Agricultural districts as tools for sustainable urban food systems : the case of Milan

This chapter explores the impact of agricultural districts, an Italian institution that federates farmers to promote local development, on the urban food system of the city of Milan. Since 2011, the five districts currently active in the metropolitan area have developed following different paths and goals, which we outline in the first part of the chapter. The second part of the chapter presents the impacts of the districts on the food system, looking at four areas of particular significance: territorial planning, economic activities, socio-cultural dynamics, and project design. The chapter shows that the establishment of agricultural districts has contributed positively to the development of the local food system by supporting farmers in negotiations over land-use planning, achieving economies of scale, and strengthening the socio-cultural identity of peri-urban areas.