Abstract
Urban farming plays a significant role in developing resilient cities by increasing food security, supporting local economies, and enhancing adaptability to climate-related stresses, especially when adopting agroecological practices. When the local community is engaged, urban farming can also strengthen social cohesion and bonding among farmers and neighbours, which is crucial for resilience. The Municipal Government of Teresina, Brazil, has supported urban and peri-urban food production through public policy since the late 1980s with a robust presence of over 40 public urban farms. However, a dispute over urban land is now unravelling between local groups that fight for housing rights and the farmers from one of these productive sites, the Piçarreira Community Farm. In the near future, this tension is likely to aggravate, as Teresina will absorb climate-induced migration from rural areas impacted by rainfall changes and land grabbing, one of the main agro-neoliberal impacts observed in the Brazilian Northeast. Building on these known facts, this paper reports the findings of an ongoing participant observation at the Piçarreira Community Farm. The study explores how local farmers perceive the impacts of global phenomena, such as climate change and land grabbing, on their sovereignty over food production and consumption and their vision for the future as urban farmers. As climate migration emerges as a critical urban challenge, cities and regions must adapt and prepare to accommodate displaced populations and ensure food security. This research offers a valuable case study to advance the empirical understanding of this topic.
Presenters
Mariana FiuzaStudent, PhD Candidate, University Institute of Lisbon - ISCTE, Lisboa, Portugal
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
KEYWORDS
Food Sovereignty, Social Movements, Urban Agriculture, Climate Refugees, Housing Rights
