Dissertation
Resilience of Food Farming in Rapidly Urbanizing Regions
Washington State University
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Washington State University
01/2021
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.7273/000002421
Handle:
https://hdl.handle.net/2376/120578
Abstract
Assessing the resilience of farm-level agroecosystems offers a way to inform the allocation of scarce resources needed to sustain local food production in rapidly urbanizing regions. Clark County, Washington, is an understudied part of the Portland–Vancouver metropolitan region, with sprawling development, fragmentation, changing farmer demographics, and a diversity of farm types. This case study sought to answer the following questions: 1) What are current and potential vulnerabilities for urban area food farms? 2) What will be needed to retain and enhance local food production capacity for the long term? and 3) What are useful indicators of environmental, economic, and social resilience for food-producing farms in rapidly urbanizing regions such as Clark County? A resilience theoretical framework and principles of agroecology guided design, data gathering, and analyses. Secondary data informed both the county-level and farm-level analyses. Compiled from several sources, a list of 100 farms was used to select a diversity of farms direct marketing fruits, vegetables, and/or nuts. Primary data collection included: semi-structured interviews and farming system assessments on 23 farms; two farmer roundtables; and participant observation in a broad spectrum of agriculture-focused activities. A farm resilience assessment framework comprising 29 indicators across agronomic, economic, environmental, and social realms was developed to gather, quantify, and analyze data from the study farms. Study farms were found to implement a diversity of innovative agroecological and marketing strategies to help overcome risks. Scores were highest for innovative farms producing a diversity of products for a diversity of markets while protecting the environment. While the literature suggests that diversity and direct marketing improve farm resilience and foster a sustainable local food movement, these results show that such characteristics are insufficient in themselves. Despite performing well by these criteria, 11 of the study farms no longer produce food commercially. Secondary data revealed a 16% reduction in cropland acres in the County (2012—2017). Over 6,000 acres of productive land was converted to urban and/or suburban development (2001—2016). To protect remaining agricultural capacity, this study found an urgent need to reshape local policies, public institutions, and support networks in accordance with stated farmer needs.
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Details
- Title
- Resilience of Food Farming in Rapidly Urbanizing Regions
- Creators
- Judith Ann Wait
- Contributors
- Marcia R Ostrom (Advisor)Jahi Chappell (Committee Member)Lynne Carpenter-Boggs (Committee Member)Jessica Goldberger (Committee Member)Paul Thiers (Committee Member)
- Awarding Institution
- Washington State University
- Academic Unit
- Environment, School of the (CAHNRS)
- Theses and Dissertations
- Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Washington State University
- Publisher
- Washington State University
- Number of pages
- 228
- Identifiers
- 99900606754201842
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Dissertation