Urban agriculture: a social development tool : improving access to affordable, healthy food in a low-income area of Toronto, Canada

Abstract

This research paper is a systemic analysis of the Black Creek Community Farm (BCCF), a new large-scale urban agriculture project that takes place in a deprived area of Toronto, Canada. The Black Creek area faces poverty and is identified as one of the food deserts that exist in North America. The different partners involved in BCCF are aware of the important role the community has to play in order for the project to succeed and in order for it to improve access to healthy and quality food in the area. Within this preliminary context, Peter Checkland’s Soft System Methodology has been used to examine the situation in detail and assess its capacity to act as a social development tool. A combination of structured and spontaneous interviews as well as the technique of visioning allowed for the identification of what the community desires for future projected situations. This report suggests a number of possible next steps to be implemented, founded on the ideas collected, in order for the community to obtain ownership of the project and develop access to healthy quality food in the neighbourhood. Both BCCF and the research project faced some challenges that are discussed and situated within a wider context in order to better assess any opportunity of replicating similar actions in other cities.