Community regeneration and biodiversity within a food activism and sustainability framework

There is considerable evidence that food growing and gardens have multiple benefits in urban areas, from increased food security, nutritional health, physical and mental well-being, community development and empowerment, educational impacts, social inclusion and environmental and biodiversity improvement. Arguably these have greater potential in areas of multiple deprivation linked to community regeneration and food distribution networks. However, such developments are usually fragmented and lack coordination and integration across the different stakeholder groups involved. It is proposed that further work needs to be done to explore how to maximise the benefits for different groups using coordinated approaches that have the potential to address a range of requirements across different sectors and ages.

This proposal aims to conduct a scoping study examining the different aspects of food growing activism in Aberdeen City through schools, communities and allotments and how this is linked to food security, health and wellbeing, community regeneration, social inclusion, education and environment and biodiversity. The timing of this project aligns well with work currently being undertaken by Aberdeen City’s Food Growing Implementation Strategy Group linked to the Sustainable Food City programme, as well as Scottish Government policies aimed at reducing food insecurity and promoting social justice for all.