SusUrbiaSusUrbiaSustainable urban life beyond peak oil

Daniel Alcalá Bergquist, PhDU l C t f S t i bl D l tUppsala Centre for Sustainable Development

Uppsala University and Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU)

Aim and dispositionAim and dispositionAim and dispositionAim and disposition

Discuss the potential of urban agriculture (UA) for sustainingDiscuss the potential of urban agriculture (UA) for sustaining urban life beyond peak oil, and for reducing climate change derived from food production and consumptionp p

Present a research project on UA that is currently being initiated ese a esea c p ojec o U a s cu e y be g a edin the city of Rio de Janeiro, RJ

Points of DeparturePoints of Departure

Society’s dependence on fossil energySociety’s dependence on fossil energyMechanized agricultureMechanized agriculture

Current need for food (and excessive demand for consumer products) can only be produced and transported to urban areas p ) y p pby using significant quantities of fossil fuels;

Cities are highly dependent on fossil energyCities are highly dependent on fossil energy

ChallengesChallengesPeak oilPeak oilOil production is peaking – ultimately all fossil energy p p g y gyreserves will be depleted

Climate changeClimate changeFood production contribute some 25% of global COFood production contribute some 25% of global CO2emissions

Necessary to reduce society’s Necessary to reduce society’s dependence on fossil energy!dependence on fossil energy!

The approaching postThe approaching post--fossil erafossil era

Beyond peak oil, and to reduce climate change, society will face vast challenges in providing the growing urbanwill face vast challenges in providing the growing urban populations with food and proper living conditions

Can contemporary urban society exist Can contemporary urban society exist without fossil fuels?without fossil fuels?without fossil fuels?without fossil fuels?

Future development (urban and rural) need to facilitateFuture development (urban and rural) need to facilitate better use of local renewable resources such as tides, wind, rain, soils and solar energy etc.

WhyWhy urban urban agricultureagriculture??

If the threats of climate change and peak oil are taken seriously, it is important to exploreimportant to explore alternative strategies to sustain urban life in thesustain urban life in the future

Urban agriculture may be one such alternativeUrban agriculture may be one such alternative

Potential positive Potential positive effectseffects ((selectionselection))Reduced imports and transportation of food products Cooler microclimates within cities R d d b t tiReduced urban waste generationMore efficient use of local water sources (e.g. rain) Transformation of urban dumping groundsTransformation of urban dumping grounds Elimination of habitats for rodents and mosquitoes etcTherapeutic and aesthetic effects of increased contact with natureTherapeutic and aesthetic effects of increased contact with natureRaised environmental interest among urban dwellers

FewFew studies studies relaterelate locallocal effectseffects to global to global issuesissues ofof resourceresource useuse climateclimate changechange &&issuesissues of of resourceresource useuse, , climateclimate changechange & & sustainablesustainable developmentdevelopment

SusUrbiaSusUrbia –– a research a research projectprojectE i b i lt f t di i li tiE i b i lt f t di i li tiExamine urban agriculture from a transdisciplinary perspective: Examine urban agriculture from a transdisciplinary perspective:

Global energy efficiency SustainabilityGlobal energy efficiency Urban self-sufficiency Food security

SustainabilitySocial dynamics and changeClimate change mitigationFood security

Decrease energy needed to sustain urban lifeDecrease energy needed to sustain urban life

Climate change mitigation

Decrease energy needed to sustain urban lifeDecrease energy needed to sustain urban life

Generate interdisciplinary knowledge on UA as aGenerate interdisciplinary knowledge on UA as at t f t i bl d l tt t f t i bl d l tstrategy for sustainable developmentstrategy for sustainable development

Improve transdisciplinary tools for analyzingImprove transdisciplinary tools for analyzingcoupled socialcoupled social--ecological systemsecological systems

SomeSome research research questionsquestions

Which are the most appropriate agriculture practices available for ensuring sustainable food production and security in a post fossil fuel era?fossil fuel era?

What opportunities exist for making better use of localWhat opportunities exist for making better use of local renewable resources available in urban environments?

How much urban space per person is needed for self-sufficient and sustainable urban food production?

How does implementation of community managed urban agriculture affect social relations and dynamics in urbanagriculture affect social relations and dynamics in urban neighborhoods?

TheoryTheory and and methodsmethodsTransTrans--disciplinary approach to urban food production disciplinary approach to urban food production systems and community structures:systems and community structures:

Systems theoriesEmergy synthesisEmergy (energy memory) = theoretical concept and methodology that accounts for environmental and human support to economic and production processesAction researchAction researchAims at bringing about real-life change during and through the research process while learning applying and generatingresearch process, while learning, applying and generating theory through action

ImplementationImplementation

Initiate and develop research in close collaboration with an urban communityan urban community

Engage participants in experimental research and development of pre-existing agriculture practices

MotivationMotivation

Not only extract knowledge, but also to give Not only extract knowledge, but also to give something back to the local communitysomething back to the local communityg yg y

PhasePhase 11Ti i d J J 2009Time period: January - June 2009 Location: Rio de Janeiro, RJ

Agenda:

Reading up on urban agricultureDeepening discussions with local resource persons Identify urban community y yfor the field study

PhasePhase 22PhasePhase 22Time period: August 2009 – February 2010 L ti U i it f Fl id G i illLocation: University of Florida, Gainesville

Agenda:Preliminary analysis (emergy synthesis)Refine research questions, analytical scope and methodological frameworkWork on article draftsGuest lecturing and conference participation in GGainesville

PhasePhase 33Time period: February – November 2010 Location: Rio de Janeiro, RJLocation: Rio de Janeiro, RJ

Agenda:• Develop and implement the experimental research

design together with the selected urban communityL l k h• Local workshops

• Take part in daily work (participatory observation)C• Continue emergy synthesis

• Analyze social dynamics and community structures• Disseminate results at local (national) institutions

FundingFunding and research and research coco--operationoperationFunding agency:Swedish Research Council (Vetenskapsrådet)

Home institution:Uppsala Centre for Sustainable Development (CSD Uppsala) pp p ( pp )

Host institution (post-doc) U i it f Fl idUniversity of Florida

Local institutions (field work)UFRRJ – Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de JaneiroAS-PTA – Assessoria e Serviços a Projetos em Agricultura Alternativa

Obrigado pela atenção!Obrigado pela atenção!

Contact:

Contact: daniel.bergquist@csduppsala.uu.sedaniel.bergquist@csduppsala.uu.se

www.cemus.uu.se/cefo/omdaniel.htmCelular local no Rio de Janeiro: +55 (0) 21 9589 0599