Agropolis

ANY Filipinos suffer from lack of food or poor diets despite rising food availability because of inadequate access to food due to high poverty and low income…” (World Food Program). Worsening climate conditions contribute to surges in food prices as agricultural lands are devastated, and farmers are forced to salvage any marketable produce they have. This year, the United Nations ranked the Philippines as the 13th most populous country in the world. These data offer a snapshot of how our country is faring — it is one of the fastest urbanizing countries and because of high food prices, many Filipino do not have enough means or are barely meeting the most basic of needs — proper nutrition. As urban populations grow, so does the demand for sustainable and resilient food supply systems.

Instead of solely relying on rural regions to supply food for the city, an agropolis makes a city self- sustaining because it integrates agricultural farms into the urban setting. Derived from “meaning farm, and “

meaning city, an agropolis places the food source in the city itself or in nearby cities or towns. In other countries, the agropolitan approach is applied as urban farming. Argentina is known for its or ranches that feature orchards, gardens and barns for livestock. Bordeaux’s famous vineyards made France the best producer of wine in the world. Elsewhere, urban rooftops are sprouting everywhere, most especially in the busiest cities. The world’s largest is a 7.5- hectare rooftop greenhouse in Chicago that produces fresh vegetables equivalent to the yield of a 20-hectare farm. In New York, urban agriculture has been taking over in backyards, rooftops and community gardens as many residents are experiencing its countless benefits. By 2020, the city of Paris aims to cover its roofs and walls with 99 hectares of vegetation, one-third of which is dedicated to urban farming. Even though Singapore is the greenest city in Asia, most of its fresh vegetables and fruits are imported from neighboring countries, so the country is raising its efforts in promoting sustainable urban farming to increase their food resiliency.

In order for agropolitan development and a productive industry to thrive, land use plans and policies of local governments must be favorable to balancing develop-

resources and expertise must be invested in human capital and technology. There are manifold

- lis. It can counteract the effects of urbanization such as hunger and poverty by empowering lowincome households to establish livelihoods through urban farming. Families can eat healthier by growing their own nutritious veg-

By directly selling through market stalls and food stands, they can save by spending less on operational costs such as transport, storage and packaging. As a result, selling healthy food will be cheaper. In designing affordable housing, Palafox Architecture and Palafox Associates have incorporated green walls where households can plant crops such as eggplant, tomato, cucumber, and ampalaya, among others. Carbon emissions can be reduced because fresh produce no longer need to be transported at an average of 2,000 kilometers from provincial farms to markets. In this connection, the presence of farms in the metropolis can help neutralize price surges and shortages of fresh produce during natural calamities in the provinces. Developing urban food systems provides green spaces that offer relief from pollution, urban heat and other deteriorating conditions of the urban environment. In Metro Manila, there are so many vacant and idle lots. Why not convert these places to healthy and productive community or neighborhood gardens? Through these spaces, the community’s capacity to sustain its residents is enhanced, children and adults are educated about the importance of sustainable and local agriculture, jobs are created, and community building is strengthened.

For areas surrounding the city, agri-tourism or farm tourism can be further promoted. According to the Department of Tourism, the integration of farming and tourism champions small farmers because it paves the way for inclusive and sustainable agricultural development. Through agri-tourism, small farmers are not excluded out of the supply chain, environment-friendly agriculture is practiced, more jobs and business opportunities are generated, and growth centers are created outside the city — encouraging rural folk to stay in their hometowns instead of going to big cities to look for, ironically, greener pastures. The leisure farm concept is an example of farm tourism that incorporates farming with residential development. In Taiwan, more and more farm-resorts are attracting tourists. There, visitors can choose and buy from a wide array of agricultural products, experience farm-to-table dining, relax and stay at farms or nearby hotels, and learn about sustainable organic farming. Here in the Philippines, Palafox Associates was involved in the master planning of leisure farms like The Leisure Farms in Lemery, Batangas; Ponderosa Leisure Farms in Silang, Cavite; and Tierra Maria Estates in Lipa, Batangas, among others. The vision behind these places is to create agri-tourism communities that serve as getaways for the urban-weary who want to relax and recuperate by immersing in farming activities.

The effects of urbanization are complex and evolving. In order to revive our cities and replenish our dwindling resources, I believe rapid growth must be aided by agropolitan development, which can help us to resiliently, sustainably and equitably adapt.