Alternative Food Landscapes. Designing Food-Sensitive Landscapes beyond Urban-Rural Bonundaries

In an era of accelerating urbanisation and climate change, integrating sustainable food systems into urban-rural landscapes has become a crucial strategy for developing resilient environments and communities. Contemporary food systems' weaknesses have been exacerbated by global crises like COVID-19 and geopolitical tensions, revealing vulnerabilities in urban-centric planning approaches. European initiatives, including the Green Deal and Farm to Fork Strategy, attempt to address these challenges through promoting biodiversity, agroecology, and sustainable land management. However, a significant gap persists between theory and practice in food-sensitive landscape design, especially in bridging the urban-rural divide. This research addresses the gap between sustainable food systems and their integration in urban-rural areas by developing a comprehensive framework for food sensitive landscape design. It introduces Alternative Food Landscapes (AFLs) as key elements that integrate sustainable food systems into urban-rural environments, fostering self-sufficiency and ecological resilience. Rooted in the principles of the European Landscape Convention and Alternative Food Networks (AFNs), AFLs prioritize localism, sustainability, and community engagement, having food as a means to reconnect urban and rural areas. To bridge theory and practice, the study proposes replicable methodologies for designing food-sensitive landscapes and practical tools 5 Alternative Food Landscapes: planning food dynamics in urban-rural areas to support decision-makers in managing urban-rural transformations. Three research questions guide this study: to what extent food is integrated into r-urban landscape design, how sustainable food systems manifest in these landscapes, and what methodologies support the integration of AFLs into landscape planning. To answer these, the research adopts a mixed-methods approach, drawing from landscape architecture, agroecology, urban ecology, and spatial planning. Empirical research is conducted through case studies in the Province of Trento, Italy, complemented by comparative analyses in the Netherlands and Sweden. The study's primary contribution lies in developing a comprehensive taxonomy and catalogue of AFL typologies, providing technical descriptions, visualisations, and implementation strategies for urban planners and policymakers. Then, the research advances key principles for AFL integration, focusing on their recognition as multifunctional infrastructure, evidence-based planning tools, participatory governance, and policy innovation. The thesis is structured in five interconnected sections. The first section establishes the theoretical framework connecting agroecology, landscape planning, and sustainable food systems while situating the research within national and international researc projects. The second section identifies existing gaps through a systematic literature review and surveys. The third section introduces the novel concept of Alternative Food Landscapes, developing a taxonomy encompassing different scales and practices and a detailed catalogue providing technical specifications and implementation strategies. The fourth section presents a comprehensive methodological framework comprising four stages: contextual analysis of socio economic and environmental factors, participatory socio-ecological assessment, infrastructure planning for food circularity, and project execution with continuous evaluation protocols. The fifth section synthesises findings and explores implications for policy, practice, and future research directions. The research advances both theory and practice by applying a landscape-inclusive approach to urban-rural design. It provides evidence-based insights to inform planning, promotes performance-based tools over fixed solutions, and emphasizes participatory governance and community-driven initiatives. The study concludes with a handbook detailing AFL implementation principles that balance ecological resilience and community well-being, along with methodological tools—including decision frameworks, Key Performance Indicators, and adaptation strategies for diverse urban contexts.