Jess Halliday is a researcher and expert in urban food governance. This keynote was delivered as part of a session on Innovative Governance for Urban Agriculture.

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How can urban agriculture move beyond isolated grassroots initiatives to become a fully integrated part of city life? This was the central question explored by governance expert Jess Halliday during a thought-provoking keynote session on enabling urban agriculture through innovative governance.

Rather than focusing solely on land use or agricultural practices, she brought governance to the forefront of the conversation—framing it as a crucial but often overlooked enabler of successful urban agriculture (UA).

“We need governance innovation just as much as technical innovation,” was one of her key messages.

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Governance: A Social Process, Not Just a Structure

Jess Halliday urged participants to broaden their understanding of governance. Rather than viewing it only through the lens of formal policies or institutional structures, she framed governance as a social and political process that shapes how decisions are made, by whom, and for whom.

At its best, governance is a collaborative effort, involving local authorities, civil society, businesses, academics, and citizens. It’s about shared responsibilities and co-creation—not just implementation from the top down.

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Beyond policy silos: connecting the dots

Urban agriculture is often supported through specific policy areas such as health, education, or the environment. While these entry points are valuable, Halliday stressed the importance of breaking down policy silos and building integrated strategies that connect UA to broader urban goals—from climate resilience to social equity and economic development.

She highlighted the potential of UA to:

• Improve nutrition and mental health;

• Stimulate green job creation;

• Strengthen local food systems;

• Enhance urban biodiversity and land use efficiency.

But realizing these benefits requires cross-sector collaboration and multilevel governance.

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Practical examples from around the world

The keynote drew on a wide range of international case studies to illustrate emerging governance approaches.

• In Washington D.C., the creation of a dedicated Office for Urban Agriculture has helped centralize coordination and support across city departments.

• In Brazil, a recent federal law institutionalized support for urban and peri-urban agriculture, backed by funding and municipal guidelines.

• In Kenya, the Urban Areas and Cities Act (2011) requires county governments to include UA in land use planning—a result of governance devolution.

Such examples demonstrate the power of formal frameworks that enable, rather than control, grassroots innovation.

 

The role of civil society and peer networks

While local governments play an essential role, Halliday emphasized that governance does not belong to governments alone. Civil society organizations, farmers, and community groups are often at the forefront of governance innovation—building networks, sharing knowledge, and advocating for policy change.

She cited initiatives such as:

• Incredible Edible and Frome Farm to Fork (UK),

• The Bristol Food Growers Network,

• France’s national association AFAUP,

• The Urban Agriculture Directors’ Network in the U.S.

These networks act as platforms for peer learning and collective action, helping UA initiatives gain political visibility and policy traction.

 

A call for governance innovation

In her closing remarks, Jess Halliday called on participants to become governance innovators themselves. Rather than waiting for ideal conditions or replicating existing models, she encouraged experimentation, adaptation, and collaboration across contexts.

“Urban agriculture governance is not fixed—it’s being made and remade, right now, by all of you,” she concluded.

 

The keynote served as both a map and a mirror: offering a framework to understand UA governance, while inviting participants to reflect on their own role in shaping its future. As urban agriculture continues to expand globally, the session was a timely reminder that governance is not a backdrop, but a dynamic force at the heart of meaningful transformation.