Investigating local policy instruments for different types of urban agriculture in four European cities: A case study analysis on the use and effectiveness of the applied policy instruments

Over the last decades, urban agriculture (UA) and controlled environmental (CEA) have been growing in many areas of world to supply fresh food locally provide multiple benefits for sustainable development landscapes. Municipal policies regulatory tools are increasingly employed support UA/CEA minimize practical challenges. However, especially Europe, there is a lack systematic reviews that evaluate impacts city-level their effectiveness as perceived by local responsible actors. To address this gap, study presents qualitative overview municipal affect UA/CEA. We reviewed more than 83 policy documents manuscripts performed an online structured survey targeting key managers or employees UA innovative CEA systems four EU cities – Barcelona (Spain), Lyon (France), Trieste Udine (Italy). assessed tools, three identified types (allotment gardens, community gardens closed spaces using CEA) mainly focusing on public private institutions including aspects concerning land use planning, health policies. The findings demonstrate how cities’ governments specifically designed combined multiplicity instruments enable, regulate acknowledge part metabolism landscape. were shaped different governance institutional structures well actors practitioners interest