Urban Agriculture in Switzerland: definition and governance

• Forschungsstelle: COST
• Projektnummer: C12.0088
• Projekttitel Englisch: Urban Agriculture in Switzerland: definition and governance

Schlüsselwörter (Englisch)

Urban agriculture; Switzerland; governance; urban region; sustainability

Forschungsprogramme (Englisch)

COST-Action TD1106 - Urban Agriculture Europe (UAE)

Kurzbeschreibung (Englisch)

Urban agriculture (UA) is an emerging research field in Europe. A Swiss approach to the subject needs to be initiated. The project urban agriculture in Switzerland aims to implement knowledge on that field in two main directions; first in defining the main characteristics of UA in Switzerland; secondly in identifying the place of UA in politics and urban governance. The main hypothesis is that the driving force for the development and legitimization of urban agriculture in Switzerland is its contribution to urban sustainability. These objectives will be carried mostly via a qualitative methodology and a cartography based on two cases studies in representative Swiss urban region (Geneva and Zurich or Basel) integrating local stakeholders. This three year project corresponding to the time-period of a PhD, will be carried out in close cooperation with the COST Action UAE participating to the deliverables of 3 of its working groups and contributing to the Atlas of urban agriculture in Europe.

Weitere Hinweise und Angaben (Englisch)

Full name of research-institution/enterprise: Université de Lausanne Faculté des géosciences et de l'environnement Institut de Géographie et Durabilité (IGD)

Partner und Internationale Organisationen (Englisch)

AT; BE; BG; CZ; DK; EE; FR; DE; EL; IS; IE; IT; NL; NO; PL; PT; SK; ES;SE; CH; UK

Abstract (Englisch)

Urban agriculture (UA) is an emerging research field in Europe. A Swiss approach to the subject needed to be initiated. The project UA in Switzerland aims to implement knowledge on that field in two main directions; first in defining the main characteristics and elaborating a typology of UA in Switzerland; secondly in identifying the place of UA in public policies and urban governance, especially how agriculture is integrated in territorial planning. The general hypothesis is that the UA is an emerging form impulsed by bottom-up initiatives and, when it corresponds to political issues, institutionalised by public policies. Regarding the definition, the main hypothesis is that UA has a high diversity and present characteristics that differentiate it from other forms of agriculture. The main hypothesis related to public policies and planning is that UA is integrated in territorial governance by very different public policies according to agglomerations and types of agriculture. The project is carried mostly via a qualitative methodology and a cartography based on two cases studies in representative Swiss urban regions (Geneva and Zurich) integrating local stakeholders. An important statistical treatment completed by a cartography at the communal scale highlighted some specificities and raised some stakes related to agriculture in urban areas. This is the first attempt to give a quantitative base and specialised approach to agricultural practices in urban regions in Switzerland. This three-year project has been carried out in close cooperation with the COST Action UAE participating in the deliverables (published in a book) and contributing to the Atlas of urban agriculture in Europe. An intense collaboration has also been developed with Agridea (Swiss centre for agricultural and rural development), not only for the research but also in the organisation of workshops and diverse events. One of the main output of the project is the definition of a typology of urban agriculture ranging from urban gardening to professional farms linked to the city. It identifies specific practices related to urban agriculture (urban farms, agricultural land as public space, community supported agriculture, Short food supply chains, etc.). It appeared that urban and peri-urban farmers are developing specific strategies meeting the urban demand in order to maintain the farm viability. Agriculture also appeared as a new management of public spaces and a way to bring green landscapes in the city, without requiring significant planning. Eventually, it also emerged that the strategies implemented by Geneva and Zurich are very different according to the goals assigned to agriculture (enhance urban biodiversity, landscape maintenance, contribute to food security, preserve attractive open spaces, maintain agricultural viability, etc.).

Datenbankreferenzen (Englisch)

Swiss Database: COST-DB of the State Secretariat for Education and Research Hallwylstrasse 4 CH-3003 Berne, Switzerland Tel. [phone] Swiss Project-Number: C12.0088