The impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, together with the climate crisis, have had well-documented effects on people's physical and mental health in the City of Bogotá and have resulted in the food insecurity of many vulnerable communities. In the face of these global crises, urban agriculture has been instrumental in contributing to the food security of the city and has played a pivotal role both in strengthening community cohesion and in the greening and recovery of public spaces.
Various communities, public bodies, and private organisations have taken up the mantle to initiate collective actions to benefit the urban population. These actions include the establishment of urban vegetable gardens across the city, which provide more than just a source of wholesome, fresh produce. They also serve as a repository for knowledge, while fostering and fortifying community bonds. Furthermore, they offer a chance to reacquaint citizens with traditional and rural knowledge, to adopt nature-positive practices, and to safeguard and encourage the cultivation of indigenous nutritional and medicinal plants and seeds.
The Botanical Garden has contributed to these urban agriculture initiatives by providing scientific and technical support to gardens across the city and by cultivating more than 120 species with nutritional value, granting citizens greater access to food and contributing to the city's public food and nutrition security policy. Since 2020, an impressive number of technical assistance and training sessions have been carried out to support and strengthen a growing number of vegetable gardens.
Originally published by AIPH World Green City Awards: Link to case study.
Sustainable Development Goals
AIPH World Green City Awards
This project was awarded the 'AIPH World Green City Awards' in 2022 in the following category: Living Green for Biodiversity.
As the capital of Colombia, Bogotá is a hub of diverse social, economic, and cultural elements that significantly influence the wellbeing of its residents. Under the leadership of Mayor Claudia López, two key strategies have inspired a renewed commitment to environmental conservation: The District Development Plan and the Territorial Ordering Plan. These plans prioritize the 'greening' of Bogotá and the comprehensive management and care of vegetative coverings, including trees and vegetable gardens.
The public policy 'The Greening of Bogotá' is an integral part of the District Development Plan for 2020-2024: "A New Social and Environmental Contract for the Bogotá of the 21st Century." Its objective is to enhance the quality of the natural, built, and regional environment with the aim of creating better living conditions for the population and all other life forms inhabiting the territory. This includes encouraging habit restoration and urban greening, and fostering a more conscious approach to managing consumption habits and a greater appreciation for plants and nature.
Within this public policy, urban gardens are identified as critical elements of public space, and a crucial factor in mitigating and adapting to mounting climate vulnerabilities.
Urban agriculture in Bogotá is a two-way educational process through which communities and the Botanical Garden share experiences, transfer knowledge and contribute to generating processes of joint responsibility in and around the city's green spaces.
Some of the city’s goals are to:
- Strengthen 20,000 urban and peri-urban vegetable gardens by supplying seeds, inputs and/or basic tools and by creating of community seed banks for productive improvement.
- Assist 40,000 people technically and/or with technology transfer for their respective production.
- Train 20,000 people in agroecological techniques and technologies for the production and promotion of healthy and safe food consumption.
- Develop and implement promotion and marketing strategies.
Urban agriculture practices in the City of Bogotá bring together different types of technical and scientific knowledge and experiences. This interdisciplinary approach leads to an increase in production and higher quality products in the vegetable gardens.
From the second half of 2020 to February 2022, the Botanical Garden has provided training in basic urban agriculture and related topics to 14,266 people. To date, 31,926 people have been provided with technical assistance in home, community, school and institutional gardens. In addition, the Botanical Garden has provided supplies for 11,970 vegetable gardens.
A multimedia communication strategy was developed and implemented, involving pedagogical, scientific, promotional and informative publications with the aim of making the knowledge accessible to the public. In this context, the microsite "Bogotá es mi huerta": (“Bogota is my vegetable garden”) was created, providing a space for the dissemination, visibility and exchange of knowledge and experiences.
In April 2022, the mobile application for AUPA (Urban and Peri Urban Agriculture) was launched in Bogotá D.C. This app facilitates real-time data entry and updates regarding aspects such as characterization, training methods, and technical support. It also covers marketing strategies, agroecological routes, and monitoring of the gardens, including their georeferencing. This information will be incorporated into the organization's geographic information system as well as the "Bogotá es mi huerta" (Bogotá is my vegetable garden) microsite.
The lead agency for the implementation of Bogotá’s urban agriculture initiatives is the City of Bogotá. An investment of COP $15,400 million (approximately 4 million USD) has been allocated for the purpose of improving urban and peri-urban agriculture. This investment plan involves deploying measures in local communities and optimizing existing vegetable gardens and agricultural systems.
The effectiveness of the urban agriculture program is evaluated via technical assistance measures, which involve dedicated visits to various vegetable gardens. During these visits, local communities are assessed on the extent to which they are adhering to the guidelines set by the Botanical Garden and are provided with the necessary advice and assistance.
Through training programs, participants are encouraged to establish their own gardens, where they can apply the knowledge they have gained. This, in turn, allows them to explore more specialized subjects, thereby fostering potential agroecological enterprises.
The city’s urban agriculture objectives are tracked monthly, with the outcomes reported through the Botanical Garden's monitoring system. This system is integrated with the indicator platform managed by Bogotá’s District Planning Secretariat to ensure that progress is monitored comprehensively.
Furthermore, a collaborative platform known as Bogotá es Mi Huerta has been established. This microsite, steered by and catering to the urban farming community identified within the program, highlights successful ventures and presents opportunities for knowledge and experience exchange among community members.
The pandemic-induced food insecurity crisis that the city has experienced has forced part of the city’s population to survive on less than three meals a day, which has led to health problems in the most vulnerable communities. In addition, the lack of nutritious food consumption impedes physical and mental development, particularly of children, women, and older adults.
The city's air quality has deteriorated due to pollution, necessitating an expansion in vegetation and the implementation of self-sustaining practices. These practices can help mitigate the negative effects on urban ecosystems and the diverse fauna found within Bogotá's distinct microclimates.
Moreover, the pollution of water sources due to improper waste disposal and usage of synthetic chemical products, along with soil resource depletion from mining and construction material extraction, contribute to climate variability through the amplified production of pollutant gases.
Abandoned spaces or lots in certain city areas have transformed into hotspots of insecurity, attracting various forms of violence and criminal activities.
The cumulative effect of these challenges has caused significant social, environmental, economic, and health problems. However, urban and peri-urban agriculture presents an opportunity to repair the social fabric and reclaim public spaces.
Inquiries from various cities, both domestically and globally, have been made regarding training and assistance related to AUPA (Urban and Peri Urban Agriculture). Given the circumstances surrounding the pandemic and the potential offered by virtual platforms, these inquiries are being addressed and processed via the Botanical Garden's Facebook Live and other online platforms, which also allow the sharing of technical guidelines and practical experiences.
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AIPH World Green City Awards
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