Towards Sustainable Cities: Assessment of Urban Agriculture as a Good Practice

Abstract

Urban agriculture has the potential to be a solution to increase the urban resilience of cities. At the same time, it can help mitigate the effects of the growing food crisis and other crises related to climate change. Through a literature review and case studies, three prime areas of good practices have been researched and highlighted. These are the methods which produce better outcomes when followed. The study indicates that the contributions in environmental, socio-cultural and economic areas are crucial for the sustainability of the urban agriculture practice. Furthermore, the environmental impact of an UA practice depends on its implementations of increasing biodiversity, soil fertility, and water efficiency through several methods. Its socio-cultural impact depends on its capacity of community building, the contribution to the health and the education of its community, and its power to reappropriate a space in consequence of the community engagement. The economic impact comprises its contribution to the local economy, the empowerment an UA practice offers to its most vulnerable community members i.e. women and immigrants, the business tools and its relationship with the legislative bodies ensuring the continuity of the UA practice. Following the areas of impact an assessment criterion has been determined. This criterion was used as a tool to select and evaluate three UA practices in Istanbul. The thesis provides a strategy to implement recommended good practices in these examples and proposes an efficient integration of new UA examples in the urban planning process.