Navigating the Foodscape: A Comparative Policy Analysis of Urban Agriculture in Singapore, Detroit, and Medellín and Its Impact on Grassroots Initiatives
Abstract
Urban Agriculture (UA) is promoted within Integrated Urban Food Systems (IUFS) for its potential to enhance food security, sustainability, and social cohesion. However, the role of municipal policy in enabling or constraining UA—particularly grassroots initiatives—remains poorly understood.
This paper provides a comparative qualitative analysis of how differing UA policy frameworks in Singapore (top-down technocratic), Detroit (bottom-up planner-led), and Medellín (hybrid participatory) shape the emergence, sustainability, and equity outcomes of grassroots food initiatives. Data were collected from 45 semi-structured interviews with policymakers, NGO leaders, and community gardeners, along with a systematic review of 2015–2023 policy documents.
Findings reveal that Singapore’s “30 by 30” goal supports high-tech commercial ventures but offers limited backing for socially oriented community gardens. Detroit’s planner-led model, rooted in grassroots activism, improves land access but struggles with coordination, equitable resource distribution, and green gentrification. Medellín’s participatory “Corredores Verdes” program integrates UA into its social urbanism agenda to strengthen community empowerment, while facing challenges of long-term funding and political co-optation.
Introduction
Global urbanization is accelerating rapidly, with more than two-thirds of the world’s population projected to live in cities by 2050. This transformation places immense pressure on food systems, which must sustain urban populations while minimizing environmental impact.
Traditional agricultural models often rely on rural production and long-distance transportation, leading to food loss, higher carbon emissions, and reduced freshness.
Urban agriculture — the cultivation, processing, and distribution of food within and around cities — offers a promising solution. It brings food closer to consumers, supports local economies, and transforms cities into dynamic ecosystems that balance food production and sustainability.