Contemporary Debates in Food and Farming - Assignment Example

To what extent do you think that urban food production can solve the challenges facing the global food system? Date Introduction Currently, irrespective of numerous programs, which varied global states have initiated in quest of curbing food insecurity the menace seems unbowed. This is quite evident with numerous studies by varied scholars arguing the same but advocating states to embrace emergent technological knowhow as an alternative effective approach in resolving the predicament. For instance, use of biotechnology to produce organic food, which I witnessed during a field day after visiting Allens Gardens whose location, is Bethune Road Stoke Newington in Hackney. The region represents one of the global urban communities that have fully embraced urban agriculture with the intention of feeding town people as well as farmers earning from the occupation (Growing Communities, n.d). Hence, prompting me disregard the notion or thought incumbent challenges facing global system are insurmountable due to climatic factors as well as the absence of adequate efforts by global regimes to feed their people. Therefore, based on what I witnessed and learnt during the field trip, I strongly believe urban food production has adequate potential in resolving varied challenges (currently seeming insurmountable) that face global food system as evident in this report. After visiting Allens Gardens, site presents are totally different view and perception of what numerous scholars especially those have not researched urban food production contend. The region besides having provided local farmers with constant income generating venture, they have contributed immensely in resolving food insecurity (Growing Communities, n.d). Hence, contrary to the past when town people used to rely on far distant food are now able to buy just from their vicinity and use it while afresh. This is quite cheaper for there are not many expenses incurred not only the buyers but also farmers for their location is just in the heart of the city where they use organic boxes (Growing Communities, n.d). Therefore, dwellers can adequately and with ease procure any seasonal produce with at least £7.75 a week. This is also echoed by Buckingham (2005, p. 172) where he contends how British women allotment holders have contributed to the resolving of food insecurity. This is due to the shifting of the traditional perception of male being the allotment holders to the current where the female gender own thus being able to adequately provide for their families through gardening in urban areas (Buckingham, 2005). The potentiality of urban faming in the site of my visit is quite evident in the way Growing Communities that approximately 62% of vegetables and 23% fruits that they the immediate population consumes normally originates from the local farms (Growing Communities, n.d). Hence, they do not have to rely on air-freighted, which are a bit expensive besides having reduced nutritional value due to the time they have been on the road while transported to UK (Growing Communities, n.d). Consequently, this has prompted numerous even the growing host a website whereby each individual that normally relies on growing communities’ produce order and check online what they normally want. For instance, Figs 1, 2, 3, 4, & 5 shows different produce from the farms, respective prices and how many people can reliably take each allotment for satisfaction. This proves urban farming compared to the traditional one has significantly advanced where presently is at par with technological knowhow. Hence, customers can adequately and without doubts of the quantity they want are capable of making orders by checking what is in that week based on kind of season. Figure 1: [Large vegetable bag meant for approximately 4-5 people and costs £16.25/week]. n.d. [Image Online] Available at: [Accessed 18Th March 2015] Figure 2: [Large vegetable bag with no potato for approximately 4-5 people costing £18.50/week]. n.d. [Image Online] Available at: [Accessed 18Th March 2015] Figure 3: [Medium vegetable bag for approximately 3-4 people costing £14.25/week]. n.d. [Image Online] Available at: [Accessed 18Th March 2015] Figure 4: [Standard vegetable bag for approximately 3-4 people costing £12 /week]. n.d. [Image Online] Available at: [Accessed 18Th March 2015] Figure 5: [Standard fruit bag for approximately 3-4 people costing £8.75/week]. n.d. [Image Online] Available at: [Accessed 18Th March 2015] Figure 6: [Clients buying and surveying farm produce from sustainable farmers at Stoke Newington Farmers Market]. n.d. [Image Online] Available at: < http://www.growingcommunities.org/market/> [Accessed 18Th March 2015] In addition, urban food production compared to the traditional or conventional farming, its benefits are by far better