Zero-Acreage Farming in the City of Berlin: An Aggregated Stakeholder Perspective on Potential Benefits and Challenges

Kathrin Specht,Dietrich Henckel,Axel Dierich,Maria Busse,Magdalena Sawicka,Rosemarie Siebert,Ulf Freisinger,Susanne Thomaier

doi:10.3390/su7044511

Abstract

How can buildings be combined with agricultural production and what are the major potential benefits and challenges for the introduction of zero-acreage farming (ZFarming) in Berlin from the relevant stakeholders’ perspectives? These questions were explored through a series of interviews and stakeholder workshops held between 2011 and 2013. The aim was to identify the most suitable building-integrated farming model for the Berlin metropolitan area and to develop guidelines for the model’s successful and sustainable implementation through a stakeholder-driven approach. This paper provides an aggregated synthesis of the outcomes derived from the qualitative interviews and stakeholder workshops. As the results reveal, the stakeholders perceive potential benefits and challenges related to the issue of ZFarming in all dimensions (economic, social, environmental and political). They largely agreed on the importance of focusing on local resources, using energy-efficient production—including social and educational aspects—and developing new market structures when introducing ZFarming to the city of Berlin. The stakeholders identified urban rooftop greenhouses (RTG) as the most promising farming model for Berlin. In a joint collaboration of all stakeholders, a manual for RTG was developed within the participatory innovation process that addresses the identified problems and challenges associated with future implementation and governance of RTG in Berlin and beyond.

Highlights

Similar to what has been observed in most cities throughout the industrialized world in the Global North in the cases of victory gardens and war gardens [2,3], urban agriculture in Berlin became important in times of crisis, and urban garden facilities were primarily important to provide fruit and vegetables during times of limited food access
The interviews provided an overview of the major potential benefits and challenges for the introduction and implementation of ZFarming in Berlin
Our study indicates that the relevant stakeholders generally perceive that ZFarming can provide an innovative solution for future development in Berlin

Summary

Introduction

Inner-city gardening already has a long tradition in Berlin (Germany). Traditional urban gardening types include family food gardens, school gardens, and garden plots, which are located throughout the city. 3000 ha (3% of Berlin’s area) fall under the official land use code of an allotment garden (“Schrebergarten”) [1]. They were established in the 19th century to improve the self-sufficiency of inhabitants with lower incomes, such as workers, families with multiple children or elderly citizens. Similar to what has been observed in most cities throughout the industrialized world in the Global North in the cases of victory gardens and war gardens [2,3], urban agriculture in Berlin became important in times of crisis, and urban garden facilities were primarily important to provide fruit and vegetables during times of limited food access

Methods

Results

Conclusion