Socio-economic impact of urban agriculture in Latin America cities: The case of Santiago de Chile

Previous studies have demonstrated urban agriculture's positive environmental and social effects as an exciting alternative for production and consumption within cities. However, the actual socio-economic contribution of this practice within metropolitan areas has rarely been measured quantitatively. This study aims to characterize urban agriculture from a socio-economic and gender perspective and assess its perception and impact on different income levels. The case of Santiago de Chile is chosen as an example of the Latin American City model. The analysis includes primary survey data from 111 households within 22 Santiago municipalities. Stakeholder demographics, their levels of production/consumption, and their self-assessed perceptions have been summarized through descriptive statistics and subsequent qualitative data analysis. The outcomes show a strong presence of women (76 %) in the field. Additionally, the results demonstrate that urban agriculture represents an actual relevant economic contribution to household expenditure, mainly significant among low-income neighborhood households, accounting for up to 36 % of monthly income. Regarding motivation and perceptions, low-income households declare undertaking urban agriculture for self-consumption, economic, and health purposes, while high-income households mention other functions such as recreation or aesthetics. These results enable an understanding of the relationship between urban agriculture and the different social strata within the city, evidencing the potential of this practice in the mitigation of urban poverty and highlighting the need to integrate other policies according to the economic levels of distinct neighborhoods and to prioritize the integration of women as referent actors in the field.