Enhancing Food Security by Institutionalizing Collaborative Food Alliances in Urban Areas

Narrowing the food supply-demand gaps between urban and rural areas within a regional space has today become a serious challenge due to the growing urban population. Resultantly, urban markets are increasingly being dominated by industrial food chains, despite their negative socio-environmental impacts. To address this issue, this paper discusses the need and significance of ‘Collaborative Food Alliances’ (CFAs), which promote the direct supply of food products from rural farmers to urban residents through improved producer–consumer relationships. Based on the literature survey, this study underlines that the current CFAs are confronted with several challenges including the small scale of functioning and limited financing. While the current research on CFAs is focused on theoretical place-based studies, this paper argues that institutionalization of CFAs at a large scale is highly important for enhancing food security in urban areas. It mainly deliberates on two key aspects: (a) The process of institutionalizing CFAs and (b) A feasible financing mechanism to support CFAs. This paper emphasizes that urban local governments have a central role to play in institutionalizing CFAs, either as a lead agency or as a facilitator. It concludes with specific suggestions on three key determinants of multi-stakeholder engagement, financial constraints and policy coordination at a regional level.

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Is global dimming and brightening in Japan limited to urban areas?

10.5194/acp-2016-559 ◽

2016 ◽

Author(s):

Katsumasa Tanaka ◽

Atsumu Ohmura ◽

Doris Folini ◽

Martin Wild ◽

Nozomu Ohkawara

Keyword(s):

Solar Radiation ◽

Rural Areas ◽

Urban Areas ◽

Large Scale ◽

Temporal Trends ◽

Surface Radiation ◽

Surface Solar Radiation ◽

Decadal Time Scale ◽

Global Dimming ◽

Urban And Rural Areas

Abstract. Observations worldwide indicate secular trends of all-sky surface solar radiation on decadal time scale, termed global dimming and brightening. Accordingly, the observed surface radiation in Japan generally shows a strong decline till the end of the 1980s and then a recovery toward around 2000. Because a substantial number of measurement stations are located within or proximate to populated areas, one may speculate that the observed trends are strongly influenced by local air pollution and are thus not of large-scale significance. This hypothesis poses a serious question as to what regional extent the global dimming and brightening are significant: Are the global dimming and brightening truly global phenomena, or regional or even only local? Our study focused on 14 meteorological observatories that measured all-sky surface solar radiation, zenith transmittance, and maximum transmittance. On the basis of municipality population time series, historical land use maps, recent satellite images, and actual site visits, we concluded that eight stations had been significantly influenced by urbanization, with the remaining six stations being left pristine. Between the urban and rural areas, no marked differences were identified in the temporal trends of the aforementioned meteorological parameters. Our finding suggests that global dimming and brightening in Japan occurred on a large scale, independently of urbanization.

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Nutrient-Dense Crops for Rural and Peri-Urban Smallholders in Kenya—A Regional Social Accounting Approach

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su11113017 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 11 (11) ◽

pp. 3017 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Henning Krause ◽

Anja Faße ◽

Ulrike Grote

Keyword(s):

Food Security ◽

Rural Areas ◽

Urban Areas ◽

Supply And Demand ◽

Small Scale ◽

Social Accounting ◽

Income Effects ◽

Multiplier Analysis ◽

African Indigenous Vegetables ◽

Stability Dimension

Kenya ranks among the countries with the highest micronutrient deficiency worldwide. Due to their high micronutrient content, African indigenous vegetables (AIVs) can be a solution to this problem, and urban areas in Kenya have seen a rise in demand for these crops in the previous decade. To fill the gap between supply and demand, programmes to promote AIV production have been implemented in rural and peri-urban areas. However, the effects of increased AIV production on income and food security in the regional economies are not clear. Thus, in this analysis, we first evaluate differences between the livelihoods of household groups with different levels of food security in rural and peri-urban Kenya using a two-step cluster analysis. Then, we generate a regional social accounting matrix (SAM) and calculate the direct and indirect income effects of AIVs and other crops grown in the area using a multiplier analysis. For the analysis, a total of 706 small-scale vegetable producers in four counties in Kenya were interviewed in 2015. Households in rural areas were more food insecure, especially with respect to the utilization and stability dimension of food security. Multiplier analysis showed increased indirect income effects of AIVs in the regional economy compared to those of many cash crops. We suggest further promoting the production of AIVs in rural and peri-urban Kenya.

