PresentedbyPerkinsEastman
Replenish
Foodasacatalystfor regenerativeplacemaking andhuman-centereddesign
Community&theRole ofFoodProduction
Foodproductionplaysavitalroleinstrengthening communitiesbyfosteringeconomicgrowth,improving foodsecurity,andpromotingsocialinteraction.Local foodsystems,inparticular,createjobs,keepmoney circulatingwithinthecommunity,andenhancesocial connectionsthroughinitiativeslikefarmers’markets andfarm-to-tableprograms. Additionally,foodproductioncanbeasourceofcultural identityandtradition,connectingpeoplethrough sharedculinaryexperiences.
InFact, DidYouKnow...
TheMultiplierEffect:studiesestimatethatforevery dollarspentonlocalizedfoodthereisbetween$0.98 and$1.64worthofadditionallocaleconomicactivity.
SOURCE:NCSTATE
A2016studyofcommunitygardeningprograms servingdiverse,low-incomepopulationssaw participantsdoubletheirvegetableintakewhile reducingmonthlyfoodcostsbetween$84and$92.
SOURCE:BERKELEYFOODINSTITUTE
Over40acresoffarmlandarelosteachhourinthe UnitedStatesduetourbansprawl.Further91%offruits and77%ofvegetablesaregrownon“urbanedge” farmsthatareunderthreatofdevelopment.
SOURCE:HEALTHCAREWITHOUTHARM
TheBenefitsof LocalFoodProduction
JOBCREATION:Foodproduction,includingfarming,processing,anddistribution,createsdiversejobopportunities, contributingtolocaleconomies(maintenance,skillstraining,etc.).
Economic Benefits
ECONOMICGROWTH:Localfoodsystemscanstimulateeconomicactivitybysupportinglocalbusinessesand keepingmoremoneywithinthecommunity(agritourismasanexample).
INCREASEDSELF-RELIANCE:Byreducingrelianceonexternalsupplychains,localfoodsystemscanmake communitiesmoreself-sufficient.
Social Benefits
COMMUNITYHUBS:Farmers'marketsandotherfood-relatedeventscanserveasvitalcommunitygathering places,fosteringsocialinteraction,youthengagement,andstrengtheningsocialbonds.
CULTURALPRESERVATION:Foodisdeeplyintertwinedwithcultureandheritage,andlocalfoodsystemscanhelp preservetraditionaldishesandculinarypractices.
FOODSECURITY&NUTRITION:Byincreasingaccesstofresh,locallysourcedfood,localfoodsystemscanimprove dietaryquality,preventionofchronicdisease,andfoodsecurity,particularlyforunderservedpopulations.
Environmental Benefits
REDUCEDTRANSPORTATION:Localfoodsystemsofteninvolveshortertransportationdistances,potentiallyreducing greenhousegasemissionsfromfoodtransportation.Conservesenergyandreducesheatislands.
SUSTAINABLEPRACTICES:Localfoodproductioncanencouragesustainableagriculturalpractices,suchasreduced pesticideuseandimprovedsoilhealth.Additionalbenefitsforcooling,biodiversity&stormwatermitigation.
INTEGRATEDAPPROACH:Acommunityfoodsystemencompassesallaspectsoffoodproduction,processing, distribution,consumption,andwastemanagement,integratingthemtobenefitthecommunity’swell-being.
Therefore,GrowingYourOwnFood... Contributesto
Community Cohesion
WhatareSomeoftheAvenues forCivicNourishment?
1.Urban Agritecture
UrbanAgfindsitswayintovariousinstitutionalsettingslike communityschools,hospitals,hotels,andworkplaces.
Theintegrationoffoodproductionintothebuilt environment:sustainablecultivation,processing,and distributionoffoodwithincitiesandperi-urbanareasto servelocaldemand,regenerateresources,andboost equitablefoodaccess:
AdaptiveReuse:Utilizingrooftops,vacantlots,obsolete publicspaces,andbackyards. Modularandstackablecontainersystems. Verticalfarmingwithaeroponicandhydroponicsetups, utilizingsometimesenergy-intensivelightingsystems.
Innovationsinverticalfarming,hydroponics,aquaponics,digital twins,dronesandsensorsaretransformingfoodproduction.
SOURCE:CIOWOMENMAGAZINE.COM
2.TheFARMacy Movement
This“food-is-medicine”(FIM)ideologyreframes healthcarebyprescribingnutritiousfood(namelyfresh fruits,vegetables,leanproteins,andlow-sodiumstaples) asaclinicalinterventiontopreventandmanage chronicdiet-relateddiseases.FARMacyhealthcare strategieshelptoaddressthesocialdeterminantsof health,modifylifestylesandtargetspecificconditions:
Medically-tailoredmealprogramsand“produceprescriptions” viapartnershipswithlocalfarmsandfoodretailers.
