Social prescribing of urban agriculture: The importance of minimizing risks from soil contamination

The value of Green Social Prescribing (GSP) of Urban Agriculture (UA) is well proven

BLuke Beesley, Michael Hardman
Cities
Volume 149, June 2024,

Abstract

The value of Green Social Prescribing (GSP) of Urban Agriculture (UA) is well proven, with many cities witnessing a rise in such activities. However, with burgeoning interest, there comes an increased need to understand the potential risks associated with these practices. City officials, from planners to policy makers, are keen to scale-up the concept, particularly through supporting a wide range of urban farms and community gardens to contribute within the built environment. Our opinion piece highlights potential barriers associated with a legacy of heavy metal enriched urban soils which underpin many UA activities in post-industrial regions, signposting the need for greater awareness of their use and management. In doing so, we provide a series of recommendations for increasing knowledge exchange around urban soils and risk in the context of GSP.

Urban agriculture and social prescribing

At the centre of the nascent GSP movement is Urban Agriculture (UA), with allotments, community gardens and urban farms forming the focal point of this practice as convenient and accessible green spaces within dense urban settings (Howarth et al., 2020). There has been a rapid rise in funding and policy support in this sphere, in part due to its significant impact during the pandemic enabling populations to have access to fresh produce, bringing together fragmented communities and acting as an important green asset during repeated lockdowns (Schoen & Blythe, 2020). Indeed, there are now an array of radical masterplans looking to upscale the concept, from large-scale edible rooftops to peri-urban farms (see for instance Northern Roots, 2023). Key actors, such as planners, are increasingly fuelling the concept’s growth in the Global North and Global South. In the UK for instance, the recent Biodiversity Net Gain legislation could lead to a further rise in support for the practice (see for example DEFRA, 2024). Adding to this, a call for ‘Right to Grow’ legislation has also received significant support, with some cities and regions interested in implementing this, leading to more UA spaces being created, including those practising GSP (Incredible Edible, 2024).

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