Productive landscapes as strategy for sustainability and food security in cities

Abstract

Food, although a basic factor for human life, is not treated as a relevant issue in urban planning. The incorporation of productive spaces in cities could bring several environmental, economic and social benefits. Through a literature review, this paper presents reflections for the planning and design of productive public open spaces, experimented by the proposition of an urban plan for the city of Niterói. This plan is based on the concept of Continuous Productive Urban Landscapes (CPULs), which comprises agriculture as an essential infrastructure for urban life and also as an element of productive landscapes that articulate multiple uses and functions, encouraging new practices and socio-spatial relations. Finally, the role of key factors for the effectiveness of the proposed planning is discussed, such as the participation of the population and the articulation of multisectoral public policies to strengthen the effects generated by these spaces.