Colleen Hammelmann: Digging for justice in urban gardens across the Americas

Urban agriculture (UA) is gaining increased attention in both the global north and south as a means for productively using vacant space, sourcing local and organic foods, and supporting livelihoods in marginalized communities. UA is also increasingly linked to sustainability agendas in cities across the world as urban policymakers garner attention for ‘green’ projects that entice wealthy investors, residents, and tourists. As a result, and via a process some scholars refer to as ecological gentrification, UA is increasingly linked to environmental injustices. Foregrounded by an historical account of justice concerns in urban agriculture across the Americas, I will discuss empirical examples of such ecological gentrification in Colombia, Canada, and the United States. For example, I consider the case of Medellín, Colombia, where land conflicts arise between a high-profile greenbelt project led by the city and subsistence agriculture practiced in small garden plots by displaced women. Investigating these projects from multiple perspectives enables a better understanding of the food system’s role in the uneven development of urban landscapes. As more governments advance alternative food sources in their sustainability plans, it is important to more fully examine the influence of these efforts on social justice concerns in the city.