Revitalization of available open space

in UK through Urban Farming

___________________________________ Achieving food supply by efficiently approaching existing land use

Research Methods P32078

Author: Iyaneshpandian Chandrasekaran

14084856

Supervisor: Jon Cooper

Department of Planning

Oxford Brookes University

ABSTRACT:

This research addresses two important approaches in urban farming

within the context of region that how does public and other open spaces

could be used for urban farming and also how that has to be approached.

The growing urbanism has been a very influential factor which impacts

over farming land, land acquisitions, industrial development respective to

demands, food distance, rise in number of migrants and immigrants,

employments, poverty, hygiene, global warming, public participation in

social activities, community interactions etc.,. Such factors directly or

indirectly influence the quality of living in the cities and also impacts the

qualities and quantities of environment. Many surveys across the globe

had furbished that in 2050 there would drastic increase in the number of

cities compared to current and also serving almost all the population as

resident of the cities. Such circumstances would transfer many towns into

cities, and number of villages would go down considerably thereby

resulting in reduction of farm lands and also drastic rise in number of

consumers. As a result of reduction of farm lands, there would be a

reduction of food supply. Since majority of the population is residing in

the cities and the reduction in farm land and food supply would become a

huge challenge for the growing urbanism. Those conventional farming and

ploughing couldn't happen in the urban context since the availability of

land mass would be of bits and pieces, so innovative technological

supports were expected with major concern of sustainability.

As an approach towards challenge we going to face in future irrespective

of developed or developing cities Urban Farming would be a sustainable

approach to apply in urban centers to meet the demands of food supply.

And we cannot specifically create a landuse in an existing successful

urban structure since it is been functioning positively in urban context

already but we could retrofit or revitalize the available space such as

public and private open spaces, roof tops, pavements etc., And also new

development can be design by including Urban Farming as one of their

design quality to enhance food production. The approach of Urban

Farming not just supports to meet the demand of food supply but also it

will help the urban dwellers and consumers to reconnect with the art of

farming into their cities and neighborhoods'. Does Urban Farming could

actually compensate the rising demand for food supply as well as could it

is capable of producing nutritious food to the society or community

through the year, which would dealt in the research and as a conclusion

of the result we would be arriving at it. As a part of this research, we

would be researching across the available typologies of Urban Farming

and it's maintenance respective to regional context and we would be

studying its impact to urban life style and to its community. Since Urban

Farming is considered one could even imagine about the cost involved in

doing it, and to eradicated the issues of cost impact to major extend we

could consider revitalizing of the open space (public and private) were the

fund involved is very less compared to Vertical Farming, thereby keeping

our research feasible to context.

BACKGROUND/INTRODUCTION:

"Sitopia and the urban paradox

Pre-Occupation with food and its origins, production, make-up and distribution, as well

as its taste and cost, has never been greater amongst city dwellers. Across the globe,

emerging, self-reliant food networks and economics are shaping both the physical and

social aspects of our cities.(Steel, 2014)"

The background of this research concerns about revitalizing the open

space of UK's cities and streets to the context of Urban Farming and its

role in master planning to meet the demands in the context of urbanized

population growth, climatic changes and food production.

The population of the world is rising steadily, so does our urban

population. It is a huge resource to biodiversity but manmade

developments till now doesn't allow us to afford such growth because we

don't have proper sufficient space and food supply. And this rise in

population has came in to scanner at the beginning of 21st century still

the control over it wasn't so fruitful. World has never seen such greatest

shift in human dwelling patterns towards Urbanization (Steel, 2014) and

more than half of the world's population are living in the cities

(Gorgolewski et al, 2011). As per Steel, 2014, the most recent recent

literature suggests "cities are set to dominate the future", which

concludes in near future will be having cities in every city neighborhood.

