The relation of community gardens and human right to food: a case study in Berlin and Rio de Janeiro

Abstract

This empirical investigation contrasts urban food sharing practices in community gardens of two global cities facing the problems of urban vacant land and the violation of the right to food. The central inquiry guiding this investigation is: How do the principles of the right to food relate to food sharing practices within Berlin and Rio de Janeiro community gardens, and what factors explain the similarities and differences in these connections within and between these cities? The hypothesis suggests that urban food sharing within community gardens can be linked to right to food. These connections may vary based on unique socioeconomic contexts and urban challenges in each city. To empirically assess this hypothesis, the study formulated the theoretical proposition that the human right to food, the concept of urban commons, and the establishment of community gardens serve as mechanisms for addressing urban land and food crises. Interviews and questionnaires applied between 2019-2023 characterized community gardens' territorial and sociodemographic profiles by engaging with gardeners and experts (40 in total). The data had a thematic coding and analysis, combining deductive and inductive reasoning. The results confirmed the hypothesis. However, agroecological food production emerged as a unifying factor across both cities, demonstrating a shared commitment to sustainable practices. This suggests a significant international step toward social-ecological transformation in urban food and land management. The findings expanded the existing literature on the role of urban agriculture and alert for the necessary promotion and protection of community gardens.