“FreshFoodFARMacies”arepioneeringexamplesof community-basedprogramsthatintegratefoodinto traditionalcarepathways. FARMacieshelppatientsbettermanagechronic illnesslikediabetesandreducehealthcarecostsin thelongrun.
Freshfruitsandvegetablesareoftenaccompaniedbybehaviorchangecoaches,cookingdemonstrations,or dieteducation.
SOURCE:GEISINGER,THEPUEBLOCHIEFTAIN
3.BlueTechforthe BlueEconomy
BlueTechinnovationsleverageoceansandfreshwater systemsalikeforbothecologicalrestorationand sustainablefoodproduction.Fromaquaponicstooffshore aquaculture,thesesolutionsarecreatingresilientfood sources,renewableenergy,andbiomedicaladvances whileactivelycleaningandprotectingaquaticecosystems:
Aquaponicsystemsintegratefishfarmingwith hydroponiccropcultivation.
Offshoreaquacultureplatformssustainablyraisefish. Seaweedandmicroalgaefarmingforhumanfood, animalfeed,andbio-packagingmaterial.
Floatinggreenhouses,verticalfarms,andeco-barges savespaceinurbanharborsoralongriverestuaries.
Integratedmulti-trophicaquaculture(IMTA)combinespeciesat differentlevelsofthefoodchaintoreducewaste&improveyields.
BlueTechsystemsactasbothmitigationandadaptationtoolsabsorbingcarbon,bufferingcoastlines,andprovidingsecurefood.
SOURCE:WORLDFISHCENTER,CGIAR,AQUACULTURENORTHAMERICA
4.Aerospace Agriculture
AeroAgappliesaerospaceandaviationinnovationsto foodproductiononEarth.Originallydevelopedfor astronauts,thesetechnologiescantransformurbanand civicspacesintohigh-yield,climate-resilientfoodhubs.
ByembeddingAeroAgsystemsintopublicspaces,cities canturninfrastructureintoliving,ediblelandmarks:
HydroponicFoodDomes:modeledafterspace habitatsinpublicparks. Closed-LoopWaste-to-NutrientSystems:using compostedorganicsfrommunicipalprograms.
LEDSpectrumOptimization:adaptedfromspace croptrialsforseasonallightsimulation. MobileFarmPodsontrailiers/busestoreach underservedneighborhoods.
TransferringgrowingtechniquesfromAerospacetoagriculture canenablereliable,hyperlocalproductionregardlessofclimate.
AeroAgsystemstendtoshowcaseinnovation,demonstrate cutting-edgeagtechandinspirethosewhointeract.
SOURCE:NASA,OHIOAEROSPACEINSTITUTE(OAI)
So,isthefuture ofFoodBlue?
BlueZonesare geographicregionswherepeoplelive thelongestandhealthiestlives—sharefoodsystems thatarelocal,plant-forward,community-centered,and tiedtoactivelifestyles.Ascitiesandcommunitiesrethink thefutureofnourishment,cantheseprinciplesbecome moreubiquitous?
Theavenuesforcivicnourishment(agrictecture, farmacy,bluetech,andAeroAg)haveasharedgoal: AlignFoodProduction,HealthOutcomes, andEcologicalStewardshiptoSupport HumanLongevity&PlanetaryHealth.
SOURCE:BLUEZONESPROJECT
LandScarcity &LegalHurdles
SoilContamination ResourceConstraints
Highlandcostsandrestrictive zoninglimitspaceavailability.
Legacypollutantslikeleadcan threatenhumanhealth. Wateravailability,urbanmicroclimates, andinfrastructuredemand.
EconomicViability
Equity& GentrificationRisks
SystemMaintenance &Longevity
Highstartupandoperationalcosts,low efficiencyinmanualsystems,and capital-intensivetech.
Systemscaninadvertentlydrive uplocalpropertyvaluesand displacemarginalizedgroups.
Inconsistentmaintenance,unclear ownership/governance,and/or burnoutamongvolunteers.
Barriers&Challenges toLocalFoodProduction
LandScarcity &LegalHurdles
SoilContamination ResourceConstraints
Activateunderutilizedor transitionalspacesformodular production. Implementsoillessgrowing systemslikeraisedbeds& aquaponicsystems. Createclosed-loopirrigationsystems anddesignmicroclimate-responsive interventionslikewindbreaks.
EconomicViability
Equity& GentrificationRisks
SystemMaintenance &Longevity
Startsmallwithlow-techmodular systems.Focusonmulti-functional valuebycombiningfoodproduction witheducation,workforce development,andhealth.
Usedesigntoamplifycultural memoryandfoodsovereignty. Centercommunity governanceandantidisplacementplanningearly.
Incorporatelow-maintenance designprinciples(e.g.,passive irrigation,etc.),usedigitaltoolsto streamlineupkeep,andincentivize careprograms.
