On Places Lost and Places Regained: Reflections on the Alternative Food Geography and Sustainable Regional Development

Abstract

This paper departs from the observation that the industrialization and globalization of the agri-food supply chain has disconnected food from its socio-cultural and physical territorial context. In recent years there is growing recognition of the multitude of problems associated with the prevailing food regime, such as consumers’ mistrust in agro-industrial food, environmental pollution and rising prevalence of obesity and malnutrition. This paper outlines and illustrates the emergence of an alternative paradigm as a response the problems associated with the agro-industrial logic. It shows how a more integrated and territorial agri-food approach can support sustainable regional development.

Notes

http://www.tegut.de/ueberuns/fakteninzahlen.php (accessed 20 September 2007).

http://www.westcorkleader.ie/ (accessed 24 September 2007).

See http://www.sustainweb.org/page.php?id=97 (accessed 10 May 2009).

I have been involved and still am involved as researcher, supervisor or consultant in the food strategies (or its precursors) of Amsterdam, Utrecht and Tilburg as well as in urban agriculture projects in Rotterdam and The Hague. The examples introduced and discussed in more detail (e.g. Utrecht and Amsterdam) are to a large extent based on personal experience.

Translated from http://www.lekkerutregs.nl/images/Doelen%20%20criteria%20en%20afbakening.doc.pdf (accessed 23 May 2009).

‘Lekker’ means delicious and ‘Utreg’ is slang for ‘Utrecht’.

The city region comprises the municipality of the city Utrecht and eight surrounding municipalities.

My translation of the first two sentences of p. 2 of the declaration of intent: http://www.lekkerutregs.nl/images/imagesmarike/intentieverklaring.pdf (accessed 24 May 2009).

The word proeftuin has several meanings: test garden, taste garden, or field of experiment. All three are applicable in the case of Amsterdam's food strategy.

See http://www.proeftuin.amsterdam.nl/aspx/download.aspx?file=/contents/pages/100532/agendaproeftuinamsterdam.pdf (accessed 15 May 2009).

See http://www.london.gov.uk/mayor/health/food/docs/food-strategy.pdf (accessed 11 May 2009).

See http://www.proeftuin.amsterdam.nl/aspx/download.aspx?file=/contents/pages/100532/case_study_amsterdam_food_strategy.pdf (accessed 15 May 2009).