and the City-Zimbabwe

This book explores the production, distribution, regulatory, and management frameworks that affect food in urban settings, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa, where food has been ignored as a 'determinant of success in city planning and management. It demonstrates how urban populations in Zimbabwe and elsewhere have devised ways to produce their own food to supplement their incomes, often through urban agriculture or imported from the countryside. However, the planning and regulatory framework does not facilitate the better performance of food systems.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 202 pages
Publication date: 23 May 2022
Publisher: Springer Verlag, Singapore

This comprehensive book delves into the intricate web of production, distribution, regulatory, and management frameworks that shape food in urban environments. It fills a significant knowledge gap, particularly in the sub-Saharan Africa region, where food, despite its paramount significance, has been relegated to the background as a mere 'determinant of success in the planning and management of cities and towns. Throughout its various chapters, the book showcases how urban populations in Zimbabwe and beyond have ingeniously devised means to produce their own food, serving as a supplemental income source. The production of food primarily occurs through urban agriculture, with some food also being imported from rural areas and sold in both formal and informal stores and stalls. Despite the critical role that food plays in the lives of all city residents, the planning and regulatory framework fails to adequately support the optimal functioning of food systems.

The book underscores the challenges faced by urban dwellers in accessing nutritious and affordable food. It highlights the lack of adequate infrastructure, limited access to land, and the high costs associated with food production and distribution. These factors contribute to food insecurity, malnutrition, and the prevalence of diet-related diseases in urban areas.

To address these challenges, the book proposes innovative solutions and strategies. It advocates for the promotion of urban agriculture, including the development of community gardens, rooftop farms, and vertical farming systems. These initiatives not only provide fresh and nutritious food but also create employment opportunities, promote sustainable livelihoods, and reduce food waste.

Furthermore, the book emphasizes the importance of effective regulatory frameworks and policies that support the growth of the food industry. It calls for the establishment of robust food safety standards, the promotion of sustainable food production practices, and the integration of food systems into urban planning processes.

In conclusion, this book offers a valuable contribution to the field of urban food studies. It sheds light on the complex dynamics that shape food production, distribution, and consumption in urban environments. By highlighting the gaps in knowledge and proposing practical solutions, it aims to empower cities to create healthier, more sustainable, and food-secure communities.

Weight: 332g
Dimension: 235 x 155 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9789811603075
Edition number: 1st ed. 2021