Urban agriculture initiatives: Understanding the role of citizens in sustainable development

Sammanfattning: Within a highly complex and interconnected system of cities, community involvement tools that engage citizens in developing the urban context could move towards more sustainable solutions while bringing social change. Literature shows that urban agriculture conducted in the form of shared community gardens can be a significant component of sustainable community development strategies, particularly in disadvantaged neighbourhoods (Ohmer et al, 2009).  In the last decades, several socioeconomic challenges combined with the climate change has resulted in social and economic polarization within the cities. Greece, witnessed numerous transitions regarding the degradation of urban space (Latinopoulos, 2022). Severe lack of public green spaces, abandoned open spaces in neighbourhoods, limited access to natural settings, indifference of residents to participate to collective activities are some of the main characteristics of Greek cities highlighting the need to further explore the reasons behind it. Thessaloniki is selected as a representative paradigm of a contemporary city that deals with these challenges providing a limited number of urban agriculture and social entrepreneurship initiatives. The study aims to point out the significance of urban agriculture as a participatory tool that, when combined with the concept of social entrepreneurship can be the spark for social change within the city of Thessaloniki. Findings are supported by primary data given from interviewees who are users of seven urban gardens in the metropolitan area of Thessaloniki. Data also demonstrate that, in spite of acknowledging the positive impact of urban agriculture, participants show limited awareness on the concepts of sustainable development and social entrepreneurship. To conclude, identifying beliefs and behaviours of civilians can be the starting point towards a more sustainable future for our cities. As Brenner & Schmid attest (2015), the city is re-emerging as the key site in which pioneering solutions and responses to the global challenges will occur.