It is been predicted by 2050, the global population will be cross 9 billion

people and out of which almost 6 billion will be living in the cities (Lim,

2014). There will be a drop in agricultural production of 20 to 40 per cent

due to intense demographic shift and rapid urbanization of arable land

(Lim, 2014). Dickson Despommier, 2011 estimates that current rise in

global population needs farming land utilizing traditional farming methods

an area comparable to the size of Brazil will be required for cropping and

livestock, "which does not exist". Many disagrees to availability of arable

farm land since people visualizes earth with more green space but most of

these green zones are sensory zones which couldn't be touched for the

purpose of farming and constructing. The city should be recognized as

organic entities, inextricably bound to the natural ecosystem and to be

stop seeing it as inert objects. Ancient Greek word Sitopia, sito (food) and

topos (place) is a way of recognizing the central role that food plays in

our lives and of harnessing its potential to shape the world in a more

equitable and productive way (Steel, 2014).

The dualistic needs of human are reflected in the cities and being a

political animal we need to feed our body and soul. We need the company

of others in order to flourish, yet the closer we cluster together (Steel,

2014). As we cohabit, we innovate. Emerging, self-reliant food networks

and economics are shaping both the physical and social aspects of our

cities. These were once a vision but not anymore, now it is the reality and

they are happening now. Social equity, economic and environment

improvements and social outcomes are supported by locally - based food

production, processing, distribution and consumption. The urban paradox

is explored through the lens of food. "Whatever we do in life, we got to

eat" (Steel, 2014). Though it is a simplest fact, it had shaped our entire

world as of now. Professor of Food Policy at City University London, calls

'Leave it to TESCO', Food as to be used as a tool to shape the world (Tim

Lang, 2014). And considering food as one of the focus in planning, urban

planners and designers has a chance to play more innovative roles in

nurturing sustainable cities. It also creates broader spectrum in food

policy in political space to form food as a policy agendas and rest

revolving around it.

Food being one of the primary needs of the life and flow has been

disconnected from our daily experience. In urban circumstances,

production, treatment and storage are isolated from patterns of

consumption. And there is the lack of regaining the valuable materials,

energy and nutrients from the wastes which are cleared away in closed

systems such as garbage trucks and sewage pipes. The little local context

were not considered to its potentiality since the profit concentration is

over the multinationals and reinvested in large scale projects (Jongert,

2014). The typology of preferring small scale urban farming into the

existing cityscape would be an vitalizing factor of dealing with food supply

and there by reconnecting the dwellers with farming which would enhance

the community cohesion. With better community cohesion, the

environmental quality of the neighborhood would be maintained and

developed. And this could pave way for new businesses to grow in the

cities thereby having the check over employment and health. The food

distance would be reduced and also ensures nutritious foods to the

consumers which helps the generation to feel the reality of taste and

smell of the food. The factor of Food Miles (Mougeot, 2008) has been a

huge economical factor which is the cause for the rise is food price, if the

distance is reduced by providing community markets either seasons or

permanent or both will have a greater impact over the price of food

benefiting both the farmers as well dwellers. And even gender based

farming could be applied so that women's in the cities and children could

be kept busy farming and playing around and connecting with the art of

farming. Such reconnection would be the sustainable solution for the

future were the population might grow immensely higher and denser in

the cities. Urban farming not just alone have a check on feed the cities as

said in Hungry Cities, Steel, 2014 also it helps other economic and social

factors and political factors.

RESEARCH QUESTION:

As an extraction from the above mentioned background over the need

and purposes of bring farming into cities, the research as to answer the

following question:

"How to deliver the revitalization of available open spaces

through Urban Farming in the context of demands respective to

supply and community?"

RESEARCH AIM:

In order to answer the research question, research seeks following aims.

• To identify the features and elements of urban farming.

• To identify the urban design development guidelines to enable

urban farming.

• To identify the quantitative approach of urban farming to meet the

demand for food supply.

• To identify the renewable and sustainable resource management

approach to support successive urban farming.

• To evaluate the criteria's of urban farming which facilitates the

betterment of urban social network.

