The profession of urban and regional planning aspires to create places that work for people. Yet, mainstream planning in the Global North and Global South continues to overlook the critical need to plan for people’s access to nutritious, affordable, and culturally relevant foods. Fortunately, community groups around the world are stepping up and demanding that planners plan for food systems, including urban agriculture.

The University at Buffalo Food Systems Planning and Healthy Communities Lab team is pleased to partner with The RUAF Foundation on the publication of a special issue of the Urban Agriculture Magazine (UAM), titled “Inclusive Use of Urban Space”, focused on community involvement in planing and policy to strengthen city-region food systems. Key questions explored in this issue are how communities are engaging in urban food policy making and planning and how local governments are responding to community demands for food policies and plans. The issue includes case studies from across the globe, including in Buffalo, NY and Madison, WI.

The full magazine will be released in print at the United Nations Habitat III Conference in Quito, Ecuador in two weeks.

Thank you to UB Community of Global Health Equity for supporting this publication!