Perceptions of perennial crops among urban agriculture growers in England

Given increasing evidence of the unsustainable nature of conventional intensive agriculture, alternative methods of food production must be considered. Urban agriculture (UA) is one proposed mechanism for increasing food system sustainability, given the potential to provide social and ecological benefits while increasing access to nutritious food. In conventional farming, the incorporation of more perennial crops has been proposed to increase sustainability through reduced soil disturbance, increased water retention and supporting higher biodiversity than annual cropping. However, little research has explored the possible benefits associated with perennial cropping in UA, or whether perennial crops incur any novel costs in urban settings. To answer these questions, we interviewed eleven managers of UA growing sites in England. Thematic analysis identified four key themes in respondents’ answers 1) issues faced by growers due to their urban locations, 2) negatives and 3) positives associated with perennial growing and 4) the alternative growing practices utilised. The soil, water and biodiversity benefits associated with perennial crops in conventional agriculture are also perceived to be present in perennial UA. The previously reported health and social benefits for people of UA persist in perennial UA, and the permanent structures perennial crops create can enhance the benefits of these sites as community spaces. However, growers identified novel social and ecological costs associated with growing perennials, including their wide-spreading and long-lasting nature. Growers’ experiences of the social and ecological benefits and costs of perennial UA highlight the need for management of urban growing spaces to consider multiple perspectives.