What Motivates Urban Dwellers to Engage in Urban Farming?

Bixia Chen (), Kazuna Miyagi, Tomoyuki Namihira, Daiki Kayano, Mika Aragaki and Shiori Suzuki
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Bixia Chen: Department of Subtropical Agro-Production Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture, University of the Ryukyus, Okinawa 903-0213, Japan
Kazuna Miyagi: Department of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Faculty of Agriculture, University of the Ryukyus, Okinawa 903-0213, Japan
Tomoyuki Namihira: Department of Subtropical Agro-Production Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture, University of the Ryukyus, Okinawa 903-0213, Japan
Daiki Kayano: The Tropical Field Center, Faculty of Agriculture, University of the Ryukyus, Okinawa 903-0213, Japan
Mika Aragaki: The Tropical Field Center, Faculty of Agriculture, University of the Ryukyus, Okinawa 903-0213, Japan
Shiori Suzuki: The Tropical Field Center, Faculty of Agriculture, University of the Ryukyus, Okinawa 903-0213, Japan

Sustainability, 2024, vol. 16, issue 16, 1-18

Abstract: Urban farming provides diverse benefits to cities and their residents, including access to fresh food, increased food security, healthy dietary habits, improved physical and mental health, increased green spaces, and climate regulation. Urban attitudes and perceptions play crucial roles in urban farming development. However, despite the recent interest in urban farming, studies on the profiles and perceptions of urban farmers are lacking. This study aimed to clarify the motivations of urban gardeners, features of urban farmers, and differences in motivations between urban and non-urban farmers. We used Japan as a case study to add to the knowledge of a developed Asian country regarding the challenges that society faces. Approximately one-third of the respondents practiced urban farming, while one-sixth wanted to try it. Most urbanites practiced farming around their houses or apartment buildings. The benefits of urban farming considered by Okinawan respondents were safe and fresh food, health improvement, and green spaces, which were not significantly different from those in other regions. Respondents older than 50 were more likely to engage in urban farming than younger people. The respondents did not appreciate the social benefits of urban farming, which was inconsistent with the results from other regions worldwide; this may be because most participants were home gardeners, and only a few were allotment gardeners. Challenges in the development of urban farming include the unavailability of urban farming knowledge and of allotment gardens, and negative environmental influences on neighborhoods. This research is the first to report on the motivations of urban farmers in Japan. It fills a gap in the pertinent knowledge of highly urbanized and super-aging societies worldwide.

Keywords: allotment garden; community garden; motivation; social well-being; urban planning (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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