Elsevier

Public Health

Volume 129, Issue 4, April 2015, Pages 336-341
Public Health

Original Research
Urban agriculture: long-term strategy or impossible dream?: Lessons from Prospect Farm in Brooklyn, New York

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.puhe.2014.12.008Get rights and content

Abstract

Proponents of urban agriculture have identified its potential to improve health and the environment but in New York City and other densely developed and populated urban areas, it faces huge challenges because of the shortage of space, cost of land, and the lack of contemporary local food production. However, large portions of the city and metropolitan region do have open land and a history of agricultural production in the not-too-distant past. Local food movements and concerns about food security have sparked a growing interest in urban farming. Policies in other sectors to address diet-related illnesses, environmental quality and climate change may also provide opportunities to expand urban farming. Nevertheless, for any major advances in urban agriculture, significant changes in local and regional land use policies are needed. These do not appear to be forthcoming any time soon unless food movements amplify their voices in local and national food policy. Based on his experiences as founder of a small farm in Brooklyn, New York and his engagement with local food movements, the author analyzes obstacles and opportunities for expanding urban agriculture in New York.

Introduction

The urbanization of the world's population started in late nineteenth century Europe with the expansion of industrial capitalism. In the twentieth century, cities grew into metropolitan regions, large urban agglomerations with complex economies and structures, on every continent in the world in both rich and poor nations.1 Throughout this process, urban expansion consumed farmland, agriculture increasingly became industrialized, limited to rural areas, and subject to control by financial capital. Small-scale and subsistence farming declined around the world. By the end of the 21st century, if current trends continue, the entire human population could be urban, turning rural areas into even more isolated reserves for agriculture, mining, and tourism. The urban-rural divide will reach its logical conclusion: food production will be isolated from human habitat and there will be very little direct engagement of people with land that produces the means for their subsistence.2

What if, however, urban agricultural production were to expand? There are many possible detours on the way to a completely urbanized world and exclusive rural farming. Climate change and sea level rise could stimulate interest in alternative approaches to human settlement. Severe climate events and the pollution of land and water by factory farms may render more rural land unusable. Instability in global commodities markets may produce recurrent food shortages such as those occurring since 2008,3 which increase the importance of local food production. And the growth of diet-related conditions such as diabetes and obesity could produce greater interest in the production of healthy foods in cities.4

Proponents of urban agriculture in North America have cited a variety of benefits. These include improving access to healthy food, promoting social cohesion, creating opportunities for physical activity, improving urban economic well-being and revitalizing low-income communities. Several recent reviews suggest that while the evidence documenting the population health impact of urban agriculture is still sparse, its multiplicity of benefits and the magnitude of threats to the alternative of industrial agriculture make it likely that it will continue to attract policy maker and food movement interest.4, 5, 6, 7, 8 To inform the needed dialogue on urban agriculture policy among the public health, food, land use, zoning, environmental planning and economic development sectors, both intersectoral analyses and ‘thick’ descriptions of local practice are needed.

Section snippets

Urban agriculture in the United States and the case of New York City

In metropolitan areas throughout North America, long characterized by sprawling residential suburbs and more densely developed city centres, there is a growing interest in urban agriculture. Some cities, such as Portland, Oregon and Vancouver, British Columbia, support local farming that provides a growing supply of fresh produce to residents. Some older industrial cities with large amounts of vacant land, such as Detroit, have a few vibrant local growing projects and many ambitious plans for

New York City's agricultural past and present

The prospect of urban agriculture in New York City appears less daunting if people realize that throughout most of the city's history agriculture and open space were more prevalent than commercial and residential land uses. In 1898, when the City of New York was created, only lower Manhattan below Canal Street (now the financial district) was intensively urbanized. Much of upper Manhattan was farms and estates, and most of the other boroughs thrived on agriculture. The 1898 consolidation,

Issues facing urban agriculture in New York City

The most serious problem facing urban agriculture in New York City is the high price of land, a consequence in part of its scarcity and in part of policy. The principle of ‘highest and best use’ of land (that is, the most profitable use) dominates planning, zoning and tax policies. Commercial and residential zones, which predominate, are taxed at very high rates and there are no areas reserved for agriculture.19, 20 Commercial agriculture in the city could never compete with factory farms in

Conclusions

The scaling up of urban farming could come about because of two major crises facing the city: the epidemics of obesity and diabetes, accelerated by the rise of industrial agriculture and highly processed food, and sea level rise due to climate change. Just as Victory Gardens emerged in response to a crisis, urban farms could promote healthy local food production. They can be a viable alternative land use in the sizeable flood-prone areas of the city, now some 30% of all land. They can help

Ethical approval

None required.

Funding

None declared.

Competing interests

None declared.

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