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China’s Low-Carbon Urbanization Progress and Pathway

Chinese Journal of Urban and Environmental Studies ◽

10.1142/s2345748115500281 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 03 (04) ◽

pp. 1550028

Author(s):

Benfan LIANG ◽

Jiahua PAN ◽

Ying ZHANG ◽

Yanchun MENG ◽

Shouxian ZHU

Keyword(s):

Rural Areas ◽

Urban Areas ◽

Large Scale ◽

Great Influence ◽

Low Carbon ◽

Human Beings ◽

High Carbon ◽

Ecological Civilization ◽

Urbanization Rate ◽

Urban And Rural Areas

Low-carbon urbanization is the integration of urbanization and low carbonization. It is the low-carbon transformation of current urban areas, the new trend of developing model of urban and rural areas, which includes the low-carbon transition in production, living style, and ecological spaces, the low-carbon reform in economy, society, structure, and the developing model, as well as changing urban areas from high-carbon style to low-carbon style. The urbanization rate of China is almost the same with global average level, and is expected to reach 80% in 2050. Currently, urbanization replaces industrialization, becoming an important force influencing socio-economic development, climate and ecological environment changes, international relations, and political patterns. With a 2[Formula: see text]C rise in temperature, human beings have to face a series of risks brought by climate change. China’s large-scale urbanization is of great influence on others. In this context, it is necessary to take a scientific cognition of China’s urbanization process, clarifying urbanization developing pathway, turning carbon constraints into carbon bonus, avoiding high-carbon lock, and then to take opportunities in promoting economic structure under “new normal” conditions, accelerating the upgrade from urban civilization to ecological civilization, and to reach both 100-year goal and low-carbon developing goal, leading sustainable development globally.

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An Empirical Diagnosis of the School-to-Work Process for Rural and Agricultural Development in China

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su13020778 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (2) ◽

pp. 778

Author(s):

Jiangsheng Chen ◽

Gideon Bolt ◽

Yiwen Wang ◽

Xiaoli Feng ◽

Xuke Li

Keyword(s):

Food Security ◽

Sustainable Agriculture ◽

Rural Areas ◽

Urban Areas ◽

Large Scale ◽

School To Work ◽

University Graduates ◽

Family Farms ◽

Work Process ◽

The Government

Rural areas in China struggle with a scarcity of young farmers and the rapid aging of farming labor. Attracting and retaining university graduates in rural areas is key to achieving the goals of The Rural Revitalization Strategy of the government, which ultimately seeks to guarantee sustainable agriculture and food security in China. This study examines whether the school-to-work process in China is beneficially aligned to these goals. Survey data were collected from graduates in June 2016, and logistic models were generated to identify the probabilities of, and explore the influences on, school-to-rural outcomes. The findings reveal that most graduates who relocate to rural areas are more likely directed there from urban areas. Graduates with rural backgrounds are more likely to become rural successors than graduates with urban backgrounds. The phenomenon of children taking up the occupation of a parent is observed among those with agricultural degrees and rural backgrounds, which will facilitate the school-to-work process and improve agricultural production. In order to achieve a mix of family farms, large-scale farmlands, and educated farmers to improve food security and sustainable agriculture, the following key considerations for agricultural policy in China are proposed: provide adequate incentives, remove obstacles, and streamline the process of school-to-farming.

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Photovoltaic and Wind Turbine: A Comparison as Building Integrated Renewable Energy in Indonesia

Humaniora ◽

10.21512/humaniora.v11i1.6294 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

pp. 51

Author(s):

Susan Susan ◽

Dyah Kusuma Wardhani

Keyword(s):

