Roles of urban agriculture in ecological transitions

Over 50% of the world's population lives in (peri-)urban areas, and this trend is growing. This is why many (peri-)urban agriculture (UA) projects are being developed under the impetus of citizens wishing to improve their living environment. Proposing UA projects that make sense, taking part in decision-making, acting and interacting with one's environment all help people feel better integrated into it. A wide variety of UA projects exist, as they are built according to specific territorial features and associated social dynamics. Consequently, there is no single definition of UA. We often speak of "UA" in the plural, to underline the vast range of projects: in-ground, soilless or hydroponic cultivation, reconstituted soils using techniques close to permaculture, UA can be low-tech based on the recovery of materials, or high-tech using the latest technologies and robotization. For rural agriculture, there are many variations depending on the size of the farm, the type of production, the economic model and practices: conventional, integrated, organic or agro-ecology. For UAs, even more variants exist, as projects can be professional or amateur, hydrid or mixed forms (production, recreational and/or training area), or more technological forms to solve space problems and enhance the site's attractiveness to the general public: vertical farms, aquaponics demonstrators, containers for mushroom cultivation on supports derived from urban waste.

These UA projects offer concrete solutions to the challenges of sustainable cities, providing complementary services such as local food production, waste recovery, strengthening social ties and environmental education. As a result, citizens are reconnected to the environment, develop a more ecological consumption pattern, and are more motivated to learn and participate in civic debates. These UA projects are growing in scale (urban micro-farms, agricultural towers or outright ecological districts), with the active participation of businesses and elected representatives, as they provide concrete answers to the challenges of sustainable cities of the future. However, (peri-)urban areas are characterized by high population densities and anthropogenic activities: conflicts over the use of space and pollution are therefore frequently observed. To overcome these constraints specific to urban areas and build solutions for living well together, city managers are developing strategies such as the creation of hybrid multifunctional professional market gardening zones, the organization of citizen consultations (territorial food projects, urban planning, housing, climate, etc.), support for collective urban gardens or open-air markets bringing together local producers. UA projects appear to be promising vectors for inter-actor concertation that contribute to the dynamics...