Urban agriculture in post industrial cities: addressing food insecurity in Glasgow and Detroit

Abstract

As cities evolve in the post-industrial era, urban agriculture has the potential to address
the challenges associated with food insecurity brought about by the loss of manufacturing
and increased urban poverty. This project researched urban agriculture organizations in
the cities of Glasgow and Detroit to determine the extent to which urban farming can
reduce or eliminate food insecurity. The research was conducted in the form of case
studies and interviews were conducted with participants. The goal of the semi-structured
interviews was to gather first hand information about the experiences these initiatives
have had while operating farms in urban areas. Key interview subjects included
background on the organizations, information on day to day operations as well as
questions about the participant’s knowledge of food insecurity and how their organization
approaches the topic. This research was necessary in order to expand the information
available on urban agriculture and it relationship with food insecurity, a growing problem
many cities face. The findings show that urban agriculture initiatives can face challenges
when trying to directly influence food insecurity. However, their community impact and
educational opportunities provide important indirect solutions to the challenge. Overall,
urban agriculture programs provide indispensable support to the communities in which
they work. With increased assistance from local governments and greater public
awareness, these organizations can continue to positively impact the poor and food
insecure communities.