Food forests: a solution for communities and food security
March 9, 2023
By providing food, livelihoods, environmental services, and recreational spaces all in one place, food forests are becoming an increasingly popular solution to food production and food insecurity in both urban and rural spaces around the world. Providing access to organic food for local communities, food forests can improve air quality and support healthy nutrition patters while also helping to restore degraded land by increasing biodiversity and sequestering carbon.
Food forests have been used for centuries by indigenous communities for food production and environmental regeneration. For example, in Morocco, ancient food gardens containing hundreds of different species of fruit trees, herbs, and other edible plants have existed for over 2,000 years, providing food for local residents as well as space for spiritual and community gatherings. In countries such as India and Nepal, food forests are part of an ancient agricultural terracing that helps to prevent soil erosion and increase food production.
Today food forests are proving to be a valuable solution to food insecurity and environmental degradation. The Picasso Food Forest located in Parma, Italy was one of the first public urban food forests in Europe. Initiated in December 2012, the project seeks to create a forest in which trees and plants not only provide aesthetic functions, shade and oxygen but also provide food and wildlife habitats. More recently, the Zuidoost Food Forest in Amsterdam is a 55-hectare area that includes fruit trees, vegetable gardens, herbs and many edible plants. Together they form a “community of practice” with a wide range of knowledge and talents in gardening, permaculture, agroecology, regenerative agriculture, management, sewing, cooking, art, sports, education and neighborhood history.
Food forests can also be used for educational purposes to raise awareness about environmental sustainability as well as providing recreation spaces for people to enjoy nature's beauty and connect with their local community. In Israel, the Ashdod Community Food Forest provides a refreshing green area for residents of any age, restores their connection with food and nature and brightens up the day of many. In Mexico, food forests such as Xochimilco in Mexico City provide educational opportunities for local students and community members to learn about food production, permaculture and food security, proving to be particularly relevant during the pandemic.
Through these food forests, communities can benefit from the provision of food as well as learning about sustainable practices that help to regenerate degraded land and increase biodiversity. For example, in Ecuador an initiative known as Reforesting with Moringa is helping to restore degraded soil with the nitrogen-rich moringa tree while also providing food security for communities. In Colombia, an initiative of the city of Bogota seeks to train urban farmers from different parts of the city, in order to strengthen and promote education and participation of citizens in farming and environmental practices.
A way to counter urban “food deserts,” a number of U.S. cities have also sought to embrace food forests. In Los Angeles, California, the South Central Farm food forest provides access to organically grown food in an area of high poverty rates and food insecurity. Equally, organizations such as Trees Atlanta and local food banks are working to create food forests in public parks, while the City Council of Portland, Oregon has approved a plan to convert 6 acres of land into food forest while also protecting urban wildlife. Meanwhile, the first food forest in a U.S. city, Seattle's Beacon Food Forest is set to become a model for urban food production worldwide.
A number of companies have also entered into partnerships with food forests, including food production and seed companies, universities, and research centers. Companies such as Whole Foods Market and Unilever have both partnered with food forests, while non-profits such as the World Resources Institute and the The Nature Conservancy are investing in food forest initiatives to support sustainable land management practices.
By taking advantage of natural cycles and ecological processes, food forests support healthy nutrition patterns, provide jobs and economic opportunities, create recreational spaces for local communities, and conserve biodiversity. Through the use of food forests, communities around the world are reclaiming their right to access healthy food and connecting with nature in their own backyards. This is testament to how powerful local initiatives can be when it comes to increasing food security and promoting sustainable development.
CPM
