Positive Futures for Urban Agriculture in Asia? A Review

Abstract

Many governments in Asia have recently started formulating policies for urban agriculture (UA), despite challenges regarding food safety, land access, and equity. In this paper, we systematically review the literature on the health, economic, social, and political dimensions of UA in South, East, and Southeast Asia. Our review reveals that key motivations and attitudes framing UA initiatives are distinct to this region, with food safety concerns being a stronger motivating force than ecological benefits or social justice. Heightened skepticism of dominant food systems in this region is contributing to new cultural agricultural geographies. An ideological shift is also occurring whereby agriculture is beginning to be perceived of as a more-than-rural activity. Nonetheless, we reveal that narrow and often negative perceptions of agriculture in Asia limits the types and extent to which UA occurs. Land access and tenure security are among the greatest barriers to participation in UA. Our review demonstrates that government support for UA has not always been effective, and we outline how capacity building and leveraging local knowledges have been more effective strategies for achieving socio-ecological benefits through UA than technological innovation. Overall, UA's benefits are context dependent and vary across lines of difference related to ethnicity, gender, class, and age. This review will serve as a guidepost for future research and policies aiming to support sustainable and equitable UA in the region, and possibly beyond.