Zero-Acreage Farming in the City of Berlin: An Aggregated Stakeholder Perspective on Potential Benefits and Challenges

Kathrin Specht, Rosemarie Siebert, Susanne Thomaier, Ulf B. Freisinger, Magdalena Sawicka, Axel Dierich, Dietrich Henckel and Maria Busse
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Kathrin Specht: Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research, Institute of Socio-Economics, Eberswalder Straße 84, 15374 Müncheberg, Germany
Rosemarie Siebert: Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research, Institute of Socio-Economics, Eberswalder Straße 84, 15374 Müncheberg, Germany
Susanne Thomaier: Department of Urban and Regional Planning, Technische Universität Berlin, Hardenbergstraße 40a, 10623 Berlin, Germany
Ulf B. Freisinger: Executive Board, Freie Universität Berlin, Kaiserswerther Str. 16-18, 14195 Berlin, Germany
Magdalena Sawicka: Social Sciences Department, University of Stuttgart, Seiden Str. 36, 70174 Stuttgart, Germany
Axel Dierich: Institute for Resource Management, inter3, Otto-Suhr-Allee 59, 10585 Berlin, Germany
Dietrich Henckel: Department of Urban and Regional Planning, Technische Universität Berlin, Hardenbergstraße 40a, 10623 Berlin, Germany
Maria Busse: Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research, Institute of Socio-Economics, Eberswalder Straße 84, 15374 Müncheberg, Germany

Sustainability, 2015, vol. 7, issue 4, 1-13

Abstract: How can buildings be combined with agricultural production and what are the major potential benefits and challenges for the introduction of zero-acreage farming (ZFarming) in Berlin from the relevant stakeholders’ perspectives? These questions were explored through a series of interviews and stakeholder workshops held between 2011 and 2013. The aim was to identify the most suitable building-integrated farming model for the Berlin metropolitan area and to develop guidelines for the model’s successful and sustainable implementation through a stakeholder-driven approach. This paper provides an aggregated synthesis of the outcomes derived from the qualitative interviews and stakeholder workshops. As the results reveal, the stakeholders perceive potential benefits and challenges related to the issue of ZFarming in all dimensions (economic, social, environmental and political). They largely agreed on the importance of focusing on local resources, using energy-efficient production—including social and educational aspects—and developing new market structures when introducing ZFarming to the city of Berlin. The stakeholders identified urban rooftop greenhouses (RTG) as the most promising farming model for Berlin. In a joint collaboration of all stakeholders, a manual for RTG was developed within the participatory innovation process that addresses the identified problems and challenges associated with future implementation and governance of RTG in Berlin and beyond.

Keywords: urban agriculture; innovation; participatory approach; rooftop greenhouse; key informant interviews (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2015
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (15)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:7:y:2015:i:4:p:4511-4523:d:48281

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