This presentation by Dr Renata Giedych from the Warsaw University of Life Sciences focuses on the role of urban agriculture in food security, leisure and economic development. It also shows the risks and benefits of urban agriculture.

1. Dr Renata Giedych
Department of Landscape Architecture
Warsaw University of Life Sciences
Urban agriculture: structure,
functions, future challenges

2. Background
• More than 50% of the world's population lives in
cities
• Over 800 million people worldwide depend on
food grown in cities
• Circa 20% of the world’s food is produced in
urban areas
• Low income urban dwellers spend between 40%
and 60% of their income on food each year
Warsaw University of Life Sciences
Dr Renata Giedych
Urban agriculture: structure, functions, future challenges

3. Urban agriculture in nutshell
TIO N
TIG A
MI
ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT
Cabannes, 2006
EN
MAR
K
N
DUCT I O
RO
P
RI SES
RP
TE
RE
ET
IS
SURE
LEI
FOOD SECURITY
SOCIAL INCLUSION
CR
IS
SUB S
IST
LIV EHO
ODS
EDUCATION
CULTURE
HEALTH
E
NC
A
Warsaw University of Life Sciences
Dr Renata Giedych
Urban agriculture: structure, functions, future challenges
C
TI O
R EA N

4. http://blogs.worldwatch.org/
Food security
URBAN FARM
Detroit
URBAN CROPS
Kibera slum, Nairobi
Warsaw University of Life Sciences
Dr Renata Giedych
Urban agriculture: structure, functions, future challenges

5. http://inhabitat.com/
http://www.edenprairienews.com/
Leisure
EDIBLE PLAYGROUND
View Park, Prairiy
COMMUNITY GARDEN
Tempelhof Community Garden, Berlin
Warsaw University of Life Sciences
Dr Renata Giedych
Urban agriculture: structure, functions, future challenges

6. http://inhabitat.com/
http://www.brooklyngrangefarm.com/
Economic development
ROOFTOP FARM
Brooklyn Grange Farm, New York
VERTICAL FARM
Sky Greens Urban Farm, Singapore
Warsaw University of Life Sciences
Dr Renata Giedych
Urban agriculture: structure, functions, future challenges

7. Benefits and risks of UA
• Mitigation of powerty
• Creationg sense of community
• Reduction of household waste
• Reduction of urban heat Island
• Reduction of ecological footprint
• Sustaining wildlife
• Contamination of crops
Warsaw University of Life Sciences
Dr Renata Giedych
Urban agriculture: structure, functions, future challenges

8. Urban agriculture in Poland
The share of agricultural areas in cities
90%
80%
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
Agricultural lands
20%
Other areas
10%
0%
Gdańsk
Toruń
Bydgoszcz
Wrocław
Szczecin
Poznań
Kielce
Rzeszów
Lublin
Katowice
Kraków
16000
Łódź
Warszawa
• Farming is becoming less
important in comparison
to other functions
• Local initiatives in
infancy stage
• Allotment gardens as
main manifestation of
urban agriculture
100%
Decrasing of urban agricultural areas
Warszawa
14000
Łódź
Kraków
12000
Katowice
Lublin
10000
Rzeszów
Kielce
8000
Poznań
Szczecin
6000
Wrocław
Bydgoszcz
4000
Toruń
2000
Gdańsk
Gdynia
0
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
Warsaw University of Life Sciences
Dr Renata Giedych
Urban agriculture: structure, functions, future challenges

9. Municipal policies
Existing agricultural areas
Planned land use changes
Spatial policy of Piastów
Warsaw University of Life Sciences
Dr Renata Giedych
Urban agriculture: structure, functions, future challenges

10. http://metromsn.gazeta.pl
http://kwiatkibratki.pl/wp-content/
Local initiatives
APIARY ON ROOFTOP
Hotel Hyatt Regency, Warsaw
COMMUNITY GARDEN
Konopacki Palace Garden, Warsaw
Warsaw University of Life Sciences
Dr Renata Giedych
Urban agriculture: structure, functions, future challenges

11. Allotment gardens general facts
4941 - number of allotment gardens colonies
43426,6 ha - total area of allotment gardens
350-500 m2 - average size of allotment plot
967 766 - number of individual allotment plots
4 000 000 - number of users
88% - the share of urban allotment gardens in total
5500
5000
4500
4000
3500
3000
2500
2000
1500
1000
500
0
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
Changes in number
of allotment gardens colonies
Warsaw University of Life Sciences
Dr Renata Giedych
Urban agriculture: structure, functions, future challenges

12. Problems of AG development
MUNICIPAL POLICY
 Allotment gardens are seen as a relict of a bygone era
CHANGES IN LEGISLATION
 relaxation of allotment gardens protection rules
OWNERSHIP STRUCTURE
 claims of former owners of the land
URBAN PRESSURE
 allotment gardens are seen as a reserve
for the urban development
HIGH MARKET VALUE OF THE GROUND
 pirice of the AG located close to the city centers
Warsaw University of Life Sciences
Dr Renata Giedych
Urban agriculture: structure, functions, future challenges

13. Functions of AG
Social
Economic
Environmental
Decree on
allotment
gardens
1946

raising the level of the
health

raising the
economic level of
the AG users through
the production of
horticultural crops
Workers
allotment
gardens
act
1949

the use of free time for
the benefit of health

improving of the
financial situation of
AG users through the
production of crops
for own use
Workers
allotment
gardens
act
1981

provide a place for
active recreation

improving living
conditions by
cultivate crops for
own use
Familly
gardens
act
2005

forming a healthy
human environment
satisfy the needs of
leisure and
recreational activities

cultivating crops for
own use



protection of the
natural environment
raising the
environmental
standards
Warsaw University of Life Sciences
Dr Renata Giedych
Urban agriculture: structure, functions, future challenges

14. Final remarks
• UA in Poland is not yet considered as a
tool of sustainable development of the
city
• It should find place in municipal
policies as a measure to improove the
quality of life
• UA can play an important role in
building more resilient and livabe cities
Warsaw University of Life Sciences
Dr Renata Giedych
Urban agriculture: structure, functions, future challenges

15. Thanks for your attention!
contact: renata_giedych@sggw.pl