Energy Source ◽

Renewable Energy ◽

Wind Turbine ◽

Rural Areas ◽

Urban Areas ◽

Large Scale ◽

High Elevation ◽

Building Envelope ◽

Small Scale ◽

Advantages And Disadvantages

The research aimed to comprehensively review the systems related to Building Integrated Photovoltaic (BIPV) and Building Integrated Wind Turbine (BIWT). The review purposed to observe the advantages and disadvantages of the application. Designers could use that comparison for consideration of choosing the most suitable Building Integrated Renewable Energy (BIRE) concept for projects. The research presented a literature review of BIRE systems, particularly on BIPV and BIWT systems. The critical analysis focused on some parameters related to their main energy source, type, influencing factor, efficiency, and boundary. The observation about BIPV would be divided into subgroups according to photovoltaic (PV) materials, modules, efficiency, performance’s boundaries, and the general rule of thumb of its installation. The research finds that the BIPV application has advantages in terms of the building’s application scale. It can be applied from small-scale to large-scale. Furthermore, the BIPV application does not need extra space and could directly replace the conventional building envelope materials. The issues of non-uniformity and heat transfer in BIPV can be solved by installing PV in folding-concept and placed an air gap with fins inside. On the other hand, BIWT also has an abundant energy source, but the application limits to windy areas (rural areas or urban areas in high elevation). Aside from those limitations, the BIWT application also has issues of structure, noise, and aesthetical value.

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Climate hazards in small and medium cities in the Amazon Delta and Estuary: challenges for resilience

Environment and Urbanization ◽

10.1177/0956247819874586 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 32 (1) ◽

pp. 195-212

Author(s):

Ana C B De Lima ◽

Oriana Almeida ◽

Miguel Pinedo-Vasquez ◽

Tien Ming Lee ◽

Sergio Rivero ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Rural Areas ◽

Urban Areas ◽

Local Governments ◽

Census Data ◽

High Mobility ◽

Small Cities ◽

Climate Vulnerability ◽

Climate Hazards ◽

Urban And Rural Areas ◽

Adaptive Actions

Recent research on climate vulnerability in cities in the Amazon Delta and Estuary (ADE) shows that about 1.2 million people are at risk of flooding due to the rapid unplanned occupation of lowlands and the absence of investment in infrastructure and services. In this study, we use secondary climate and census data, interviews and focus groups in four small cities in the Amazon Delta and Estuary (SCADEs), to discuss how residents and local governments perceive and respond to climate hazards and their implications. These SCADEs may be better equipped than other urban areas to deal with challenges brought by climate change, due partially to residents’ high mobility between urban and rural areas and a tradition of adaptive actions in a dynamic social and environmental context. However, persistent flooding and sinkholes demonstrate the limited capacity of local governments to cope with the dynamics of accelerated occupation of floodplain areas in SCADEs.

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Enhancing food security through home gardening in urbanizing environment in Machakos County, Kenya

International Journal of Research in Business and Social Science (2147-4478) ◽

10.20525/ijrbs.v10i3.1132 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (3) ◽

pp. 450-455

Author(s):

Julius Huho ◽

Margaret Muriuki

Keyword(s):

Food Security ◽

Food Insecurity ◽

Rural Areas ◽

Urban Areas ◽

Scale Up ◽

Home Gardens ◽

Capital City ◽

Small Scale ◽

Home Gardening ◽

The Impact

Kenya is rapidly urbanizing at an annual rate of about 4.3%. One of the consequences of urbanization has been the problem of food insecurity in peri-urban areas. Increased migration to urban from rural areas has enhanced food insecurity in these areas. The peri-urban area of Kangundo-Tala in Machakos County is one of the fastest-growing peri-urban areas due to its proximity to the capital city of Nairobi. This study investigated the impact of home gardening in enhancing food security in the rapidly urbanizing middle-income Kangundo–Tala peri-urban areas of Machakos County, Kenya. The specific objectives of the study were: to identify the causes of households’ food insecurity in the study area; to examine the factors influencing the adoption of home gardening and; to establish the role of home gardening as a measure of households’ food security. To measure food security, three consumption behaviors were analyzed: consumption changes, food expenditure reduction and income expansion. A qualitative approach was adopted where a total of 120 newly settled households were interviewed. The three main causes of food insecurity were identified (i) small land sizes, (ii) low and erratic rainfall and, (iii) the socialization of peri-urban dwellers. About 68% of the households were practicing at least one form of home gardening. The need for safe and nutritious food, seasonal unavailability, and inaccessibility of food encouraged the establishment of home gardens. From the gardens, households were able to diversify their diets, access safe food and have food readily available. With enhanced stability in food availability, accessibility, and utilization, the study concluded that home gardens played a major role in enhancing food. However, the production was at a very small scale. Up-scaling of home gardening by the Ministry of Agriculture through training was recommended.

