Feeding the City from Within | Lecture and conversation with historian Kate Brown and urban farming researcher Jan-Eelco Jansma

24 woe
Datum
24 mei 2023
Vanaf
20:00
tot
21:30
Adres
Malden

Datum: woensdag 24 mei 2023

Tijd: 20:00 tot 21:30

Locatie: Landgoed Grootstal, St Jacobsweg 13a, Malden

Organisator(s): Radboud Reflects and Architectuurcentrum Nijmegen

Spreker: Historian Kate Brown and urban farming researcher Jan-Eelco Jansma

 

Feeding the City from Within | Lecture and conversation with historian Kate Brown and urban farming researcher Jan-Eelco Jansma

The farms of the future are not on the countryside, but in the city. At least, that is the vision of urban farming enthusiasts. By integrating food production in the urban environment, cities can provide their inhabitants with a stable source of food and reduce their environmental impact. Yet, there is also skepticism: is urban farming scalable, or is it just a trend for the ‘foodies’? And is it affordable for everyone, or only for urban professionals? Come and learn from historian Kate Brown and urban farming researcher Jan-Eelco Jansma about the past and future of urban farming.

Urban Farming. Nothing new?

Urban farming is taking a hold, especially in Nijmegen. Pioneers set up city farms such as Bodemzicht and Landgoed Grootstal. In November 2022, the municipality opened a special loket – counter – to support urban agriculture initiatives like these. While the urban farms are relatively new, they actually manifest a return to the past. At least, that is the claim of historian Kate Brown, of Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Brown argues that the promises of the industrial agricultural revolution have not materialized: it has not ended hunger, it created toxic landscapes and it contributed to greenhouse gas emissions. How did people feed themselves before large-scale producers took over? Her answer: they lived in self-provisioning cities.

Kate Brown studies urban farming practices in 19th- and 20th-century cities. City dwellers, she shows, used the nutrients in the “garbage” of the urban community to produce local, healthy and affordable food.

Learning from Almere

Engineer and agriculture researcher Jan-Eelco Jansma investigates initiatives that  want to revive urban farming. But he is not only an observing outsider. Jansma was part of several urban farming initiatives that have brought  people and organisations together. One of his milestones is the planned neighborhood Agromere, an urban-rural district in Almere.

Jan-Eelco Jansma explains what kinds of urban farming we can distinguish and if they can replace industrial agricultural as source of our food supply. To what extend should municipalities encourage urban farming in the first place? What are the tactics pioneers employ? He shows examples of successful concepts of urban farming. He also zooms in on its social aspect, how can urban farming also  contribute to community building and our awareness of food production?

Kate Brown and Jan-Eelco Jansma both give a short lecture on the history and future of urban farming. Next, they will be interviewed by environmental philosopher Elize de Mul.

The program is in English.

Fully booked – Guided tour Landgoed Grootstal

Before the lecture from 19.00 – 19.45 hrs you can participate in a short guided tour by Kien van Hövell at Landgoed Grootstal. Please be present at 18.50 hrs, St Jacobsweg 15a at the de pantry. This tour will probably be in Dutch. This guided tour is fully booked. It is not possible to participate anymore. Participating in the lecture however is still possible.

About the speakers

Kate BrownKate Brown is a historian and professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. She investigates the history of urban farming.

Jan-Eelco JansmaJan-Eelco Jansma is an engineer and urban farming researcher, associated with Wageningen University and Research.

Elize de MulElize de Mul is a philosopher of the environment at Radboud University. She moderates the discussion.

Participation

Participation costs € 7,50 | RU employees, Alumni Benefits Card-holders pay € 5,-  | Students and pupils, Radboud Reflects-subscribers and sponsors of ACN have free admittance.

For sponsors of ACN please select ‘Genodigden’ in the registration form.

Before the lecture from 19.00 – 19.45 hrs you can participate in a short guided tour by Kien van Hövell at Langoed Grootstal.  This tour will probably be in Dutch. Please be present at 18.50 hrs. St Jacobsweg 15a at the de pantry. This guided tour is fully booked. It is not possible to participate anymore. Participating in the lecture however is still possible.

Accessibility Landgoed Grootstal

Landgoed Grootstal (St. Jacobsweg 13a, Malden) has limited parking space on site and on the roads leading to the site.
However you can reach Landgroed Grootstal easily by bike (10 minute ride from the Radboud University campus for example) and by public transport. Use bus stop Archimedesstraat (6 minutes  walk, 500 meters) or bus stop Scheidingsweg (8 minutes walk, 700 meters).

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