PossibleDesignSolutionsFor OvercomingthoseBarriers
ClimaticConsiderations
DRY TROPICAL TEMPERATE CONTINENTAL
Waterscarcity,extremetemperature fluctuations,soildegradation,solarradiation.
Utilizepassivewatersystemslike fogcatchers greywaterrecycling, anddew-harvestingfacades
Explorewickingbedsandburied claypotirrigationtominimize evaporation
Usedrought-tolerantedibleplants (pricklypear amaranth palms)
Createshade-producingpergolas withclimbingcrops
Employpartiallyburiedgrow zones&earth-integrated greenhouses
Abundantrainfall&sun,dense vegetation,highbiodiversity.
Useraisedbeds,verticalgardens,and stiltedstructuretopreventrootrot
Employfoodforestsandagroforestry systemswithlayeredplantings
Exploreshadenettingandbreezepermeablescreensforcropprotection
Integratepondaquaculture+floating gardensandthatchedorventilated roofingoverfoodprep/marketzones
Definedgrowingseasons,temperaturevariation,early/latefrosts, abundantnativeperennials,moderaterainfall,snowimpact.
Userooftopgreenhousesorcoldframes
Employediblelandscapeswithperennials inpublicparksorhousing
Utilizecompost-heatedbedsandpassive solarorientationswithseasonal-rotating harvestcycles
Utilizeheatedorsunkengreenhouses
Explorefoodstoragearchitecture:root cellars,fermentationzones,etc.
Usemodularormobileraisedbedsthatcan beshelteredseasonallywithpassiveheating
Cost-BenefitSnapshot ForEdiblePlacemakingStrategies
Requires volunteer or light paid labor. Pros: community cohesion, low-tech, fast to deploy, accessible. Urban Orchards / Edible Landscaping
Rooftop Gardens
School or Community Hub Farms
Pros: ecological value, lowmaintenance, adds value over time, long-term investment.
Pros: thermal management, increases space utilization.
Also requires volunteer or light paid labor. Pros: education and habitbuilding value, social equity, high fundability. Community Land
Also requires volunteer or light paid labor Pros: tool for equity and food sovereignty.
Pros: adaptable to space needs, mobile optionality, scalable, enables vertical growing systems.
Requires labor for technical operations and water balance monitoring. Pros: low-water use, high return on investment.
Greenhouse
Also requires volunteer or light paid labor Pros: season extension for continental and temperate climates grow periods.
Energy-intensive, requires staffing and technical maintenance. Pros: high yield, innovation showcase.
RelevanceAcross PracticeAreas
Cities&Communities
Integratingfuture-focusedfoodsystemsintocivicdesignstrengthenseconomic resilience,fosterssocialcohesion,andbuildsclimate-adaptiveinfrastructure.
Healthcare
Designingfacilitiesandcaremodelsthatintegratefood-as-medicinecanimprove patientoutcomes,reducecosts,andaddressfoodinsecurityasahealthequityissue.
Education
Embeddingsustainablefoodsystemsintocampusdesignandcurriculacan enhancestudentwell-being academicperformance,andenvironmentalliteracy.
SeniorLiving
Tailoringfoodenvironmentstolongevitydietsandsocialdiningexperiencescan extendhealthyyearsandenrichresidents’dailylives.
Workplace
Incorporatingfood-focusedamenitiesandprogrammingintoworkplacescanimprove employeewellness,attracttalent,andcreatesharedspacesforcollaboration.
Hospitality&Mixed-Use
Food-centeredplacemakingcananchordestinationidentity boostfoottraffic,and createimmersive,brand-definingexperiences.
Residential
Designingresidentialenvironmentswithintegratedfoodproduction,fromrooftop gardenstocommunity-supportedagriculturelinks,canbuildself-relianceandfoster neighbor-to-neighborconnections.
FutureFoodTrendstoWatch
SmartFarming Technologies
Alternative Proteins
Precision
Fermentation
Digitized
SupplyChains
Personalized
Nutrition
Furtherdevelopmentof hydroponics,vertically integratedtowers,IoT systems,andAIfor optimizedyear-round productionincontrolled, constrainedspaces.
Sustainableproteinsfrom cultivatedmeat insects, algae,andseaweed.These arebecomingmorerealistic, widelyappealing,plantbasedalternativestolandintensiveanimalproteins.
Afoodtechthatprooduces high-valuecompounds proteinswithoutrelyingon traditionalagricultureor animalhusbandry.Microbes produceproteins,fats,and nutrientsatscale.
Enhancedtraceabilityto ensurevisibilityand transparencyfromfarmto fork.Atechupgradecrucial formaintainingfoodsafety standardsandregulatory compliance.
Onanindividuallevel,AI, machinelearning,anddata analyticsarebeingusedto analyzegeneticinformation, biomarkers,andreal-time healthdatatocreate customizeddietplans.
