Greening Cities by Growing Food: A Political Ecology Analysis of Urban Agriculture in the Americas

This book explores how urban agriculture (UA) is valued in sustainable cities across the Americas, comparing projects in Rosario, Argentina; Toronto, Canada; Medellín, Colombia; and Charlotte, USA. It highlights the socio-ecological dimensions of the global food system and the impact of global political-economic structures on local efforts to promote social and environmental goals through UA. The study contributes to literature on UA, sustainability, and urban geography by examining the ability of marginalized communities to compete for land and the qualitative values of UA that are not easily captured in statistical representations of economic value.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 116 pages
Publication date: 05 January 2023
Publisher: Springer Nature Switzerland AG

This book delves into the multifaceted valuation of urban agriculture (UA) within sustainable cities. Through a comparative analysis of UA projects in four diverse cities across the Americas—Rosario, Argentina; Toronto, Canada; Medellín, Colombia; and Charlotte, USA—it unravels local manifestations of the socio-ecological dimensions of the global food system, while tracing theoretical and empirical explanations for the impact of global political-economic structures (sustainable neoliberalism) on local endeavors to promote social and environmental goals through UA.

The study makes a significant contribution to the literature on UA, sustainability, and urban geography by exploring the capacity of marginalized communities to secure land for growing produce, thereby contributing to their food security, livelihoods, communities, and environments. It holds particular appeal to UA practitioners, students, and scholars in geography, sociology, sustainability studies, environmental studies, and food studies.

What sets this project apart is its global-local orientation, which employs local cases to shed light on global phenomena related to sustainability, neoliberalism, and policy mobilities. Moreover, its qualitative approach to understanding the perceived value of UA is noteworthy, as stakeholders consistently emphasized the qualitative values of UA (such as social integration for new immigrants) that are not readily captured in statistical representations of the economic value of urban land. Consequently, this book aims to extend our understanding of UA's contributions to cities beyond the food produced, addressing gaps in literature regarding the local manifestations of global policy in UA projects aimed at achieving both sustainability and social justice objectives.

Weight: 203g
Dimension: 235 x 155 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9783030882983
Edition number: 1st ed. 2022