Sustainability Leadership in Urban Farming/Agriculture: Food (Security) for Thought
The Future of Public Administration Scholarship and Practice – Assess, Adapt, Advance
12th Annual SPMA International Conference on Public
Administration and Management
25-26 October 2019
Enslin van RooyenUniversity of Limpopo
Aim of the Research
To investigate how sustainability leadership may promote successful
Urban Farming/Agriculture in South African urban and peri-urban
settings.
Research Question
What kind of leadership is required to ensure sustainable Urban
Farming/Agriculture in South African urban and peri-urban settings?
Research Approach and Methodology
The research is qualitative and twofold; The project comprises an extensive literature survey involving
sustainability leadership, specifically focused on urban farming/agriculture practice.
Following, will be field research comprising interviews/questionnaires with/to key functionaries in selected South
African municipalities to investigate sustainability leadership in promoting Urban Farming/Agriculture in the
Country.
A phased approach is followed:
Phase 1 involves a desktop study, involving secondary research on Urban Farming/Agriculture modalities, as
expounded in the stated research objectives.
Phase 2 involves field research to establish if the preliminary ‘model’ suggested during Phase 1 may be applicable
in municipal areas.
Objectives of the Research – Phase 1
• To peruse current Urban Farming/Agriculture trends and dimensions and characteristics;
• To peruse the policy environment relating to Urban Farming/Agriculture in South Africa;
• To investigate reasons for local government’s support for, and instituting Urban Farming/Agriculture
• To investigate Urban Farming/Agriculture in relation to integrated development planning (and an IDP)
and local economic development (and an EDP);
• To position sustainability leadership in relation to urban farming/agriculture practice in municipalities;
and
• To develop a preliminary model consisting of key elements that leadership should attend to, to
promote sustainable Urban Farming/Agriculture.
Urban Farming/Agriculture - Defined
“…the growing of plants and the raising of animals
within and around cities.”
“Urban agriculture includes production (beyond that which is strictly for home consumption for educational purposes), distribution and marketing of food and other products within the cores of metropolitan areas and at their edges.”
“The growing, processing and distribution
of food crops and animal products — by
and for the local community — within an
urban environment.”
Difference Between Urban Agriculture and Urban Farming –General Observations• Urban agriculture involves “field” or “livestock” cultivation - farming and husbandry are merely two major
divisions of agriculture
• Urban agriculture covers a vast area including production, research and development - farming is the process of
the implementation of agricultural activities
• The research part of the agriculture covers genetic engineering, plant breeding, and plant protection etc.
• Modern urban agriculture considers the sustainability of farming and relevant safety measures
• Different types of farming – e.g. collective farming, factory farming, intensive farming, protected culture farming,
and organic farming – all in an urban setting
• Farming techniques and agriculture techniques are used interchangeably or mixed
• Terminology - In practice, Urban Farming/Agriculture are often used interchangeably
Urban Farming/Agriculture - Characteristics
• Subsistence orientation (mostly)
• Sustained by urban residents’ labour and effort
• Urban resources e.g. organic waste and waste water sustains and irrigates the plants and feeds the animals
• Local communities and visitors to the area (city/town/village) consume the produce and employment
opportunities may be created
• Urban Farming/Agriculture activities and land resources often compete with other urban functions e.g. housing
or general infrastructure development
Urban Agriculture – 6 Dimensions
When Urban Farming/Agriculture is analysed, 6 dimensions are observed:
• First – Types of Actors Involved – e.g. urban poor, unemployed, women, youth, the elderly
• Second – Types of Location – e.g. intra-urban, peri-urban, public/private land, school yard and hospital property
• Third – Types of Products – e.g. vegetables, fruit, animals, non-food products (medicinal/aromatic)
• Fourth – Types of Economic Activity – e.g. production, processing, marketing service delivery
• Fifth – Product Destination and Market orientation – e.g. self-consumption, surpluses trade (bartering, farmers
markets, local shops, supermarkets, intermediaries)
• Sixth – Scales of Production and Apposite Technology – e.g. individual, micro-farm, medium farm, basic-
agrarian, advanced/intensive (hydroponics, aquaponics
Policy Perspectives on Urban Agriculture
• When policies for Urban Farming/Agriculture are considered, 3 essential perspectives form the ‘driving force’ of policy
initiation and development:
• The social perspective
• The economic perspective
• The ecological/esthetical perspective
• The three policy perspectives on Urban Farming/Agriculture allow alternative policy measures, in relation to the actual
situation in the city and the existing policy priorities
• The three policy perspectives are not mutually exclusive - practically based on a specific mix of the three perspectives –
• Giving different emphasis to a certain perspective(s) in certain locations, with particular categories of the
population; and
• Another perspective in other parts of the city territory and with other stakeholders/beneficiaries
Policy Perspectives on Urban Farming/Agriculture –Continued…
• Due to the cross-cutting and multi-dimensional nature of Urban Farming/ Agriculture, policy development should involve various
actors
• Policy considerations should also be:
• Multi sectoral – Business/Government/Community (Stakeholders)
• Multi spherical – National Government/Provincial Government/Local Government (Metro/District/Local municipalities)
• Multi functional – Agriculture/Health/Waste
• Management/Energy/Community development/Water/Environment and Nature Conservation etc.
