Urban Agriculture in Portugal: constraints and drivers to a food public policy

Abstract

This paper explores first to what extent Portugal created an enabling environment for the formulation, implementation and institutionalization of a food policy in Portugal and second to what extent current Urban Agriculture practices enhance the shift from practices to food policy. In order to identify constraints and drivers for local initiatives to upscale, a survey was carried out with 16 local authorities. The paper argues that civil society contribution to the formulation and implementation of a food policy is insufficiently highlighted in the literature. Portuguese civil society relative weakness when compared with other countries might explain why no local food policies have been formulated yet. This argument is illustrated by two international studycases, Toronto and Paris. Results from the survey are showing drivers at the national and local levels, regardless of existing constraints. Based on the international cases, is suggested that strong intervention from academia is required in order to capacitate and include relevant food actors on formulation, implementation and institutionalization of food policies in Portugal.