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        The Socio-Cultural Benefits of Urban Agriculture: A Review of the Literature

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        Author
        Ilieva, Rositsa T.
        Cohen, Nevin
        Israel, Maggie
        Specht, Kathrin
        Fox-Kämper, Runrid
        Fargue-Lelièvre, Agnès
        Poniży, Lidia
        Schoen, Victoria
        Caputo, Silvio
        Kirby, Caitlin K.
        Goldstein, Benjamin
        Newell, Joshua P.
        Blythe, Chris
        Attention
        2299/25496
        Abstract
        Despite extensive literature on the socio-cultural services of urban open spaces, the role of food-producing spaces has not received sufficient attention. This hampers advocacy for preserving and growing urban agricultural activities, often dismissed on justifications that their contributions to overall food supply are negligible. To understand how the social benefits of urban agriculture have been measured, we conducted a systematic review of 272 peer-reviewed publications, which drew on insights from urban agriculture sites in 57 different countries. Through content analysis, we investigated socio-cultural benefits in four spheres: engaged and cohesive communities, health and well-being, economic opportunities, and education. The analysis revealed growth in research on the social impacts of gardens and farms, with most studies measuring the effects on community cohesion and engagement, followed by increased availability and consumption of fruits and vegetables associated with reduced food insecurity and better health. Fewer studies assessed the impact of urban farming on educational and economic outcomes. Quantifying the multiple ways in which urban agriculture provides benefits to people will empower planners and the private sector to justify future investments. These findings are also informative for research theorizing cities as socio-ecological systems and broader efforts to measure the benefits of urban agriculture, in its many forms.
        Publication date
        2022-04-23
        Published in
        Land
        Published version
        https://doi.org/10.3390/land11050622
        License
        http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
        Other links
        http://hdl.handle.net/2299/25496
        Relations
        School of Life and Medical Sciences
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