GARC Seminar: The Case for Urban Agriculture in China

Governance in Asia Research Centre

Campus Sustainability Fund

Research Seminar

The Case for Urban Agriculture in China

by Professor Graeme Lang 

Visiting Professor, Department of Asian and International Studies
Core member, Governance in Asia Research Centre

Date: 4 October 2013 (Friday)
Time: 4:30pm – 6:00pm
Venue: Room B7516, Blue Zone, 7/F, Academic 1, CityU (POL conference room)
Language: English

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Abstract

Agriculture around cities (‘peri-urban agriculture’) will be important for long-term food security, as fossil fuels are depleted and energy costs increase in the coming decades (see G. Lang and B. Miao, ‘Food security for China’s cities’. International Planning Studies, 18 (1): 1-16). Many global cities have recently facilitated urban as well as peri-urban agriculture. The presentation will review the arguments (i.e., benefits and co-benefits), with examples from the recent growth of interest in urban agriculture in global cities overseas. Reasons for promoting urban agriculture in and around China’s cities will be outlined, along with implications for urban planning. University scholars and students can contribute. Our own City U. GROW project (rooftop gardens) will be used as one of the examples.

Bio-sketch

Graeme Lang is a professor of sociology in the Department of Asian and International Studies. He has developed and taught courses on ‘Globalization and the Environment’, ‘Environment and Society in Asia’, ‘Sustainable Cities for the 21st Century’, and ‘Energy, Environment, and the Future: Crisis and Opportunity’ (a GE course). His research and publications have included studies of deforestation and state reactions in China and Southeast Asia, environment-related protest campaigns, sustainability problems, food security for cities, and energy supply issues in China.