Urban Agriculture: Evaluation and Assessment of Urban Farming and Food Production in Raleigh, N.C.
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Date
2022-11
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Abstract
Food production has shaped the American landscape and the environment beginning with the early native populations and expanding in scale with the first settlers. Along with shelter, the most important necessity for sustaining life is a source of food and water. In the past, tribes and communities moved across the landscape in the search of food, whether it was to hunt with animal migration patterns or gather seasonal fruits, berries, and nuts. This type of forage enabled diversity of food in the diet and allowed food sources to be sustainable and accessible. As populations grew and families migrated to other territories, the demand for staple and livestock feeder crops, such as corn and wheat, created development of mono-culture cropland environments and in areas that were un-sustainable for reliable growth without large irrigation systems. These corporate food production operations replaced family-run farms. A quote from an urban gardener in Atlanta “Those who control the food, control you” places the reality of our current food production and distribution methods into question.
Food shortages occur when natural weather conditions due to climate change factors affect the distribution, production, and human interventions of the supply chain. Limited market locations and increased prices reduce availability of healthy foods in communities. Food deserts and food refugees are the result when disturbance to food distribution chains and resource scarcity occur. There has been a widening gap between food supply and demand in developed and developing countries. The demand for food, energy and water has increased and they are strongly interlinked.
This report will provide an overview of the benefits and limitations of urban farming technologies which provide food to communities in urban areas or areas with disproportionate access to food. The types of innovative urban food production methods will be compared including design considerations, community relationships, investment and infrastructure, location requirements for accessibility and potential environmental effects. The goal of urban farming is to make cities and communities more resilient and less dependent on outside resources for food. Evaluations of existing urban gardening projects in Raleigh, North Carolina, will be included in this report documenting community involvement, production, distribution and space availability and other successful community gardening projects. There should be an understanding of planning policies and opportunities in the community. Existing data from the impacts to food security, water management, biodiversity, economic and environment advantages for planning and investment in the community are to be documented annually for continued financial and community support. Important steps for the development of urban farming include gaining support from local businesses and governments that may provide incentives to help local economics, social systems, and communities with the unifying attributes of urban agricultural oriented projects. This assessment of innovative agriculture examples and designs may supply the guide to help urban planning and city leaders to understand the diverse goals for urban food production projects in the community.