Reasons for Local Government’s Support for & Instituting Urban Farming/Agriculture
• Contributes to urban food security and nutrition – health/survival
• Economic impacts – SMMEs/stimulating local economic ecology
• Social impacts – social cohesion/reduction in crime
• Contributions to urban ecology – waste water for irrigation, utilisation of waste products (plastic containers,
rubber tyres, glass, paper pulp, compost, restaurant food waste)
Municipal Integrated Development Planning (and Plan) & Local Economic Development Planning (and Plan)
Including Urban Farming/Agriculture into IDPs may have the following advantages:
• Entrench Urban Farming/Agriculture policy(cies) and formal acceptance of urban agriculture as an urban land use
• Formalise and enhance access for urban farmers to vacant open urban spaces and the security of agricultural land
use
• Enhance the productivity and economic viability of urban agriculture by improving access of urban farmers to
training, technical advice, and credit and supporting the establishment and strengthening of urban farmer
organisations
• Instituting measures that prevent/reduce health and environmental risks associated with urban agriculture
Urban Farming/Agriculture – Food (Security) for Thought
International example - The world’s first floating dairy farm
houses 40 cows and is hurricane resistant
Urban Farming/Agriculture – Food (Security) for Thought
17 Year old Pretoria girl’s success in aquaponics
Urban Farming/Agriculture – Food (Security) for Thought
Hydroponic rooftop farms in Jo’burg
Urban Farming/Agriculture – Food (Security) for Thought
Vertical farming – Less space, less water, higher yield
Urban Farming/Agriculture – Food (Security) for Thought
Indoor Urban Farming/Agriculture
Sustainability – Triple Bottom Line
Sustainability encompasses 3 key interlocking aspects:
1. Environmental concerns – should not be harmful to the environment – includes mitigation
modalities etc.
2. Social impacts – beneficial to society, promotive of human development and wellbeing
3. Economic concerns – makes economic sense, feasibility aspects, job creation, poverty alleviation
etc.
Sustainability Leader/Leadership - Defined
• A Sustainability Leader is “Someone who inspires and supports action towards a better world.”
• Sustainability Leadership is enacted through “mindful actions and behaviours embracing a global
world-view to recognize the connection between the planet and humanity; thereby, through personal
and organizational choices, effects positive environmental and social change.” - Sustainability
Leadership embraces the triple bottom line concept (People, Planet & Profits)
Sustainability Leadership Contextualised - Applying Essential Principles
A sustainability leader:
• Understands the interconnections of systems - It is vital to recognize how each group of
related factors (people, objects, processes, etc…) are connected and impact each other
• Thinks globally and toward the future - Considers what current and future impact(s) of each
decision may have on society, oceans, animals, communities, waste affairs, resources,
etc…(makes decisions that will reduce the negative impacts on destitute, disenfranchised and
vulnerable people)
• Protects nature and people - Distinguishes how actions affect people and the environment
• Transforms business as usual - Changes habits to reduce any negative environmental
impact(s)
• Leads by example in their actions – Acts environmentally responsible and holds others
accountable for environmental behaviour and impact(s)
Sustainability Leadership - Key Elements of Successful Urban Farming/Agriculture Extensive literature survey has indicated that Urban Farming/Agriculture may be influenced by:
No 1 - Facilitative policy (Regulatory Framework)
No 2 - Supportive infrastructure and strategy
No 3 – Pro-Urban Farming/Agriculture land use arrangements
No 4 – Capacity building
No 5 - Public participation and consultation
No 6 - Partnership – Business, Government & Beneficiaries
No 1:Facilitative Policy (Regulatory Framework) – National, Provincial and Especially Local Government Spheres
• Formal acceptance of Urban Farming/Agriculture as an urban land use and policy instrument to
promote food security and poverty reduction
• Integration into development and land use (NDP, PG&DPs, IDPs and Spatial Development Plans)
• Policy lies the foundation for an effective regulatory framework to direct the development of Urban
Farming/Agriculture
• Existing policies and by-laws that may impact or hamper Urban Farming/Agriculture to be reviewed:
- identify and remove unsubstantiated legal restrictions
- integrate more adequate measures to effectively stimulate and regulate the sustainable urban
farming/agriculture in practical terms
No 2:Supportive Infrastructure and Strategy
• Create an ‘institutional home’ for Urban Farming/Agriculture in municipalities e.g. part of LED Department – a
dedicated lead agency (adequately resourced - physical, knowledge and administrative infrastructure)
• Establish inter-spherical and inter-departmental working groups to coordinate Urban Farming/Agriculture
