Participatory Guarantee System for urban agriculture

Abstract

Following the rapid growth of urban agriculture (UA), research has stressed the need for a methodology to evaluate and valorise sustainability of UA projects. In parallel, the worldwide development of Participatory Guarantee Systems (PGS) has shown the potential of collective action to promote agroecological practices while ensuring sovereignty of farmers communities. Hence, this action-research aims to assess the potential of PGS to consolidate a network of urban farms, valorise their multifunctionality and promote a collective progress strategy towards sustainability. Interviews were conducted with urban farmers to assess field needs and issues with regards to research objectives. Then, a benchmark analysis of PGS models combined with critics from UA researchers allowed to identify relevant characteristics of PGS applicable in the field of UA in order to meet research objectives. Results and discussion highlighted a strong coherence between universal PGS principles and the need for flexibility, inclusivity, credibility and legitimacy expressed by UA actors. Based on the discussion, a prototype of a PGS for UA was designed, including a methodology to evaluate eco-systemic services and certify progress over compliance to threshold, the creation of territorial observatories of UA with participatory sciences, and a guideline to ensure the co-creation of the PGS as a "Common" with urban and rural actors.