RESEARCH OBJECTIVES:

To achieve all the aims mentioned above, the research requires following

objectives.

1. To develop a framework to understand and analysis over the

policies, theories and practical design approaches in relation with

urban farming.

2. Identify the current innovative technologies and sustainable

approaches with respect to renewable resource management to

support the functioning of urban farming.

3. Reference to objective 1 & 2 develop the urban farming design

development and management guidelines.

4. Utilizing all the above objectives, derive guidelines to evaluate

quantitative analysis of food production.

5. Test the extracted design guidelines and management processes

with the academics and professionals such as urban planners, urban

designers, architects, landscape architects, engineers etc.,

6. Reporting the findings and conclude the research stating the ability

and creditability of urban farming.

METHODOLOGY:

Therefore as mentioned in below figure, the research methods need to

undertake literature reviews which is supported by case study analysis,

extraction of development of design and management guidelines, testing

of the extracted design and management guidelines via interviews and

mappings; and reporting over the findings and concluding the research.

Fig:1 - Overview of Methodology (Author, 2015)

In order to obtain the aim and objectives, the research as to be driven by

a research method called "inquiry by design"(John Zeisel, 1981). And the

research were classified under the following stages as follows:

STAGE 1:

In this stage, the fundamentals of urban farming and its typologies were

examined through literature reviews. And the extracted information or

piece of literature will be used to figure out the features and element of

urban farming involved in both scales (large scale and small scale). Then

the extraction is narrowed down to the small scale features and elements,

its applications methodology would be concentrated.

STAGE 2:

In this stage, through literature review the details respective to waste

management and other sustainable resource management techniques to

date would be discussed. And the date available through this stage would

be suited for the functioning of urban farming in a sustainable context.

STAGE 3:

In this stage, the extracted literature regarding the design and

management would be compiled to produce a framework of the same.

The framework driven through the research helps to proceed further to do

urban design with a focus over urban farming.

STAGE 4:

In this stage, the quantitative analysis of the food production has to be

dealt with the literature reviews and case study analysis. And as to arrive

the quantitative analysis of food production with respective to food type

and population density with respective to the available public and private

open spaces and a feasibility study over the proposal.

• GrowUp urban Farms, London

• Cultivate London Growing Together, London

• Urban Bees, London

• Farm garden, FCFCG, London were the chosen case studies.

STAGE 5:

In this stage, every extracted details would be tested by the academics

and professionals such as urban planners, urban designers, architects,

landscape architects etc., By testing process, the extracted research

details would be narrowed down and refined to achieve the research aim.

STAGE 6:

In this stage, all the aspects required for the research would be refined

and tested, and the core findings would be reported over by any feasible

formats and the research is concluded with the research findings.

LITERATURE REVIEW:

In this stage, research involves three components. Where the first two

components is based on the literature reviews and case study analysis to

figure out the features and elements (typology) of urban farming suitable

to the regional context along with waste management and the later

involves in understanding the framework for the design and management

guidelines to facilitate urban farming in small scale. This includes the

theoretical and physical researches to deliver the required framework to

achieve the research question.

Following are the literature cited till now:

AGRICULTURE IN URBAN PLANNING: Generating livelihoods and food

security.

This book deals with the concrete strategies to integrate city farming into

the urban centers. It draws the original field work in cities across the

rapidly urbanizing global south and deals with the contribution of urban

agriculture and city farming to livelihoods and food security. The robust

and food provision; the socio-economic aspects of urban composting;

urban agriculture as a viable livelihood strategy; strategies integrating

city farming into urban centers; and the complex social-ecological

networks of urban agriculture were covered through case studies.

AGROPOLIS: The social, political and environmental dimensions of urban

agriculture.

This book formulates the strategies of urban agriculture which is an

increasingly popular practice in cities worldwide. The critical aspects for

the urban poor and employment has been addressed and this is the first

findings of the original field research projects funded by DRC's

AGROPOLIS International Graduate Research Awards on Urban

Agriculture.

