Where have all the farmers gone? Spatial-temporal transformations of peri-urban agriculture in the Metropolitan Area of Barcelona

Urban expansion exerts pressure on peri-urban agriculture, leading to the displacement of agricultural activities and a loss of local food provision and vital ecosystem services. This study examines the spatial-temporal transformations of peri-urban agriculture in the Metropolitan Area of Barcelona,...

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Authors: Langemeyer, Johannes|||0000-0002-0558-8486, Gervasi, Gabriele, Ventura, Sergi|||0000-0003-2529-209X, Villalba, Gara|||0000-0001-6392-0902
Format: article
Publication Date:2026
Country:España
Institution:Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona
Repository:Dipòsit Digital de Documents de la UAB
Language:English
OAI Identifier:oai:dnet:uabarcelona_::2990b23dde2cd4bf472c25d709fd61c4
Online Access:https://ddd.uab.cat/record/327294
https://dx.doi.org/urn:doi:10.5751/ES-16730-310135
Access Level:Open access
Keyword:Land use change
Peri-urban agriculture
Social-ecological-technological systems
Sustainable transitions
Urban resilience
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spelling Where have all the farmers gone? Spatial-temporal transformations of peri-urban agriculture in the Metropolitan Area of BarcelonaLangemeyer, Johannes|||0000-0002-0558-8486Gervasi, GabrieleVentura, Sergi|||0000-0003-2529-209XVillalba, Gara|||0000-0001-6392-0902Land use changePeri-urban agricultureSocial-ecological-technological systemsSustainable transitionsUrban resilienceUrban expansion exerts pressure on peri-urban agriculture, leading to the displacement of agricultural activities and a loss of local food provision and vital ecosystem services. This study examines the spatial-temporal transformations of peri-urban agriculture in the Metropolitan Area of Barcelona, a region that has experienced significant agricultural decline in recent decades. Employing a social-ecological-technological approach, we combine spatial analysis of land use changes from 2003 to 2015 with qualitative insights from interviews and workshops with stakeholders. Our results reveal that the decline of peri-urban agriculture in the Metropolitan Area of Barcelona is driven by a complex interplay of social, ecological, and technological factors. Key drivers include real-estate speculation, land fragmentation, infrastructure development, and evolving land use policies, alongside ecological pressures from both land abandonment and environmental protection. Despite efforts to preserve agricultural spaces, the decline of peri-urban farming remains significant. We argue that a revaluation of agricultural activities in peri-urban areas is essential to alter and reverse this trend. Recognizing the multifunctionality of peri-urban agriculture, particularly its role in resilience and food system sustainability, is crucial. Our findings contribute to the broader discourse on urban resilience and sustainable land use planning, offering pathways for policy interventions aimed at preserving and enhancing peri-urban agricultural systems. 22026-01-0120262026-01-01Articlehttp://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_6501VoRhttp://purl.org/coar/version/c_970fb48d4fbd8a85info:eu-repo/semantics/articleapplication/pdfhttps://ddd.uab.cat/record/327294https://dx.doi.org/urn:doi:10.5751/ES-16730-310135reponame:Dipòsit Digital de Documents de la UABinstname:Universitat Autònoma de BarcelonaInglésengEuropean Commission https://doi.org/10.13039/501100000780 818002Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades https://doi.org/10.13039/100014440 CEX2019-000940-M)Generalitat de Catalunya https://doi.org/10.13039/501100002809 2021/SGR-00734Generalitat de Catalunya https://doi.org/10.13039/501100002809 2021/SGR-00182open accesshttp://purl.org/coar/access_right/c_abf2Aquest document està subjecte a una llicència d'ús Creative Commons. Es permet la reproducció total o parcial, la distribució, la comunicació pública de l'obra i la creació d'obres derivades, fins i tot amb finalitats comercials, sempre i quan es reconegui l'autoria de l'obra original.https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccessoai:dnet:uabarcelona_::2990b23dde2cd4bf472c25d709fd61c42026-06-06T12:50:31Z
dc.title.none.fl_str_mv Where have all the farmers gone? Spatial-temporal transformations of peri-urban agriculture in the Metropolitan Area of Barcelona
title Where have all the farmers gone? Spatial-temporal transformations of peri-urban agriculture in the Metropolitan Area of Barcelona
spellingShingle Where have all the farmers gone? Spatial-temporal transformations of peri-urban agriculture in the Metropolitan Area of Barcelona
Langemeyer, Johannes|||0000-0002-0558-8486
Land use change
Peri-urban agriculture
Social-ecological-technological systems
