Urban Sustainability of Quito Through Its Food System: Spatial and Social Interactions

María Magdalena Benalcázar Jarrín, Diana Patricia Zuleta Mediavilla, Ramon Rispoli and Daniele Rocchio ()
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María Magdalena Benalcázar Jarrín: LL Liminal Lab Investigation Group, Architecture Department, Faculty of Architecture and Urbanism, UTE University, Quito 170902, Ecuador
Diana Patricia Zuleta Mediavilla: LL Liminal Lab Investigation Group, Architecture Department, Faculty of Architecture and Urbanism, UTE University, Quito 170902, Ecuador
Ramon Rispoli: DiARC, Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, 80134 Napoli, Italy
Daniele Rocchio: LL Liminal Lab Investigation Group, Architecture Department, Faculty of Architecture and Urbanism, UTE University, Quito 170902, Ecuador

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 14, 1-21

Abstract: This study explores the spatial and social implications of urban food systems in Quito, Ecuador, focusing on how food access inequalities reflect and reinforce broader urban disparities. The research addresses a critical problem in contemporary urbanization: the disconnection between food provisioning and spatial equity in rapidly growing cities. The objective is to assess and map disparities in food accessibility using a mixed-methods approach that includes field observation, participatory mapping, value chain analysis, and statistical modeling. Five traditional and emerging food markets were studied in diverse districts across the city. A synthetic accessibility function F(x) was constructed to model food access levels, integrating variables such as income, infrastructure, transport availability, and travel time. These variables were subjected to Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and hierarchical clustering to generate three typologies of territorial vulnerability. The results reveal that peripheral areas exhibit lower F(x) values and weaker integration with the formal food system, leading to higher consumer costs and limited fresh food options. In contrast, central districts benefit from multimodal infrastructure and greater diversity of supply. This study concludes that food systems should be treated as critical urban infrastructure. Integrating food equity into land use and mobility planning is essential to promote inclusive, sustainable, and resilient urban development.

Keywords: urban sustainability; food system design; spatial dynamics; food equity; quito (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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