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The Impact of COVID-19 on Urban Agriculture in São Paulo, Brazil

Author

Listed:
  • André Ruoppolo Biazoti

    (Study Group in Urban Agriculture (GEAU), Advanced Studies Institute (IEA), University of São Paulo (USP), São Paulo 05508-060, Brazil)

  • Angélica Campos Nakamura

    (Human Geography Postgraduate Program of the Faculty of Philosophy, Languages and Human Sciences (FFLCH), University of São Paulo (USP), São Paulo 05508-060, Brazil)

  • Gustavo Nagib

    (Study Group in Urban Agriculture (GEAU), Advanced Studies Institute (IEA), University of São Paulo (USP), São Paulo 05508-060, Brazil)

  • Vitória Oliveira Pereira de Souza Leão

    (Alternative and Emerging Agriculture (AGREMAL), University of São Paulo (USP), São Paulo 05508-060, Brazil)

  • Giulia Giacchè

    (UMR SAD-APT, Université Paris-Saclay, 75231 Paris, France)

  • Thais Mauad

    (Department of Pathology, Medical School (FM), University of São Paulo (USP), São Paulo 01246-903, Brazil)

Abstract

During the initial months of the COVID-19 pandemic, farmers worldwide were greatly affected by disruptions in the food chain. In 2020, São Paulo city experienced most of the effects of the pandemic in Brazil, with 15,587 deaths through December 2020. Here, we describe the impacts of COVID-19 on urban agriculture (UA) in São Paulo from April to August 2020. We analyzed two governmental surveys of 2100 farmers from São Paulo state and 148 from São Paulo city and two qualitative surveys of volunteers from ten community gardens and seven urban farmers. Our data showed that 50% of the farmers were impacted by the pandemic with drops in sales, especially those that depended on intermediaries. Some farmers in the city adapted to novel sales channels, but 22% claimed that obtaining inputs became difficult. No municipal support was provided to UA in São Paulo, and pre-existing issues were exacerbated. Work on community gardens decreased, but no garden permanently closed. Post COVID-19, UA will have the challenge of maintaining local food chains established during the pandemic. Due to the increase in the price of inputs and the lack of technical assistance, governmental efforts should be implemented to support UA.

Suggested Citation

  • André Ruoppolo Biazoti & Angélica Campos Nakamura & Gustavo Nagib & Vitória Oliveira Pereira de Souza Leão & Giulia Giacchè & Thais Mauad, 2021. "The Impact of COVID-19 on Urban Agriculture in São Paulo, Brazil," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(11), pages 1-11, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:11:p:6185-:d:566201
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Lauren Chenarides & Carola Grebitus & Jayson L. Lusk & Iryna Printezis, 2021. "Who practices urban agriculture? An empirical analysis of participation before and during the COVID‐19 pandemic," Agribusiness, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 37(1), pages 142-159, January.
    2. Rattan Lal, 2020. "Home gardening and urban agriculture for advancing food and nutritional security in response to the COVID-19 pandemic," Food Security: The Science, Sociology and Economics of Food Production and Access to Food, Springer;The International Society for Plant Pathology, vol. 12(4), pages 871-876, August.
    3. Giuseppe Pulighe & Flavio Lupia, 2020. "Food First: COVID-19 Outbreak and Cities Lockdown a Booster for a Wider Vision on Urban Agriculture," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(12), pages 1-4, June.
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