modalities (programme/project management modalities):
• Communication management planning/plans
• Financial/funding/cost management planning/plans
• Integration management planning/plans
• Procurement management planning/plans
• Resource management planning/plans
• Risk management planning/plans
• Stakeholder management planning/plans
• Technology/knowledge management planning/plans
No 3:Pro-Urban Farming/Agriculture Land Use Arrangements
• Establishing an inventory of the available vacant open (government owned) land within the city
• Improve the suitability of available tracts of land/infrastructure – clean-up/reworking Brownfields
• Integrating individual or community gardens in new public housing projects and township upgrading
schemes – ‘greening’
• Integration of urban agriculture in urban land use planning and zonification
• Promotion of multifunctional land use – urban farming and tourism symbiosis
• Providing assistance to reallocation of those urban producers that are poorly located – translocation
to suitable spaces
• Stimulating landowners to give vacant land in longer term leases for agriculture – tax incentives
• Temporal lease of vacant municipal land – servitudes, buffer zones, flood zones, land underneath
power lines, land earmarked for future development (extended future development)
No 4:Capacity Building
Educating and Training Urban Agriculture participants and stakeholders (public officials, urban
farmers, unemployed adults, youth, women, entrepreneurs & pensioners):
• Technical - Farming
• Business – Financial management, Marketing, Project management, Human resource
management etc.
• Public affairs – Policy and Governance
• Leadership
• Environmental sciences
• Disaster management
• Citizenship & Life sciences
No 5:Public/Stakeholder Participation and Consultation
• Stimulating the dialogue and co-operation among the direct and indirect stakeholders in Urban
Farming/Agriculture
• Establish a multi-actor platform and working group(s) on Urban Farming/Agriculture - joint
analysis of :
- Problems/challenges
- Possible alternative solutions
- Choice of best solution
• Coordinates the process of interactive and mutual formulation of policy and the planning and
implementation of strategies by the various actors
• Follows the Public Participation Model of: Informing-Educating-Consultation-Feedback
No 6:Partnerships – Business, Government & Beneficiaries
Consider –
• Partnerships should be mutually beneficial – e.g. financially, socially, environmentally
• Partnerships should involve constant formal and informal liaison (communication) – e.g. Multi-
stakeholder Forum on Urban Agriculture (assisted by multi-disciplinary working groups)
• Partnerships may be multi-faceted, multi-spherical, vertical/horizontal and multi-sectoral
• Partnerships are unique to the locus and focus of a particular programme/project
• Partnerships should be closely designed and managed in terms of the existing policy and regulatory
framework that govern:
• Service delivery agreements
• Farming/agriculture
• Sustainable development and environmental management
• Growth and development strategies/plans
No 6:Partnerships – Business, Government & Beneficiaries
Consider –
• White Paper on Municipal Services Partnerships, 2004
• National Treasury PPP Unit – Municipal Services and PPP Guidelines
• Municipal Public Partnership Regulations
• Municipal Finance Management Act, 2003
• Municipal Systems Act, 2000
• Municipal Structures Act, 1998
• Intergovernmental Relations Framework Act, 2005
• Relevant agriculture oriented legislation
• Relevant environmental management oriented legislation
• Relevant municipal by-laws e.g. land use, spatial planning, urban farming etc.
• Government spherical growth and development plans
Sustainability Leadership and the 6 Key Elements
It is therefore postulated that sustainability leadership may be optimised if decision makers (in
government/Business/Community – beneficiaries and stakeholders) act as influencers to ensure that a
proper mix of the 6 Key Elements are considered whenever Urban Farming/Agriculture is planned,
practiced, monitored and evaluated.
Towards a Model for Sustainability Leadership in Urban Farming/Agriculture
Key elements:
• No 1 - Facilitative Policy (Regulatory
Framework)
• No 2 - Supportive Infrastructure and
Strategy
• No 3 – Pro-Urban Farming/Agriculture
Land Use Arrangements
• No 4 – Capacity Building
• No 5 – Public/Stakeholder Participation
and Consultation
• No 6 - Partnerships – Business,
Government & Beneficiaries
Conclusion
• This paper presented preliminary findings (Phase 1) of a phased research project on sustainability
leadership as it relates to the promotion of urban farming/agriculture practice in municipalities in
South Africa.
• Resulting from the (secondary) research, a preliminary model was developed, which may serve to
promote successful Urban Farming/Agriculture in municipalities in South Africa.
• Phase 2 would involve ‘testing’ the said model by soliciting the opinions of key functionaries and
experts in terms of sustainability leadership as it practically relates to urban farming/agriculture in
municipalities.