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Connected Countryside: The Inhibiting Effect of Social Media on Rural Social Movements

Comparative Politics ◽

10.5129/001041520x15743805571380 ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

Paul Schuler ◽

Mai Truong

Keyword(s):

Social Media ◽

Rural Areas ◽

Urban Areas ◽

Large Scale ◽

Central Government ◽

Online Communication ◽

The Internet ◽

Information Flows ◽

Urban Movements ◽

Urban And Rural Areas

While much research focuses on social media and urban movements, almost no research explores its potentially divergent effects in rural areas. Building on recent work emphasizing the multidimensional effects of online communication on vertical and horizontal information, we argue that while the Internet may facilitate large-scale urban movements, it inhibits large-scale rural movements. Because social media increases vertical information flows between government and citizens, the central government responds quickly to rural protests, preventing such protests from developing into a large-scale movement. By contrast, social media does less to change the vertical information flows in urban areas. We explore the plausibility of our argument by process tracing the evolution of protests in urban and rural areas in Vietnam in the pre-Internet and in the Internet eras.

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Understanding the Diversity of Urban–Rural Fringe Development in a Fast Urbanizing Region of China

Remote Sensing ◽

10.3390/rs13122373 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (12) ◽

pp. 2373

Author(s):

Guoyu Li ◽

Yu CAO ◽

Zhichao He ◽

Ju He ◽

Yu Cao ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Rural Areas ◽

Urban Areas ◽

Large Scale ◽

Yangtze River Delta ◽

Change Processes ◽

Development Patterns ◽

Developing Cities ◽

Urban Rural ◽

Urban And Rural Areas ◽

The Yangtze River Delta

The territories between urban and rural areas, also called urban–rural fringe, commonly present inherent instability and notable heterogeneity. However, investigating the multifaceted urban–rural fringe phenomenon based on large-scale identification has yet to be undertaken. In this study, we adopted a handy clustering-based method by incorporating multidimensional urbanization indicators to understand how the urban–rural fringe development vary across space and shift over time in the Yangtze River Delta Urban Agglomeration, China. The results show that (1) the growth magnitude of urban–rural fringe areas was greater than urban areas, whereas their growth rate was remarkably lower. (2) The landscape dynamics of urban–rural fringe varied markedly between fast-developing and slow-developing cities. Peripheral sprawl, inter-urban bridge, and isolated growth were the representative development patterns of urban–rural fringe in this case. (3) Urban–rural fringe development has predominantly occurred where cultivated land is available, and significant inter-provincial differences and tendency shifts have been found in the land cover change processes therein. Our findings indicate that the urban–rural fringe development should be considered as a stage-dependent and place-specific process. This work extends previous knowledge by unraveling the diversity of urban–rural fringe in a fast urbanizing region, and can provide insights into reorienting the spatial planning and land use management within the urban–rural interface.

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Jurisdictional Size and Residential Development: Are Large-Scale Local Governments More Receptive to Multifamily Housing?

Urban Affairs Review ◽

10.1177/1078087420988598 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 107808742098859

Author(s):

Nicholas J. Marantz ◽

Paul G. Lewis

Keyword(s):

Land Use ◽

Population Size ◽

Urban Areas ◽

Local Governments ◽

Large Scale ◽

The United States ◽

Small Scale ◽

Land Use Regulation ◽

Multifamily Housing ◽

The Relationship

In the United States, particularly in high-cost urban areas, local resistance to multifamily housing development has been widely noted. In many metropolitan areas, legal authority over land-use regulation is assigned to jurisdictions that often are very small, and some scholars argue that this small-scale local control institutionalizes neighborhood-level opposition to new construction. Using census tracts as units of analysis, we assess the relationship between the population size of the city, county, or township that regulates a tract’s land use and the change in multifamily units between two recent waves of the American Community Survey (2008–2012 and 2014–2018). Results of regression analysis indicate that larger jurisdictional population size is indeed associated with increased multifamily construction. However, the relationship applies only for jurisdictions with populations exceeding 100,000 and decays at jurisdictional populations of more than 1 million. This nonlinearity may reflect quasi-monopolistic land-use control in the largest jurisdictions.

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