Sustainable Urban and Periurban
Farming in Chennai
ARiSE Chennai Project Launch Workshop 2024
Agroecology for Urban and Periurban
areas
Agroecology is an approach to agriculture that integrates ecological principles to create sustainable and resilient farming systems. Agroecological practices mimic natural processes to enhance productivity while restoring ecosystems. For example, local food production reduces food miles, conserves water, and improves soil health, making it particularly relevant for urban and peri-urban areas facing environmental degradation and
food insecurity.
Project ARISE focuses on promoting agroecology in urban and peri-urban areas through research, innovation, and community
engagement.
November 2024
The Project Launch Workshop brought together stakeholders to discuss the challenges and
opportunities of peri-urban
agriculture in the Chennai region.
“The workshop also served as a platform to introduce the research and networking
aspects of the project, including ARiSE Social and ARiSE Website”
The workshop aimed to gather insights from local farmers, researchers, policymakers, and civil society organizations, to understand the challenges and opportunities associated with peri-urban agriculture in the region.
Objective 1: Gathering Insights from
Stakeholders
Identify key Challenges and Collectively define/ co-design an agenda for policy/ institution/regulatory changes that can help achieve the broader goal of fostering local/
sustainable food systems transformation.
Objective 2: Launching the Project’s
Research and Networking Platform
The social platform is pivotal in bringing together the knowledge and experience of the peri-urban farming collective.
Agroecology for Urban and Periurban
areas
Agroecology is an approach to agriculture that integrates ecological principles to create sustainable and resilient farming systems. Agroecological practices mimic natural processes to enhance productivity while restoring ecosystems. For example, local food production reduces food miles, conserves water, and improves soil health, making it particularly relevant for urban and peri-urban areas facing environmental degradation and
food insecurity.
The Project ARISE Launch Workshop’s objectives were instrumental in setting the stage for the project’s success. By gathering insights from stakeholders and launching the research and networking platform, the workshop laid the groundwork for a collaborative and impactful initiative to promote agroecology in urban and peri-urban areas.
KEYNOTE SPEAKER
Dr. K. V. Balasubramanian
CIKS
Voices from the Plenary Discussion
stakeholders to delve deeper into the challenges and opportunities associated with
peri-urban agriculture in the Chennai region.
Way Forward
The Project ARISE Launch Workshop successfully brought together stakeholders from various sectors to discuss the challenges and opportunities associated with peri-urban agriculture in the Chennai region. The workshop generated valuable insights and actionable points that willguide the project’s future activities.
Strengthening the research and networking platform
The project will continue to
develop its online platform,
providing a space for
stakeholders to connect, share knowledge, and collaborate. The platform will also be used to disseminate research findings, best practices, and
other relevant information to the peri-urban agriculture community.
Promoting agroecological
practices
The project will work with
farmers and communities to promote the adoption of
agroecological practices,
providing training, technical
assistance, and access to
resources. The project will also support the development of innovative agroecological technologies and approaches.
Advocating for policy change
The project will engage with policymakers to advocate for policies that support peri- urban agriculture, such as
tax incentives for urban
farmers and land-use
regulations that promote
urban agriculture. The
project will also work to raise awareness among the public about the importance of
peri-urban agriculture.
Building partnerships
The project will continue to
build partnerships with
other organizations and
initiatives working in the
field of peri-urban agriculture. These partnerships will help to
leverage resources, share
knowledge, and amplify the
project’s impact.
Thank You!
To our partners, funding partners, friends and allies – we look forward to continuing to work
together to create a more Sustainable future
workshops 2022 recap
Sustainable farming Practices
At ARiSE, our workshops are designed to equip stakeholders with the practical knowledge, tools, and insights necessary to implement sustainable practices in agriculture, urban planning, and climate resilience. Each workshop provides an interactive learning experience, bringing together experts, practitioners, and community members to share their expertise and foster collaboration.
Our workshops cover a wide range of topics, from sustainable farming techniques to climate adaptation strategies, and are suitable for anyone interested in contributing to a more resilient future. Whether you’re a farmer, researcher, entrepreneur, or policymaker, these sessions will help you take actionable steps toward sustainability.
Project ARiSE Launch Workshop: Sustainable Urban and Periurban
Farming in Chennai
Agroecology is an approach to agriculture that integrates ecological principles to create
sustainable and resilient farming systems.
Agroecological practices mimic natural
processes to enhance productivity while
restoring ecosystems. For example, local food
production reduces food miles, conserves
water, and improves soil health, making it
particularly relevant for urban and peri-urban
areas facing environmental degradation and
food insecurity. Project ARISE focuses on promoting agroecology in urban and peri-urban areas through research, innovation, and community engagement. The project aims to identify and disseminate best practices, develop innovative technologies, and empower communities to adopt sustainable farming methods.
Exploring Food System Transformation in the Chennai Region
In recent years, many individuals, initiatives, organisations, entrepreneurs and the government have initiated innovative activities with regards to organic and alternative farming, urban community gardening, rooftop kitchen gardens, organic food stores, and many other activities, to create more sustainable, resilient and healthy living conditions.However, what appears to be important too, is how these diverse activities and stakeholders can collaborate to create synergies for a systemic transformation of the agri-food sector in the Chennai region.
The Indo-German Centre for Sustainability (IGCS) and Chennai Resilience Centre (CRC) partnered in this effort to promote an agroecological transformation of the Chennai metropolitan region.