Abstract

DELGADO, Cecília. Accessing common land for food: prospective policies for local governments. Finisterra [online]. 2021, n.118, pp.133-152.  Epub Dec 01, 2021. ISSN 0430-5027.  https://doi.org/10.18055/finis25477.

Portuguese organic food consumption to meet national individual and institutional demand is swiftly increasing. This demand is a missed opportunity due to lack of land access for farmers. We claim that land availability needs to be taken into consideration centrally in the formulation of local and national food policies. In particular, we suggest: 1) inter-cross coherent policy options regarding land needed to achieve goals; 2) mechanisms to strengthen multi-level and cross sectorial food governance, with a focus on land accessibility for organic food production, in particular vegetables and fruit. Based on the Torres Vedras municipality, as a study case, we conclude that local authorities have a key-role to play as facilitators for land access, primarily by identifying and mapping idle land whether communal, public or private. Results from field visits and interviews with local stakeholders suggest that cooperation across city departments and local stakeholders could spearhead an integrated food policy that would turn idle land into the decisive element of a blooming local food system. In conclusion, any municipality can do this, if there is political willingness to start a collaborative process, within municipalities, to think strategically on how to access land for food.

Keywords : Land access; common land; food policies; local governments.

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