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Peri-urban agriculture

Definition of peri-urban regions:

Peri-urban regions can be defined as 'superficially' rural areas that are within the orbit of immediate urban hubs, in other words, areas that surround large population centers. These regions can also be referred to as 'exurban areas', 'the rural-urban fringe' or the 'fringe', they include the transition zones between the outer limits of the commuter belt and the edge of newly constructed suburban areas.

Peri-urban agriculture can be described differently depending on the myriad of  urban-rural relationships, and the different farming systems within the various cities and contrasting regions around the world. For instance, the focus of peri-urban agriculture in developing countries is primarily concentrated on the relief of hunger and poverty, hence, food security, as for industrialized countries the emphasis is on ecological and social values .Peri-urban agriculture is first and foremost "the production and distribution of food, fiber and fuel in and around cities" .Nevertheless the leading "feature of urban and [peri-urban] agriculture which distinguishes it from rural agriculture is its integration into the urban economic and ecological system"

History
The history of peri-urban agriculture, as is the one about urban agriculture, is about the history of cities, urban centers, and agriculture, a history that is intertwined. There have been many debates on whichever existed first permanent settlements or agriculture, nevertheless they are both 'interdependent and co-supportive'

Ecosystem services
Urban and peri-urban agricultural systems can improve urban environments through provisioning, regulating, supporting and cultural ecosystem services. Ecosystem services are "the benefits human populations derive from ecosystems" .Through the use of vacant lots and open spaces in urban and man-made environments, urban and peri-urban agriculture (UPA) contribute to the increase of ecosystem services in these otherwise low providing areas. Additionally, urban and peri-urban agriculture may prevent the extension of agriculture in rural areas, therefore, allowing the preservation and protection of threatened ecosystems and their ecosystem services. Also, the increase of food production capacity in urban and per-urban areas allows the decrease of the conversions of non-agricultural land to farmland.

The level of degradation or revitalization of ecosystem services depends on whether an agricultural system is being managed in a sustainable way. For agricultural sustainability is not only about agricultural production but also about managing the landscapes surrounding the agricultural activities.

Some of the ecosystem services provided by urban and peri-urban agriculture are inter alia, wildlife habitat, nutrient cycling , temperature regulation , carbon sequestration , water filtration and flood prevention , cultural information , and recreation.

Supporting
Urban and peri-urban agriculture zones are key drivers for sustainability and urban biodiversity, thus favoring resilience and helping in supporting and mitigating the negative impacts of the built environment by hosting a diversity of fauna and flora .Also, small urban and peri-urban managed systems have higher quality soil formation than agricultural soils, because of the regular inputs of organic matter, such as composts and manures.

Regulating
High levels of air pollution are present in urban centers which can have negative effects on human health, therefore urban and peri-urban agriculture can help mitigate greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) through carbon storage and carbon sequestration. Furthermore, Urban and peri-urban systems contribute to regulating temperatures in cities, in fact, evapotranspiration from urban and peri-urban agriculture can reduce the effects of urban heat islands.

Provisioning
The production of local food contributes to food security and food safety, by shortening the supply chain and reducing transportation

Cultural
Alongside supporting and regulating ecosystem services, urban and peri-urban systems have a cultural and traditional value, some consider UPA as a form of leisure, whereas other as a way of maintaining and perpetuating cultural and traditional agricultural practices.

Multifunctionality
Peri-urban agriculture is multifunctional. "Multifunctional agriculture" refers to agriculture beyond its primary role of  producing food and fibre, but as also having other functions. The key elements of multifunctionality are commodity and non-commodity outputs. Commodity outputs are food and fibre, as well as marketable products such as tourism. Non-commodity outputs include, food security, food safety, environmental protection, biodiversity, and a rural way of life. Also,the concept of multifunctionality is based on the idea of sustainable development, it aims at  integrating the information over time and the geography of land uses and functions beyond its traditional function of food production, to include nature conservation, hydrological balance, aesthetics and recreation.

According to OECD, "beyond its primary function of supplying food and fiber, agricultural activity can also shape the landscape, provide environmental benefits such as land conservation, the sustainable management of renewable natural resources and the preservation of biodiversity, and contribute to the socio-economic viability of many rural areas".

Economic
The new business opportunities generated by peri-urban agriculture allow the creation of jobs and the generation of revenue, as well as improving local infrastructure and services, such as the construction of roads, schools,and restaurants. It also furthers agricultural training and education.

Social
In developing countries, besides the question of food security, one significant social dimension of peri-urban agriculture, specifically around production sites, is the rebuilding of communities and civil society.

Environmental

In many urban areas peri-urban agriculture reduces the environmental impacts of urban expansion by serving as an ecological buffer.

Unlike traditional farmers, peri-urban professionals have greater conscious of the ecological value of the environment.

Different forms of peri-urban farming
There exists different forms of peri-urban agriculture. PUA initiatives often involve local innovations in agriculture.


 * Enterprise-based food processing companies
 * Agro-parks
 * Farmers cooperatives
 * Agro-tourism