Centering farmers’ perspectives in assessing the resilience of food farming in rapidly urbanizing regions
Topics: Food Systems
, Urban and Regional Planning
, Agricultural Geography
Keywords: agroecology, resilience, agrifood systems, urbanization, food sovereignty, community-led participatory action research, food system justice, BIPOC-led, equitable food-oriented development (EFOD)
Session Type: Virtual Paper Abstract
Day: Monday
Session Start / End Time: 2/28/2022 05:20 PM (Eastern Time (US & Canada)) - 2/28/2022 06:40 PM (Eastern Time (US & Canada))
Room: Virtual 43
Authors:
Jude A Wait, Western Center for Metropolitan Education & Research
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Abstract
Alarmed by farmland conversion, growing food insecurity, and increasingly threatened resources, multi-stakeholder groups endeavor to improve access to fresh food and protect farmland’s multiple community benefits. To inform the allocation of scarce resources needed to sustain local food production, this transdisciplinary action research investigated farm-level resilience within a fragmented county context. What will be needed to retain and enhance local food production capacity for the long term? Iterative analytical approaches utilized multiple data sources framed by agroecological resilience principles. Immersion in the local food movement, as a researcher, consumer, educator, and farmer advocate, offered ample participant observation opportunities. Primary data also included semi-structured interviews and farming system assessments on 23 farms and two farmer-only roundtables. Analysis of public data compiled from multiple sources documented the high rate of farm turnover, a steady loss of agricultural capacity across all operational scales, and data insufficiencies. My extended case study repeatedly revealed the marginalization of farmers, despite their essential role in the growing alternative agrifood movement. While direct-to-consumer (DTC) markets and supportive institutions strive to improve farm viability in urban regions, even DTC farms are only marginally resilient, at best. This study found an urgent need to redesign local policies, public institutions, and support networks in accordance with stated farmer needs. A pandemic-response assessment informs the next phase of collaborative action research by centering BIPOC-led knowledge production and BIPOC community-led solutions. How does equitable food-oriented development, aligned with food sovereignty goals, serve to advance agroecological resilience and food system justice in metropolitan regions?
Centering farmers’ perspectives in assessing the resilience of food farming in rapidly urbanizing regions
Category
Virtual Paper Abstract
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