EcoAgri urban agriculture
The EcoAgri project aims to develop a training curriculum and training course for young people and adults who are interested in exploring ecological urban agriculture - either to produce their own food, to sell the production to small outdoor markets or as part of their activities during their spare time.
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Useful links:
Growing Communities in Hackney, London, have been growing in the city since 1997. Food is sold at a market and also through a veg box scheme
Social Farms and Gardens provide training and courses on setting up city farms and community gardens.
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'Visit a city farm to see how the farmers there are helping to conserve urban ecosystems'
How is the project linked to climate change and sustainability?
Urban agriculture has been drawing a lot of attention recently for several reasons: the majority of the world population has shifted from living in rural to urban areas; the environmental impact of agriculture is a matter of rising concern; and food insecurity, especially the accessibility of food, remains a major challenge. Urban agriculture has often been proposed as a solution to some of these issues, for example by producing food in places where population density is highest, reducing transportation costs, connecting people directly to food systems and using urban areas efficiently. It can positively impact upon the greening and cleaning of the city by turning derelict open spaces into green zones and maintaining buffer and reserve zones free of housing, with positive impacts on the micro-climate (shade, temperature, sequestration of CO2).
Who is involved?
The project is supported by agricultural universities from Bulgaria (UARD) and Turkey (COMU) that are providing the training and ecological production know-how.Additionally, two small enterprises are implementing the ecological and urban agriculture practices in Bulgaria and Greece.
How are the participants involved?
The target groups of students aged 18 years+ and adult learners are involved are able to view videos of urban agriculture projects and also undertake an online training course on the topic. The aim of the videos is to provide educative awareness, which equips adults with the set of useful skills and competences needed to start oriented initiatives in urban agriculture. There are also mobile applications to allow easy access to the topics for existing urban agriculture small farmers; adult educators; adult training centres; lifelong learning centres and social entrepreneurs.
Key steps:
The four partners involved in the project recommend the following three steps to gain a better knowledge and understanding of urban agriculture:
1. Educative awareness by watching the videos on ecological and urban agriculture development
2. Training through the online curriculum and training course on ecological and urban agriculture for new and potential small farmers
3. Access to an interactive mobile application for urban eco-farmers