Land Use Planning in Secure Regional Food Systems Secure Regional Food Systems

Despite rising awareness of the centrality of food systems in sustainable development, no discussion of sustainable food systems is complete without understanding the impact of land use and planning on the economic, environmental, and social equity goals at the heart of sustainability efforts. In this report, we examine the relationship between land use, planning, and sustainable food systems at the regional scale in the Portland Metropolitan Area (Oregon, USA). Exploring the Three E's of sustainable development across three distinct geographic ranges, rural, peri-urban, and urban, we highlight components of sustainable regional food systems, evaluate which land uses and planning methods contribute to a secure regional food system, and illustrate both the benefits and challenges of developing sustainable regional food systems as illustrated by Portland's activities in this area