Wk 3 - Food in Urbanism

While I was recommended a reading regarding food and urbanism. I came to an understanding that food and  cities have an inextricable relationship since the dawn of humanity between its production and urban settlements in terms of physical, social and political aspects. The smell, texture and taste of food manifested into the city's cultural heritage, that defines the streets. As urban sprawl began, cities began to transform, as a paradigm shift between humanity and food seem to have significantly influenced the sustainability development within an urban context. 

How food influence the City ? 

The indistinctive relationship between food and cities starts from early settlements, where aboriginals built their homes along the river banks the main source of food and water. As industrialisation progresses, networks of transportation and community nodes started to form a determining relationship within a developing city; in which allows communities to build and live further inland due to the conveniences provided. Subsequently, from the social-physical point of view, consumers and producers would form a social interaction between each other because food necessity, in fact, it defines the streets by bringing vitality and joviality. 

Whilst,  food is still an intrinsic and defining aspect of the city's identity today. The majority of cities have become less singular in their taste and instead have become to embrace a pluralistic food culture. (Lim, 2014) The disconnection between the dialog of consumers and producers lead the creation of pluralistic culture whereby, communities care less about the information in procuring their food as long they find fit within their monolithic urban lifestyle such as fast food, pre-cooked food and so on. 

Sketch Diagram illustrating a pluralistic culture of today's food system. (Source : Author) 

Sustainability of Urban Growth 

In Australia, food production is challenged by several factors such as Land Degradation, Water Availability, GHG emissions and Climate Change. In fact, a recent report found that Australia is not as food secure as suggested by simplistic examinations of relevant data. Concurrently, with the estimated population reaches 9mil by 2050, food productions has to be doubled by then to ensure the stability of global food supply. Therefore, "To meet tomorrow's needs and address challenges under a changing climate, a second science-base Green Revolution is needed" - Dr. Bob Ziegler, International Rice Research Institute. 

Further reading, found that from the PMSEIC ( Prime Minister's Science, Engineering and Innovation Council), several recommendations in combating food issues that aligned with the Green Revolution mentioned. Such as :-

1. Oversee regulation & Research activities related to agriculture and food to address the lack of nationally- coordinated approach to food.

2. Established a well supported national and international research programs targeted to improve productivity in a low input of food production systems.

3.Better engagement of the community and partners organization to elevate and build cooperative commitment to further improve food value chain in combating the pluralistic culture of the urban city. 

In my opinion, the topic may not have a direct correlation with sustainable urban development. It is, however, important to understand the fundamental relationship between food and urban development.
The understanding of the urban food system consists of production till how food waste is manage by the community drives how food is accessible and provided could lead to extensive carbon reduction.





Resources:

Lim, C.J. (2014). Food City. New York: Routledge.

PMSEIC (2010). Australia and Food Security in a Changing World. The Prime Minister's Science Engineering and Innovation Council, Canberra, Australia.

Innies- Hughes C, Bowes K, King L, Chapman K, Eden B. (2010) Food Security : The What, how, why and where to of food security in NSW. Discussion Paper. PANORG, Heart Foundation NSW and Cancer Council NSW : Sydney.