thus translating to lower prices. This is because of its techniques, which most of them are environmentally friendly like reuse of water as well as waste as relayed by Van Veenhuizen (2006, p. 209 & 210). Therefore, farmers especially in developed states who normally reside in towns do not have any reason of contending their diet related illnesses are due to increased processed products. Since, they are capable of attaining foodstuffs in and out of season at relatively lower prices based on the quantity they want. Due to this cheapness in terms of input, numerous states have embraced it with the intention not only to benefit but also for respective states cut down on wastage of resources that act as in put. Resources in this case range from farm inputs there earlier were meant for conventional farming to even cash used to aid citizens in managing their chronic conditions, which have cost each state’s health sector unequalled funding (Turner, Henryks & Pearson, 2011, p. 490). I think urban food production is a strategic role, which states through agricultural their respective authorities especially in the North have embraced to ensure adequate food for the augmenting population more so in cities (Morgan, 2014). Hence, embracing an inclusive approach especially in cities meant to ensure adequate food without letting people rely those old and tired people from countryside farming for them (Turner, Henryks & Pearson, 2011). I think this will by far manage to curb the insecurity presently numerous states have all along kept on contending is due to climatic conditions. Therefore, community gardening as well as animal husbandry initiatives normally act as a way of empowering communities in feeding for themselves (Holland, 2004). This is without relying on air-freight products as evident in UK whereby presently what emanates from outside the region and consumed by citizens is quite insignificant compared to locally produced goods (Howe & Wheeler, 1999). Mainly, urban food production normally contrary to the conventional mode of farming or farm produce normally includes each person irrespective of one’s status (Blaine, Grewal, Dawes & Snider, 2010). This is because numerous gardens besides utilizing organic method normally are at the vicinity of many people’s residences. Hence, many end up embracing the opportunity to tend for their gardens as a hobby, which is quite productive. This is includes even animal husbandry whereby it is like introducing small scale production in cities. Hence, enabling people save on some money, which they could have used in case they were relying on countryside or far distance air-freighted merchandise (Blaine, Grewal, Dawes & Snider, 2010). In addition, they will have adequate and quality farm produce throughout the year without compromising on their diet. This leads to cities being self reliant because they do not rely on produce from any given reach far from their vicinity, which was contrary to when they used to depend on countryside farmers (Parwinder & Sharanbir, 2012). Another aspect that prompts me believe urban food production helps current global regimes to counter challenges facing global food systems is the present urban increasing population (Harvard T. H. Chan, 2015). This is because its increase directly commensurate with urban agriculture more so in first-time areas besides using any available knowhow to ensure they produce enough for their families leave alone selling (Harvard T. H. Chan, 2015). For instance, some of them use vertical growing as well as roof gardens for they find farming being an intriguing opportunity. Due to this unequalled desire for each to have at least a garden, it translates to increase in produce whereby the states through its respective authorities will not complaining of food insecurity. Because populations have devised ways to at least feed themselves, which is an encouraging move (Martin & Marsden, 1999). This is because for years states have been tiring the countryside little populations into working hard to feed those residing in cities. Presently, this is different as numerous people are trying what they can to plant something without even minding whether one has a small land or not as seen in Figs 7 and 8 below. Since the argument is that one stays in a house that has walls and even roof to use them as necessitated without leaving them to be idle, which also acts as beauty. Due to this thrill of one owning at least an organic garden, presently there are approximately 7,175 markets that normally offers fresh sustainable produce to city dwellers and still the number keeps in augmenting (Harvard T. H. Chan, 2015). Figure 7: [Roof and vertical garden]. n.d. [Image Online] Available at: [Accessed 18Th March 2015] Figure 8: [vertical garden]. n.d. [Image Online] Available at: [Accessed 18Th March 2015] I also think the desire to embrace