Lisanne Meijer
Daan Helmerhorst
Jonah van Delden
Tutors: Diego Sepulveda, Luisa Calabrese and Marcin Dąbrowski
Key words: Circular Economy, Nature Inclusive Agriculture, agri-food sector, fringes, socio-spatial justice
The province of South Holland is one of the biggest drivers of the Dutch economy with almost a quarter of the gross national product earned in this region. The agrifood sector is the largest contributor with an annual turnover of about € 5.5 billion. About half of the surface of the province is dedicated to this sector, entailing many jobs and steering innovation worldwide. In line with the ambitious target of the Dutch government the province aims to be fully circular in 2050. This means the agrifood sector is facing an enormous transition.
However, the sector faces several major socio-spatial and environmental challenges. The current monoculture food landscapes contribute to 20% of GHG emissions, consumes 67% of fresh water, and results in subsidence, salination and lack of biodiversity. Additionally, with the challenge to build 230.000 houses and the space needed for energy transition and nature, the pressure on space increases. The distribution of these negative externalities results in socio-spatial inequality, placing a burden on mainly lower income communities, including a lower socio-economic position for farmers. Nature-inclusive agriculture has the potential to tackle these issues as an overarching framework. How can the agri-food sector in the province of South Holland transition to a nature inclusive circular system?
This project aims to have a 100% nature-inclusive agri-food sector in 2050. To reach this goal, this project starts by further investigating the current linear system and its environmental social and spatial issues. It can be concluded that the socio-spatial challenges are most present in the fringes within the province. Hence, a regional vision and strategy are proposed that transform the linear-manufacture-waste model into a circular and nature-inclusive agri-food sector, through re-activation of the fringes in the province. The fringes offer a high potential for implementation of a variety of nature-inclusive and circular functions, that can be established through stakeholder engagement, co-creation and participation of local residents. Part of the strategy are 3 fringe typologies, that can be expanded throughout the region. As a result, the agri-food landscapes become more natureinclusive and resilient, with a shorter and more just food chain, whilst simultaneously providing equitable access to healthy and accessible food.
This project is interesting for governance parties or businesses in the agri-food sector that aim to transition to a circular economy. It could also be valuable for knowledge or educational institutions related to agriculture, food, nature-inclusive or transition methods, and regional spatial planning.