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Risks in urban rooftop agriculture: Assessing stakeholders’ perceptions to ensure efficient policymaking

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  • Specht, Kathrin
  • Sanyé-Mengual, Esther

Abstract

Rooftop agriculture (RA) is an innovative form of urban agriculture that takes advantage of unused urban spaces while promoting local food production. However, the implementation of RA projects is limited due to stakeholders’ perceived risks. Such risks should be addressed and minimized in policymaking processes to ensure the sustainable deployment of RA initiatives. This paper evaluates the risks that stakeholders perceive in RA and compares these perceptions with the currently available knowledge, including scientific literature, practices and market trends. Qualitative interviews with 56 stakeholders from Berlin and Barcelona were analyzed for this purpose. The results show that perceived risks can be grouped into five main categories: i) risks associated with urban integration (e.g., conflicts with images of “agriculture”), ii) risks associated with the production system (e.g., gentrification potential), iii) risks associated with food products (e.g., soil-less growing techniques are “unnatural”), iv) environmental risks (e.g., limited organic certification) and v) economic risks (e.g., competition with other rooftop uses). These risks are primarily related to a lack of (scientific) knowledge, insufficient communication and non-integrative policymaking. We offer recommendations for efficient project design and policymaking processes. In particular, demonstration and dissemination activities as well as participatory policymaking can narrow the communication gap between RA developers and citizens.

Suggested Citation

  • Specht, Kathrin & Sanyé-Mengual, Esther, 2017. "Risks in urban rooftop agriculture: Assessing stakeholders’ perceptions to ensure efficient policymaking," Environmental Science & Policy, Elsevier, vol. 69(C), pages 13-21.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:enscpo:v:69:y:2017:i:c:p:13-21
    DOI: 10.1016/j.envsci.2016.12.001
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    Cited by:

    1. Rajendran, Suchithra & Shulman, Jake, 2020. "Study of emerging air taxi network operation using discrete-event systems simulation approach," Journal of Air Transport Management, Elsevier, vol. 87(C).
    2. Kathrin Specht & Felix Zoll & Henrike Schümann & Julia Bela & Julia Kachel & Marcel Robischon, 2019. "How Will We Eat and Produce in the Cities of the Future? From Edible Insects to Vertical Farming—A Study on the Perception and Acceptability of New Approaches," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(16), pages 1-22, August.
    3. Pettifor, Hazel & Wilson, Charlie, 2020. "Low carbon innovations for mobility, food, homes and energy: A synthesis of consumer attributes," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 130(C).
    4. Garrett M. Broad & Wythe Marschall & Maya Ezzeddine, 2022. "Perceptions of high-tech controlled environment agriculture among local food consumers: using interviews to explore sense-making and connections to good food," Agriculture and Human Values, Springer;The Agriculture, Food, & Human Values Society (AFHVS), vol. 39(1), pages 417-433, March.
    5. Rosmah Murdad & Mardiana Muhiddin & Wan Hurani Osman & Nor Elliza Tajidin & Zainol Haida & Azwan Awang & Mohamadu Boyie Jalloh, 2022. "Ensuring Urban Food Security in Malaysia during the COVID-19 Pandemic—Is Urban Farming the Answer? A Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(7), pages 1-24, March.
    6. Marianno de Olivera, Laís Caroline & de Mendonça, Gislaine Costa & Araújo Costa, Renata Cristina & Leite de Camargo, Regina Aparecida & Fernandes, Luís Filipe Sanches & Pacheco, Fernando António Leal , 2023. "Impacts of urban sprawl in the Administrative Region of Ribeirão Preto (Brazil) and measures to restore improved landscapes," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 124(C).
    7. Mireia Ercilla-Montserrat & David Sanjuan-Delmás & Esther Sanyé-Mengual & Laura Calvet-Mir & Karla Banderas & Joan Rieradevall & Xavier Gabarrell, 2019. "Analysis of the consumer’s perception of urban food products from a soilless system in rooftop greenhouses: a case study from the Mediterranean area of Barcelona (Spain)," Agriculture and Human Values, Springer;The Agriculture, Food, & Human Values Society (AFHVS), vol. 36(3), pages 375-393, September.
    8. Drottberger, Annie & Zhang, Yizhi & Yong, Jean Wan Hong & Dubois, Marie-Claude, 2023. "Urban farming with rooftop greenhouses: A systematic literature review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 188(C).
    9. Giuseppina Pennisi & Esther Sanyé-Mengual & Francesco Orsini & Andrea Crepaldi & Silvana Nicola & Jesús Ochoa & Juan A. Fernandez & Giorgio Gianquinto, 2019. "Modelling Environmental Burdens of Indoor-Grown Vegetables and Herbs as Affected by Red and Blue LED Lighting," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(15), pages 1-21, July.
    10. Sroka, Wojciech & Bojarszczuk, Jolanta & Satoła, Łukasz & Szczepańska, Barbara & Sulewski, Piotr & Lisek, Sławomir & Luty, Lidia & Zioło, Monika, 2021. "Understanding residents’ acceptance of professional urban and peri-urban farming: A socio-economic study in Polish metropolitan areas," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 109(C).
    11. Iris Schröter & Marcus Mergenthaler, 2019. "Neuroeconomics Meets Aquaponics: An Eye-tracking Pilot Study on Perception of Information about Aquaponics," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(13), pages 1-20, June.
    12. Monica Allaby & Graham K. MacDonald & Sarah Turner, 2021. "Growing pains: Small-scale farmer responses to an urban rooftop farming and online marketplace enterprise in Montréal, Canada," Agriculture and Human Values, Springer;The Agriculture, Food, & Human Values Society (AFHVS), vol. 38(3), pages 677-692, September.
    13. Mietz Lena K. & Civit Bárbara M. & Arena Alejandro P., 2023. "Cultivating communities in Mendoza, Argentina: Exploring social aspects of urban agriculture," Environmental & Socio-economic Studies, Sciendo, vol. 11(4), pages 12-24, December.
    14. Jesus Ochoa & Esther Sanyé-Mengual & Kathrin Specht & Juan A. Fernández & Sebastián Bañón & Francesco Orsini & Francesca Magrefi & Giovanni Bazzocchi & Severin Halder & Doerte Martens & Noemi Kappel &, 2019. "Sustainable Community Gardens Require Social Engagement and Training: A Users’ Needs Analysis in Europe," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(14), pages 1-16, July.
    15. Esther Sanyé-Mengual & Kathrin Specht & Erofili Grapsa & Francesco Orsini & Giorgio Gianquinto, 2019. "How Can Innovation in Urban Agriculture Contribute to Sustainability? A Characterization and Evaluation Study from Five Western European Cities," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(15), pages 1-31, August.
    16. Rajendran, Suchithra & Srinivas, Sharan, 2020. "Air taxi service for urban mobility: A critical review of recent developments, future challenges, and opportunities," Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Elsevier, vol. 143(C).
    17. Jost Buscher & Julija Bakunowitsch & Kathrin Specht, 2023. "Transformative Potential of Vertical Farming—An Urban Planning Investigation Using Multi-Level Perspective," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(22), pages 1-19, November.

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