Introduction

Once governmental authorities and support institutions (public, non-profit, private) better understand the current state of urban agriculture found in their city (see Modules 10 and 11), as well as the contributions it can make to some of their policy goals (Modules 5 and 6), they often seek to facilitate the development of urban agriculture by means of pro-active policies and intervention strategies that enhance the socio-economic and nutritional benefits of urban agriculture, while reducing its associated health and environmental risks. Policies and interventions to support urban agriculture may be oriented at poverty alleviation, improving food security, local economic development, community building, environmental management or seek to develop a specific combination or succession of them (with different target groups or zones of the city in mind). For example, a local government concerned about growing food insecurity or the exclusion of certain groups of citizens will probably focus on the food security and social dimension of urban agriculture. Cities that are emphasising local economic development will focus on the economic dimension of urban agriculture or seek to stimulate subsistence farmers to move into the market sector. Local authorities concerned about the living climate, growing waste management problems or  the negative environmental or health effects of some types of urban agriculture may concentrate on the environmental dimension of urban agriculture, or seek to promote a (policy) shift from high-input commercial agricultural production to sustainable and multi-functional agriculture.

This module starts by presenting some of the results generally found in situation analysis on urban agriculture as to lay a basis for identification of types of intervention strategies and courses of action for further development of urban agriculture. In doing so, it will illustrate some of the policy instruments that can be used to enhance urban agriculture development (legal, economic, educational and urban planning tools). It will then present a series of important issues to be considered in formulating policies and intervention strategies related to urban agriculture. Where possible, these strategies will be illustrated with concrete examples. Students will be asked to reflect on the possible application of the illustrated policy instruments and support measures for specific groups of urban farmers in their city.

Learning objectives

After completing this module, you will be able to:

• Discuss commonly found constraints to the development of urban agriculture.
• Explain what – in relation to the above – are most important key policy issues in urban agriculture to be considered when developing policies or intervention strategies in support of urban agriculture.
• Present for each of these issues a number of alternative policy measures / courses of action (that you may suggest for consideration to local stakeholders and authorities).