FARMING THE CITY: Food as a tool for today's urbanism.

This book is all about how to use food as a tool for growing urbanization

with the aspect focusing over the small scale of urban farming. And

addresses the stats of estimated population by 2050 could be feeded

through urban agriculture and identifies the issues such us food miles,

foodprints and co2 emissions. It also offers achievable and affordable

solutions to process and rethink local food system in a positive way

affecting the neighborhoods', communities, politics and people.

HUNGRY CITIES: How food shapes our lives.

This books deal with the relationship between the food and the cities, and

how des food shapes the cities. And the aspects of small scale urban

farming to reconnect the dwellers with the food production and farming

along with making the community to understand the purpose of it. And it

also discusses the scope of healthier food productions in the urban center

and how does it would impact over the health of the community both

physically and mentally.

SUSTAINABLE URBANISM: Urban design with nature.

This books discuss with the neighborhood development to maintain the

environment quality and urban design aspects with respective to nature.

It calibrates the functionality of high density population in a sustainable

designed environment were transportation and landuse were critically

analyzed.

THE VERTICAL FARM: Feeding the world in 21st century.

This books illustrates ad focus on large scale urban farming and mainly

over the vertical farming in the urban centers or cities. And hw does the

vertical farming could be incorporated into the high rise building and

could be productive through the year and as well as how it collaborates

the landuse as a mixed. The details over the management criteria's were

discussed which helps the farming building to function in sustainable way

and also how could these building can generate energy and waste

management processes.

WOMEN FEEDING CITIES: Mainstreaming gender in urban agriculture and

food security.

This books deal with gender based urban farming in the African countries

and how does community cohesion and farming is fruitful in practical

aspects. And it also explains strategically how to propose the typology of

urban farming in to the regional context with respective to the available

recourses. Not just greens and fruits were a part of urban agriculture but

also livestock management helps to maintain the high nutrition's in food

supply, the authors deals with these subject with many case studies. And

the gender based farming could up very economically productive by mean

of women's holding upper hand in community farming thereby increasing

the annual income rate and also the strategies to reinvest the profit back

to the farming and also improving standard of living.

CONCLUSION:

This section as set out as the preliminary part of the research and the

background of the topic is to illustrate the need and purpose of urban

farming in urban context. And as a approach towards creating the public

and private open space of UK as an edible space, through small scale

urban farming as the strategy. And with detailed examining of the

background the research questioned as been put out to identify and

respective aims to achieve. As part of research, to achieve the respective

aim mentioned at the beginning certain stages of objectives have been

proposed and through specific research methodologies it could be

achieved and it's been furnished in above discussion.

The next phase of the research would be the detail understanding of the

literature reviews with case studies to derive the framework of design

principles and management guidelines. The same framework would be

used to analysis and even propose the existing site conditions in UK cities.

And the phase includes how does the set up framework could be tested

and evaluated to achieve the research question and aim.

BIBILIOGRAPHY:

Cities, Independent Research Organisation, 2014. Farming the City. 1st ed. Amsterdam: Trancity & Valiz.

Despommier, Dickson, 2011. The Vertical Farm: Feeding the World in the 21st Century. 3rd ed. New York: Picador.

Farr, Douglas, 2008. Sustainable Urbanism: urban design with nature. 1st ed. New Jersey: Farr Associates.

Hovorka, Alice et al, 2009. Women Feeding Cities: Mainstreaming gender in urban agriculture and food security. 1st ed. Rugby: Practical Action.

Mark, Redwoods, 2009. Agriculture in Urban Planning. 1st ed. London: Earthscan.

Mougeot, Luc J A, 2005. Agropolis. 1st ed. London: Earthscan.

Steel, Carolyn, 2013. Hungry City: How Food Shapes Our Lives. 3rd ed. London: Vintage.

LIST OF FIGURES:

Fig:1 - Overview of methodology