Sustainable transitions
Urban resilience
title_short Where have all the farmers gone? Spatial-temporal transformations of peri-urban agriculture in the Metropolitan Area of Barcelona
title_full Where have all the farmers gone? Spatial-temporal transformations of peri-urban agriculture in the Metropolitan Area of Barcelona
title_fullStr Where have all the farmers gone? Spatial-temporal transformations of peri-urban agriculture in the Metropolitan Area of Barcelona
title_full_unstemmed Where have all the farmers gone? Spatial-temporal transformations of peri-urban agriculture in the Metropolitan Area of Barcelona
title_sort Where have all the farmers gone? Spatial-temporal transformations of peri-urban agriculture in the Metropolitan Area of Barcelona
dc.creator.none.fl_str_mv Langemeyer, Johannes|||0000-0002-0558-8486
Gervasi, Gabriele
Ventura, Sergi|||0000-0003-2529-209X
Villalba, Gara|||0000-0001-6392-0902
author Langemeyer, Johannes|||0000-0002-0558-8486
author_facet Langemeyer, Johannes|||0000-0002-0558-8486
Gervasi, Gabriele
Ventura, Sergi|||0000-0003-2529-209X
Villalba, Gara|||0000-0001-6392-0902
author_role author
author2 Gervasi, Gabriele
Ventura, Sergi|||0000-0003-2529-209X
Villalba, Gara|||0000-0001-6392-0902
author2_role author
author
author
dc.subject.none.fl_str_mv Land use change
Peri-urban agriculture
Social-ecological-technological systems
Sustainable transitions
Urban resilience
topic Land use change
Peri-urban agriculture
Social-ecological-technological systems
Sustainable transitions
Urban resilience
description Urban expansion exerts pressure on peri-urban agriculture, leading to the displacement of agricultural activities and a loss of local food provision and vital ecosystem services. This study examines the spatial-temporal transformations of peri-urban agriculture in the Metropolitan Area of Barcelona, a region that has experienced significant agricultural decline in recent decades. Employing a social-ecological-technological approach, we combine spatial analysis of land use changes from 2003 to 2015 with qualitative insights from interviews and workshops with stakeholders. Our results reveal that the decline of peri-urban agriculture in the Metropolitan Area of Barcelona is driven by a complex interplay of social, ecological, and technological factors. Key drivers include real-estate speculation, land fragmentation, infrastructure development, and evolving land use policies, alongside ecological pressures from both land abandonment and environmental protection. Despite efforts to preserve agricultural spaces, the decline of peri-urban farming remains significant. We argue that a revaluation of agricultural activities in peri-urban areas is essential to alter and reverse this trend. Recognizing the multifunctionality of peri-urban agriculture, particularly its role in resilience and food system sustainability, is crucial. Our findings contribute to the broader discourse on urban resilience and sustainable land use planning, offering pathways for policy interventions aimed at preserving and enhancing peri-urban agricultural systems.
publishDate 2026
dc.date.none.fl_str_mv 2
2026-01-01
2026
2026-01-01
dc.type.none.fl_str_mv Article
http://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_6501
VoR
http://purl.org/coar/version/c_970fb48d4fbd8a85
dc.type.openaire.fl_str_mv info:eu-repo/semantics/article
format article
dc.identifier.none.fl_str_mv https://ddd.uab.cat/record/327294
https://dx.doi.org/urn:doi:10.5751/ES-16730-310135
url https://ddd.uab.cat/record/327294
https://dx.doi.org/urn:doi:10.5751/ES-16730-310135
dc.language.none.fl_str_mv Inglés
eng
language_invalid_str_mv Inglés
language eng
dc.relation.none.fl_str_mv European Commission https://doi.org/10.13039/501100000780 818002
Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades https://doi.org/10.13039/100014440 CEX2019-000940-M)
Generalitat de Catalunya https://doi.org/10.13039/501100002809 2021/SGR-00734
Generalitat de Catalunya https://doi.org/10.13039/501100002809 2021/SGR-00182
dc.rights.none.fl_str_mv open access
http://purl.org/coar/access_right/c_abf2
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
dc.rights.openaire.fl_str_mv info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
rights_invalid_str_mv open access
http://purl.org/coar/access_right/c_abf2
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
eu_rights_str_mv openAccess
dc.format.none.fl_str_mv application/pdf
dc.source.none.fl_str_mv reponame:Dipòsit Digital de Documents de la UAB
instname:Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona
instname_str Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona
reponame_str Dipòsit Digital de Documents de la UAB
collection Dipòsit Digital de Documents de la UAB
repository.name.fl_str_mv
repository.mail.fl_str_mv
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