Up to 30 percent of the ecological footprint of a city can be attributed to the systems which keep it fed and watered. But when the Mayors of the world’s 40 largest cities met recently to discuss sustainability strategies, food was not on the agenda. Why not?
Doors is organising a one day international debate, jointly with Designs of the time (Dott 07), to reframe the food systems of city-regions as design opportunities. The debate opens with a review of Dott 07’s Urban Farming project, in Middlesbrough, UK, which has involved more than a thousand citizens.
The debate is intended for service and food system designers; policymakers who deal with rural and urban development; urban planners and developers; and change leaders from retail, food and house building businesses.
John Thackara will moderate the day’s proceedings. Among the speakers will be Chris Hardwicke, a Toronto-based architect who is involved in Toronto’s emerging food strategy and who was one of our group at Doors of Perception 9 on ‘juice’ in India earlier this year. Chrtis is also part of a team organizing Alphabet City a festival about food, in Toronto, that immediately preceeds the Dott 07 Festival.
Key people from Dott’s Urban Farming project presenting (who were also at Doors 9) include David Barrie (senior producer), Debra Solomon (culiblog.org), Nina Belk (Zest innovation) and Andre Viljoen (architect and urban designer).
Tim White from Middlesbrough Council and someone from Bioregional Quintain will also take part.
The Dott 07 Debate on food systems and cities takes place Monday 22 October, Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art, Gateshead 10h-17h. Tickets – just this once! – are free. But you absolutely have to reserve your seat by emailing adam.thomas@dott07.com
