Something s growing in those cities

Agriculture has long been part of the urban landscape, and now it is spreading its roots throughout urban life (see Spore 82). Now many of the urban poor, in the South and the North, base their survival strategies on growing food or raising animals and selling them in the city. Urban agriculture (UA) also contributes to a city s food security and ecology, although issues of water supply, land access, health, and hygiene require special attention. These and many more issues came up for discussion at the seminar 'Growing Cities, Growing Food Urban Agriculture on the Policy Agenda', held in Havana, Cuba, in October 1999. Organised by the Cuban livestock production association ACPA, the German and Swedish development cooperation agencies GTZ and SIDA, the Dutch Foundation ETC, and CTA, the seminar brought together 70 specialists from more than 20 countries in Africa, Asia, the Americas, and Europe. Among their conclusions: the need for more public awareness efforts, improved information exchange, greater involvement of city planners and politicians, plus lively ideas for new projects, such as the integration of water and organic waste recycling to serve urban agriculture, public health and environment protection. The proceedings will be published in mid 2000. In the meantime, the new collection of essays For Hunger-proof Cities is a splendid introduction to UA. It examines urban food systems, improved accessibility to food for city dwellers, community-based agriculture, and alternatives to land-based methods such as rooftop hydroponics and bee-keeping. For Hunger-proof Cities. Sustainable Urban Food Systems. M Koc, R MacRae, L Mougeot, and J Welsh. IDRC. 1999. 238 pp. ISBN 0 88936 882 1. US$35 /36.40 International Development Research Centre PO Box 8500, Ottawa, ON, Canada K1G 3H9. Fax: +1 613 563 2476 Email: pub@idrc.caSeminar 'Growing Cities, Growing Food Urban Agriculture on the Policy Agenda', held in Havana, Cuba, in October 199