Urban and periurban agriculture spaces and environmental risks management. Findings from Bangkok (Thailand) and Toronto (Canada)
Urban and periurban agriculture (UPA) is a key component of the urban environment. Beyond their contribution to food security, they play a role in addressing environmental and climate-related hazards in urban settings. In particular, they may contribute to flood management and urban heat island effect reduction. Can these environmental roles be a leverage to support the protection of agricultural spaces within and around cities? How are these functions integrated into urban planning and uses of the urban space?
This paper will draw upon a literature review that assesses the different environmental contributions of UPA, and on first-hand data from two fields:
- a fieldwork conducted in Bangkok (Thailand) in 2016 with an extra fieldtrip in 2019, that dealt with the dynamics of UPA in the city and its role in the water and flood management;
- an exploratory fieldwork conducted in Toronto (Canada) in 2018 that dealt with the intersection of UPA and environmental risks management.
The data includes interviews with farmers and various planning authorities, as well as local activists and other informants in both cities. The approach is qualitative. The paper discusses how the environmental role of UPA is perceived and used by different actors and how it influences the dynamics of agricultural spaces within and around the cities. The comparative approach allows to discuss whether the existence of a political food movement in Toronto (and a Food Policy Council) contributes to a better recognition of the environmental benefits.
This data set has not published yet. The results suggest that UPA remains to be fully integrated into urban planning, and in particular into risks management in both cities. However, it seems that it is increasingly perceived by planners as a green infrastructure that can play a role in flood management — which also raises issues as to the food provisioning function that hence becomes secondary.
The presentation can be done in English or French.
Mots clés : Urban agriculture|Environmental Risks Management|Urban expansion|Bangkok|Toronto
A103191GP