Availability, Access and Usability of Land for Urban Agriculture

Land is an important resource for urban agriculture. Urban farming requires some land space, irrespective of whether the farming system is soil-based or not. Therefore land is and will remain a resource of particular concern to urban farmers. But land, or rather the adequate use of the land, is of increasing concern also to planners and municipal policymakers who have to consider the various demands on the land and its functions in and around the city. Urban agriculture has always been part of urban settlements. In the past and even today many urban inhabitants turn to it as part of their livelihood strategy. Although the quantity of food produced by city farming does not match up to that outside the city, its impact is quite considerable. Yet, national and municipal policy do not acknowledge this important role, but consider urban agriculture as something of the past, and one that does not have a place in modern urban design. This poses several key challenges for urban farming: urban land is either not available or not accessible; and when available, it is most often not suitable.