CLIMATE CHANGE AND FOOD SECURITY IN CITIES

Transcription

1 Urban Research Symposium 2009 Marseille, France June 28-30, 2009 CLIMATE CHANGE AND FOOD SECURITY IN CITIES NEERAJA HAVALIGI AKAMAI UNIVERSITY, USA ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS To all who gave the time for the surveys telecons and farm To all who gave the time for the surveys, telecons and farm visits, to the visionaries and to those who are becoming one. Thank You. 1

2 AGENDA Agriculture & Climate Change Urban Agriculture Defined Urban Agriculture And Food Security Components of Urban Agriculture Why We Need Urban Agriculture Survey Findings Urban Agriculture and Policy Changes Conclusion AGRICULTURE AND CLIMATE CHANGE The agricultural sector is estimated to contribute anywhere from percent of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Combined with the 13.5 percent emissions s generated e during the transportation of food Agriculture is the single largest contributor to global warming. (FAO, 2006; IPCC, 2007). Accounting for water footprint of conventional agriculture, will add further to its energy and emissions footprint. 2

3 Urban Growth, Food Needs and GHGs More than 50% of the world population now lives in cities. 70 million new urban-dwellers each year. At least 6000 tons of food is expected to be imported into cities each day (Nugent and Drescher, 2000). Urban areas contribute to more than 80% of GHGs. Producing enough food? California alone has put the 2008 drought related losses at more than $300 million. Losses in 2009 could swell past $2 billion. World wide growing seasons of staples are affected and decreasing yields are reported across the regions. 3

4 A Case for Urban Agriculture Increasing fuel and food prices, changing climate and growing food shortages. Urban Agriculture: practice of cultivating, processing and distributing food in, or around an urban area. Urban Agriculture includes (and does not limit to): -backyard sharing, -Gardening and sharing garden produce and -Patio gardening -walls for food -vertical farms -rooftop gardens -vacant lot gardens -Farming in city outskirts -any micro climate in the city used for producing food. 4

5 Urban Agriculture and Food Security Home gardens could grow 50% of food supply on less then 10% of the world s arable farmland. In the United States, the Victory Garden movement provided more than 20 million home gardens were supplying 44 percent of the produce. In Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania, over 67 percent of families are engaged in agriculture, and 80,000 head of livestock located within Cairo city. Continued.. Urban Agriculture and Food Security, Contd. City Slicker Farms in Oakland, California produces about 8000 pounds of produce in its farms, and 15,500 pounds from the 75 backyard gardens. Growing Power ( in Milwaukee and Chicago, USA are successful in addressing the needs of food deserts, growing food using a variety of low-cost farming technologies including use of raised beds, aquaculture, vermiculture, and heating greenhouses through composting. They network with farms within mile radius too. Urban Agriculture with a good network of periurban farms have the potential to address the produce, and dairy requirements of the cities. They could potentially address meat requirements through poultry and fish farming. 5

6 IMPACT OF URBAN FOOD PRODUCTION Urban Food Reduced food Miles/Energy Reduced water footprint Organic cultivation Microclimate adaptation U-topian (almost)! R-educed food miles, water footprint B-an chemicals A-daption to microclimates, Awareness of linkages. N-othing is wasted. Closed loop system. COMPONENTS OF URBAN AGRICULTURE Urban Ecology Education Urban Agriculture Urban Food business Rain Water Harvesting Urban Organic Compost Biodiversity bees, birds, seed saving, heirlooms. Fullcirclefarms, Sustaining Ourselves Locally (SOL), Chez Panisse, Green Restaurant etc. 600 gallons of water can be collected for every 1,000 square feet of roof area for every inch of rain Decreased GHG by use of local nutrients in local areas, sequester carbon above and below ground. 6

7 IMPACTS ON COMPOSTING Urban Composting Decreased landfill Soil enrichment Heat and Methane for energy Greenhouse Gas reduction Reduced transportation Annapolis Royal, Nova Scotia: in its zero waste goal, generated 85% participation rate in backyard composting, diverted 60% of organics waste into compost. Composting can also receive Carbon offset credits (chicagoclimatex.com). IMPACTS ON RAIN HARVESTING Rain Water Harvesting Decreased Water Foot print Effective use of Run off water Energy use Decreased in water transport Recreate local water bodies SFO has legalized rainwater harvesting Rain water harvesting techniques adopted efficiently in the city plan. 7

8 URBAN AGRICULTURE: Why we need it? Biodiversity conservation Waste recycling Water harvest and use Urban Agriculture Microclimate specific crops Micro/macro space use Lower C footprint Cultural and local knowledge sharing Food security SURVEY FINDINGS Over 90% of respondents agreed cities must bolster food supplies locally. Lack of time and expertise was identified as a main impediment for people getting into urban agriculture. More than 90% of people interviewed did not know that organic matter from yard or kitchen ends up in landfills. Smaller carbon footprint of locally grown produce. Cost is a major determinant in shopping locally. Urban Agriculture provides hands on learning experience to urban dwellers to understand the requirements of growing produce. Increased awareness of climate change and food issues can motivate people seek locally grown produce. More people are willing to work with the city toward composting and making edible gardens, for small incentivesfree lessons, decreased water charges, free bins, relaxed regulatory rules etc. 8

9 CHALLENGES FOR URBAN AGRICULTURE Political Social Policy Architecture Waste management rules/regulations Water harvesting equipment/setup Lack of local knowledge and capacities, networking. CONCLUSIONS Urban Agriculture Builds economic resilience & food security Transforms urban dwellers from being pure consumers to community of co-producers Cities can adapt to the regional food systems Organic fertilizer promotes natural waste reduction Provides employment and social networking opportunities Reinforces local character by binding communities Reduces carbon footprint of city dwellers Is an adaptation and mitigation tool for climate change. 9

10 FUTURE RESEARCH Quantification of water footprint for urban produce. Quantification of GHG captured or sequestered by urban agriculture. Methane capture for energy through organic composting and use in urban setting. Biodiversity preserved through urban agriculture. Contribution of urban food production to decreased conversion of land for agricultural uses. Contribution of urban agriculture to education, health and social well being of communities. 10