Enthusiasm for urban agriculture seems to be sweeping the country. For many people, this is an idea for which time has finally come. Urban agriculture involves growing, processing and distributing food in towns and cities.
Supporters of urban agriculture see it as a way to combat many of the ills that they perceive in our modern food systems. For people in towns and cities, this is the ultimate way to produce food locally. Using the land to grow food may be seen as the ultimate best use of that land. During the harvest season, urban farms provide the freshest foods possible. Urban agriculture combats food deserts and improves food security.
Beyond those aspects of urban agriculture that relate directly to the food it produces, there are many other potential benefits for a community. The people involved find the joy of seeing the fruits of their efforts, and many people see it as a form of recreation. There is a community building aspect to these endeavors. There are potential economic benefits and opportunities for entrepreneurship. From a landscape perspective, food-producing gardens can add beauty and diversity plus environmental benefits.
It’s a great thing to see people becoming more conscious of their food supply and enthused about producing some of their own food. As long as there is a commercial food supply that still provides the bulk of people’s dietary needs, urban agriculture seems like a great way to supplement and diversify our food systems.
However, there are some additional considerations.
Production of vegetables is fairly straightforward and may lead naturally into the next step of the urban agriculture scheme: animal production. However, at this point, things get much more complicated. It may seem wonderful to have a few chickens that produce the ultimate fresh eggs. But it’s worth considering some of the downside risks that virtually all farm families live with on a daily basis.
Do those who champion introducing production animals into urban settings really consider the less wonderful sides of agricultural production? Beyond the standard concerns about protecting the animals from predators such as foxes, skunks and dogs, do people consider animal and human health concerns? There are many such concerns, and they should be carefully thought through before a community commits to charging farther down the road with urban food production.
How many people really consider the possibility of diseases spreading between animals within a community? Do people recognize the possibility that an outbreak of avian influenza could mean that drastic actions need to be taken, such as depopulating? Do people inform themselves about the nutritional and health needs of their agricultural animals before they introduce them into an urban environment? How does a city deal with livestock animal waste? Do those who want to raise goats learn about parasites, infectious diseases and animal husbandry before they purchase the animals?
There are many human health issues associated with the animals and plants we consume. The fact that animals and vegetables are grown on a small scale in a local community does not make these possibilities any less significant. Livestock can transfer many different infectious organisms to humans either through contact, their waste or by eating the food they produce. These include salmonella in eggs, various diarrheal agents in animal feces, viral diseases that affect the skin and bacteria that transfer through milk. Will people take the appropriate hygienic and sanitation measures to minimize the likelihood that they become ill under certain circumstances? Do people who worry about E. coli 0157 recognize that the most common source of this agent has been in fresh produce? If people become sick from food produced by urban agriculture, whom will they blame?
I don’t believe that we should put the brakes on urban agriculture out of fear that something could go wrong. But I know that agriculture and food production are complex processes that carry risk. If communities want to develop local food systems, they should do so with both eyes open and think hard before they plunge in. Fort Collins is presently considering this question and seeking citizen input. Participate in this discussion. Go towww.fcgov.com/developmentreview/urbanagriculture.php and take a survey; go to a discussion; get involved.
Frank Garry is a professor and veterinarian at Colorado State University.
Great post, thank you!
ResponderEliminar