This document proposes three themes for research on urban and peri-urban agriculture (UPA): 1) the extent to which UPA responds to food insecurity during shocks, who participates and where, and what enables it; 2) how to increase UPA's resilience to stresses; and 3) how UPA's environmental services and impacts may change in a warmer world. It suggests locations in Ghana, Tanzania, and Bangladesh for comparison studies and identifies relevant gender, institutional, and policy issues to consider, concluding by listing organizations to partner with going forward.
2. Proposed research theme 1To what extent is UPA a response to shocks that produce food insecurity in urban areas?What is UPA’s extent and does it change with shocks?Who does it and where is it done?What are the enabling conditions for it?How effective is it relative to other strategies?What is its potential for enhancement?What are its limitations?
3. Proposed research theme 2How can UPA systems be made more resilient?Abiotic and biotic stresses to production systemsStresses to supply chain (transportation infrastructure, storage, markets)Novel opportunities for testing adaptation in UPA Knowledge exchangeNetworks and social capital
4. Proposed research theme 3How might environmental services and impacts of UPA change in a warmer world?Water, land and foodSource of nutrient rich foods (+)Use of waste as input (+)Dampening of storm impacts (+)Increased use of pesticides (-)Contamination of food, soil and water (-)Urban heat island effect
5. Possible locations for researchCriteriaComparison of large coastal (near coastal) city and medium size inland cityProposedGhana: Accra and TamaleTanzania: Dar es Salaam and DodomaBangladesh: Dhaka and Rajshahi
6. What are gender dimensions of UPA to consider?Gender X Culture X ActivityIntra- and inter-household food security in urban householdsAccess to information, inputs, creditRemittances
7. What are relevant institutional, policy, and governance issues? Policy environment recognition of UPA beginningpolicies ignore or are detrimental to UPAInformal economy and informal servicesAccess to land, water and other assetsFood quality and safety
8. Going forwardLink with expertsAfrican Food Security Urban NetworkResource Centres on Urban AgricultureFAO’s urban agriculture programmeUN HabitatCGIAR UrbanHarvestProgrammeIHDPSTART’s nascent network