Food justice and resilience: Brisbane's urban agriculture network amid a pandemic crisis

Abstract

The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has demonstrated vulnerabilities within food systems, with global predictions suggesting that a quarter-billion people will suffer from acute hunger by the end of 2020. This incites the need for research into food system resilience and food justice in order to encourage equitable food access and reduce hunger during a crisis. Using social network analysis and qualitative interviews, this study engaged six urban agriculture initiatives in Brisbane, Queensland to determine their capacity to promote food justice and resilience during the COVID-19 pandemic. It was found that the nature of the network, being small-scale, direct to the consumer, and cohesive, enabled each initiative to appropriately respond and adapt to any impacts. Multiple, diverse actors collaborated to develop new solutions in times of crisis, highlighting key aspects of resilience. Food justice was also evident in the practices and values of each initiative, which involved community capacity building, sustainability and ensuring access to healthy and nutritional produce. However, some urban farmers felt their ability to implement food justice was limited. Despite this, their food justice activities were found to build on food system resilience as they encouraged food access through various channels (e.g. charity and short supply chains). This study reinforces the need for urban agriculture initiatives to ensure that efforts to build resilience (through developing diverse, flexible and cohesive networks) are pursued in parallel with food justice activities that encourage food access.