urban food production will be instrumental in countering setbacks threatening food systems presently due to the desire by those embracing the opportunity. Since, those embracing the norm constitute low income neighbourhoods who are whereby based on studies so far conducted in their areas community gardens are four times more compared to those by well up people (Armstrong, 2000, p. 319). The well up in this case most of them embraces community gardens due to influence from their neighbours, hobby or desire of taking fresh produce anytime they wish (Armstrong, 2000). This is an unequivocal indication of how community urban agriculture can adequately resolve setbacks countering food systems whereby some may not be adequately handled or managed as necessitated. For instance, in the case where some commodities due to large scale production, which entails high input in terms of resources may not be cheaply available as required to the market like fruits (Alaimo, Packnett, Miles & Kruger, 2008). Therefore, through urban agriculture these products will be much available and aid people in countering certain health related predicaments like diabetes. This is quite evident in Alaimo, Packnett, Miles and Kruger, (2008) article where they contend of one being a participant of community gardening has an assurance of consuming both fruits and vegetables at least 1.4 times on daily basis. In conclusion, I still hold onto the notion urban food production presently comprises one of the effective ways, which numerous states’ regimes ought to encourage in dealing with challenges that threaten global food systems. This after convinced by the progress of Allens Gardens whereby local communities are able to acquire whatever they wish cheaply and with heightened convenience. In addition, the urge for people to embrace community gardening at their homes irrespective of whether it is hobby or an opportunity to supplement their diet depicts combined effort to counter food insecurity menace. Hence, directly aid their regimes more so in UK to feed their currently augmenting populations. Embracing of residential gardening has gone to the extent of numerous enthusiasts besides utilizing organic techniques also using any available space to plant whatever they like. This is evident with vertical and roof gardening whereby besides getting farm produce they are beautifying their homes. Therefore, it is appropriate for global states to embrace this mode of farming through devising effective initiatives that will not only encourage people but also equip them with adequate knowhow. This is to ensure increased farm produce that will sustain them irrespective more so in the low income neighbourhoods though they have embraced four times their well up counterparts. encehecne References 2015. Local and Urban Agriculture. [online] Harvard T. H. Channel. Available at: [Accessed 18Th March 2015]. Alaimo, K., Packnett, E., Miles, R. A., Kruger, D. J. 2008. Fruit and vegetable intake among urban community gardeners. Journal of Nutrition Education and Behaviour, 40, 2, pp.94-101 Armstrong, D. 2000. A survey of community gardens in upstate New York: implications for health promotion and community development. Health and Place, 6,4, p. 319-327 Blaine, T. W., Grewal , P. S., Dawes, A. & Snider, D. 2010. Profiling Community Gardeners. Journal of extension. pp. 1-12. Buckingham, S 2005, Women (re)construct the plot: the regen(d)eration of urban food growing, Area, 37, 2, pp. 171-179. Growing Communities. n.d. Our organic box scheme: Growing Communities box scheme provides a delicious weekly selection of seasonal organic produce from £7.75 a week. [online] Available at: [Accessed 18Th March 2015]. Holland, L 2004, Diversity and connections in community gardens: a contribution to local sustainability, Local Environment, 9, 3, pp. 285-305, Academic Search Premier, EBSCOhost, viewed 18 March 2015. Howe, J, & Wheeler, P 1999, Urban Food Growing: The Experience Of Two Uk Cities, Sustainable Development, 7, 1, pp. 13-24. Martin, R, & Marsden, T 1999, Food for Urban Spaces: The Development of Urban Food Production in England and Wales, International Planning Studies, 4, 3, p. 389. Morgan, K. 2014. Nourishing the city: The rise of the urban food question in the Global North. Urban Studies, May 21, 2014 0042098014534902 Parwinder, S. G. & Sharanbir, S. G. 2012. Can cities become self-reliant in food? Center for Urban Environment and Economic Development, The Ohio State University, Wooster, OH 44691, USA. 29, 1 pp. 1-11. Turner, B, Henryks, J, & Pearson, D 2011, Community gardens: sustainability, health and inclusion in the city, Local Environment, 16, 6, pp. 489-492. Van Veenhuizen, R. 2006. Cities farming for the future urban agriculture for green and productive cities. Silang, Cavite, Philippines, International Institute of Rural Reconstruction. Read More