The adaptation of urban farms to cities: The case of the Alella wine region within the Barcelona Metropolitan Region

Abstract

Urban agriculture plays an important role in maintaining the urban- rural fringe. Agriculture produces both agricultural goods and non-market goods, so it is important to preserve agricultural activities and keep farmers in these peri-urban areas. Cities are not only a threat to agricultural activities but can also provide opportunities for farmers to offer products and services demanded by citizens. The aim of this work is to determine whether the wineries in a peri-urban wine region have adapted their business models in response to their proximity to cities/citizens. This paper also includes a brief description of these cellars and the types of social benefits they provide. Semi- structured surveys were conducted of the wineries in the Alella Protected Designation of Origin, which is near the city of Barcelona (Catalonia, Spain). The survey was approved by the working group of Entrepreneurial Models of Urban Agriculture within the framework of the European project COST Action TD 1106 of Urban Agriculture Europe.