IN-PERSON Lisbon Livable Cities. Section A

Abstract

Food environments sit at the intersection of people, place, public health, and ecosystem function. These are increasingly seen as a vital point of food system intervention to improve dietary outcomes, yet they have untapped potential to also consider their environmental contributions. Urban community food growing environments, specifically, such as allotments and community gardens, offer opportunities to simultaneously address urban health and ecological decline. This case study examines community food growing environments in Brighton & Hove, UK, through an interdisciplinary lens to understand the socio-ecological relationships that shape both the food biodiversity produced and the experiences of growers. Drawing on a critical food equity perspective, the research also explores whether these spaces can help reduce inequalities in access to healthy food, green space, and well-being—or risk reinforcing them. Combining citizen science with participatory visual (photovoice) and qualitative methods, the study documents both crop and variety richness across the 2024 growing season and the lived experiences of those cultivating them. Findings reveal these spaces as biodiverse, adaptive, and relational pockets: fostering climate resilience, care, and reciprocity. Yet, access remains uneven and often limited by structural constraints. This research highlights the multifunctionality of community food growing environments and their role in fostering more livable cities. To fully realise their potential, they must be supported across integrated policy domains—spanning health, environment, planning, and social equity. As urban areas grapple with compounding social and ecological pressures, these overlooked spaces offer a compelling model for inclusive and regenerative urban futures.