Category FAQs Search : Urban Farming
Question: The Public Health and Environmental Benefits of Urban Agriculture: An Analysis of Stakeholder Perspectives
Answer: The potential public health and environmental benefits of urban agricultural systems are
widely accepted to produce outcomes that can improve the overall health of individuals,
communities and the environment. However, professionals, academics, and policy makers may
disagree regarding what those potential benefits are, or they may place different values on the
importance of such benefits. There are substantial economic, political, and physical barriers that
will have a significant impact on the future development of urban agricultural systems, and the
efficacy of each individual urban and peri-urban food system is difficult to measure. Attempting
to quantify a value for healthy environments and communities versus economic activity and the
need for affordable housing is problematic. Stakeholders in the field of agriculture may provide
valuable insights into the reality of a hyper-localized food systems and offer a suitable starting
point to discuss the future policy implications. This study obtained data through qualitative
interviews that supports the idea that stakeholders in the field of urban agriculture share similar
perceptions on the potential public health and environmental benefits—while also dispelling
some previous assumptions and expanding on new research topics. Any public health or
environmental benefits that may be achievable through urban agriculture will only happen when
the political, economic and social barriers are addressed.
(Source: , 23 Sep 2021)