Urban agriculture in and around cities in developed and developing countries: A conceptualization of urban agriculture dynamics and challenges

Abstract

Urbanization is now an irreversible phenomenon, with more and more people living in peri-urban areas, where agriculture is still present. In developed (North) and developing (South) countries, urbanization has been fuelled by rural-urban migration, expectations of better employment opportunities, higher quality of life and better incomes. New functions are also being created in peri-urban areas, so that agriculture is no longer the dominant function in many peri-urban territories. Nonetheless, urban agricultures in and around agglomerations often retain their original function of “feeding the city”. What differentiates North and South urban agricultures? Based on extensive field work and a literature synthesis, a conceptual framework is constructed to better understand the different dynamics and challenges between urban agricultures in the North and South.