GReenSCape: Growing Resilience with Urban Agriculture for Sustainable Cities

Title: Growing Resilience with Urban Agriculture for Sustainable Cities (GReenSCape)

Kooperierende Institutionen & Projektpartner:

Standort: Wien, Österreich & Quezon City, Philippinen

Projektdauer: 01.6.2024 – 31.5.2026

Finanzierung des Projekts: OEAD, Entwicklungszusammenarbeit Forschungsstipendium des Bundesministeriums für Bildung, Wissenschaft und Forschung

Projekt-Website: https://oead.at/de/kooperationen/internationale-hochschulkooperationen/kooperation-entwicklungsforschung/koef196-greenscape

The international collaboration project GReenSCape addresses and analyzes the multifunctionality of different types of Urban Agriculture, their impact on the resilience capacities of cities, and their ability to contribute to the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) which extend beyond SDG 2 – ‘No Hunger’ and SDG11 – ‘Sustainable Cities & Communities’.

Climate change has led to more frequent and intense storms, floods, and heatwaves which test urban infrastructure. They also disrupt highly interconnected global supply chains, which can amplify food and nutrition insecurities, socio-economic inequalities, and civil unrest. Therefore, cities must strive to strengthen their resilience capacities to prepare for novel disruptions.

In this context, GReenSCape is particularly interested if and how different types of urban agriculture  can contribute to urban resilience und sustainability goals: 1. Outdoor community gardens that can help contribute to climate change adaptation and foster trusting communities, 2. Building-integrated rooftop greenhouses that can strengthen the circularity and robustness of infrastructure, and 3., Indoor technology driven farms that can make substantial contributions to food and nutrition security, while providing a diverse range of employment opportunities, and driving research and development activities.

Over the course of the 2-year project period, fieldwork will be conducted in both case cities, Quezon City and Vienna, to understand the impact of emerging urban agriculture policies as well as how the land agreements, education, training, and farming resources they provide support a growing number of urban farmers. From interviews with key political stakeholders, to a plethora of urban farm visits, and transdisciplinary workshops, a holistic impact assessment framework will be developed.

More about GReenSCape:

GReenSCape Fieldtrip 2: Mapping, Measuring, and Mobilizing Urban Agriculture in Metro Manila

The second GReenSCape fieldtrip allowed the team to delve deeper into the vibrant and complex landscape of urban agriculture in Metro Manila. Our aim was to better understand how different communities and initiatives cultivate resilience and contribute to the city’s sustainability goals, through collaborative approaches to urban farming, despite systemic challenges and climate vulnerability.

GReenSCape Fieldtrip 1: Exploring Urban Agriculture in Metro Manila

Over six weeks of fieldwork in Metro Manila, James Vandenberg engaged with a wide range of stakeholders—from national policymakers and scientists to youth advocates, NGOs, and community farmers in informal settlements. Through farm visits, workshops, and conversations across the city, he gained valuable insights into the opportunities and challenges shaping the future of urban agriculture in the region.

GReenSCape – Project Launch

Researchers from the University of Vienna (Urban Studies Working Group) and the University of the Philippines (Geography Department) will address this question over the next two years, by analyzing which role the multifunctionality of different urban agriculture typologies can play in strengthening urban resilience and contributing to the success of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).