Urban Sprawl: The Rise of Suburbanization and Food Security

By Mia Veal

Abstract

The importance of food and how it is produced is often forgotten if one is not involved in its production. Farmland is at the center of our food production and the rapid expansion of suburbs in the United States has created a fragmentation in our agricultural lands. Urban sprawl has been attributed to a rising concern in food security in the U.S. by causing annual loss of farmland and changes in farming practices. Additionally, the rise of suburbanization has created a problem for cities' food access and has been correlated to the creation of food deserts. It is vital for the U.S. to look into conserving agricultural land and to give every American access to food.

Background

Human development has led to urbanization of our surrounding environments. Since the 1920s the United States has seen sprawling underdeveloped areas, with the biggest upticks being in the postwar era and the mid 1990s. This is known as “ urban sprawl” Merriam Webster Dictionary defines it as “the rapid expansion of the geographic extent of cities and towns, often characterized by low-density residential housing, single-use zoning, and increased reliance on the private automobile for transportation. ” As the creation of suburbs keeps continuing there are direct effects on the environment but most importantly agriculture. Urban sprawl is strongly correlated to creating a problem for food security by causing a fragmentation in agricultural land and food deserts in metropolitan cities.

Food security in the U.S. is split into two categories by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA): food security and food insecurity. Food security is when people do not indicate any food-access problems or limitations. Food insecurity is defined as a household-level economic and social condition of uncertain access to adequate food. This affects 10.5% of people in the US and is rapidly increasing. Although suburbanization is not immediately affecting our food supply yet, the average annual loss of productive farmland in the United States is at one million acres. This leads to farmland fragmentation which breaks up agricultural land when non-farming development begins in an area. This can cause a change in farming practices and increase in land prices.

Challenges

The Agriculture and Food Act of 1981 was passed to protect America’s family farm system and saw agricultural industries as an important aspect of U.S. industry. When urbanization occurs there is a price increase in land and farmers may have to sell their land which in turn creates more non-agricultural land developments.

Lastly, not only does urban sprawl affect rural areas but it causes consequences for cities as well. When urban sprawl occurs at both the neighborhood and regional level there is an increase in the likelihood of a food desert. Due to the increase in grocery superstores where the stores are now large in size, new markets need to relocate to suburban locations. Due to this, there has been a decline in smaller inner-city supermarkets. Inner cities have been seen to have an “ urban disadvantage” to the superstore market, one being buying power and two the use of large stores. Additionally, the U.S. car dependence factors into who can have access to have as well. In a study done by Dr. Karen S. Hamrick and Emerit David Hopkins, found the travel time and costs was greater for those in food deserts, which often led to residents shopping less often and were more likely to have their children with them which could cause the trip to the store to be more difficult. The length of time it takes to access grocery stores in a food desert lessens a person's ability to have access to healthy food.

Recommendations

Food security should be a top priority for U.S. officials. Creating the resources for food insecurity to be as close to eradicated as possible. Halting suburb sprawl is one of the first steps we can take on advancing food security. Having policy steps in place to to support alternatives to curb suburbanization and agricultural fragmentation are some of the various ways we can create better food systems.

First, while we cannot change the suburbanization that has been done over several decades in the country, we must find alternatives for people who are most likely to be affected by food insecurity. One way to do this is by utilizing urban agriculture since it uses the current environment to grow food. Urban agriculture is the practice of utilizing urban areas (cities) to cultivate food. Additionally, it supports localizing food systems, enhances stormwater management, and could increase habitat and biodiversity. Urban farming allows for alternatives to purchased foods that can be accessible in a short distance.

Second, we need to provide alternative forms of transportation to individuals who are in sprawled environments. Providing proper forms of public transportation in the U.S. can accommodate those who do not have access to cars. This calls on cities to expand the public transportation options they currently have and invest in equitable urban planning infrastructure. There should be incentives to curb car use and make walking, biking, and trains the norm.

Third, policy needs to be put in place that protects the farmland we do have and prevent further farmland fragmentation. One way to do this is through agricultural zoning which restricts surrounding development and protects farmland. However, there are restrictions to what kind of development can be done in the zones. Another way to protect farmland is through advocating for stronger policies such as advocating for the National Agricultural Land Network which hopes to bring together land trusts, government entities, and organizations to protect agricultural land.

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