FIVE WAYS TO ADDRESS FOOD SECURITY IN LOCAL COMMUNITIES: AN ARCHITECTURAL APPROACH

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nur Dalilah Dahlan

When we hear about food security, the main thing that comes to mind is that it refers to having a stable access to a healthy diet. However, weather conditions, political instability, or economic factors like unemployment and rising food prices may also trigger food insecurity within a community. Four main dimensions define food security according to the 1996 World Food Summit, which are:

1. Physical availability of food through food production, stock levels and net trade.
2. Economic and physical access to food in each household.
3. Food utilization in obtaining the balanced nutritional status of the individual.
4. And, lastly the stability of the earlier three dimensions

From an architectural perspective, the adaptive mechanism towards food security holds significant potential. Focusing on the built environment design in local tropical communities can be a game-changer in improving local food security. The other three dimensions rely on economic, agricultural, and nutritionist expertise. This article highlights the architectural approaches to addressing food security in local communities. These are the five architectural approaches that can be considered:

1. Proximity to healthy food outlets. Replacing healthy foods with fast food outlets and supermarkets that provide processed, higher-fat, added-sugar, and salt-laden foods in urban areas has changed the dietary patterns of occupants regardless of their socioeconomic status. People living in food deserts or areas with little fresh produce are more likely to become ill because their diets may be inadequate.
2. Challenging the obesogenic environment. Recent studies have shown many occurrences of obesogenic (tending to cause obesity) environments due to technological advancements. These environmental factors include the availability of high-calorie, low-nutrient foods, larger portion sizes, and an increase in sedentary activities. The local population should be encouraged to engage in physical activities and consume a well-balanced diet. Food outlets can perhaps be accessible via active transportation (i.e., sidewalks and bicycle lanes) that are safe and attractive, thus supporting physical activity undertaken by the population.    

3. Community farms are collaborative projects in shared open spaces where participants contribute to the garden's maintenance and products: healthy and affordable fresh fruits, vegetables, and flowers. Community farms are essential to our local food systems          and most countries' agricultural landscapes. Closer to home, the community farm is called Kebun Komuniti and is popular in planned cities like Putrajaya.

                                                                          Kebun Komuniti 3 at Presint 9, Putrajaya.Source: Perbadanan Putrajaya, 2024.

4.  Edible architecture. Buildings can be designed to grow essential food crops, ensuring a constant fresh produce supply. These types of buildings are designed to respond to the microclimate and take into consideration passive design strategies for the plants to         grow. Plants also help to provide natural air filters. One successful example is the "Bosco Verticale" or Vertical Forest in Milan, Italy. Residents can access to fresh produce grown on balconies in this skyscraper. In Malaysia, the Planter Box House by Formzero is           an excellent example of edible architecture for a landed house unit.

                                                                      The Edible Skyscraper – Milan, Italy

                                                          Source: https://buildingspecifier.com/edible-architecture-the-art-of-sustainable-building/

                                                                                                 Planter Box House by Formzero

                                     Source: https://www.dezeen.com/2018/12/22/planter-box-house-formzero-concrete-kuala-lumpur-edible-plants/

5.   Self-reported status on health awareness and food intake through data collection are needed to educate the public on the health benefits of challenging the obesogenic environment. Mechanisms to promote physical activity behaviours should be designed                based on the local community’s needs. Discrepancies in the feedback from the participants are anticipated and should be considered in future built environment health determinant policies.

This brief article concludes that establishing farms and fresh food markets within close walking distance of people's homes is the best initial step in solving the issue of food insecurity. Moreover, the government can initiate edible architecture projects through education campaigns and improve over time based on findings from self-reported status.

Date of Input: 13/08/2024 | Updated: 13/08/2024 | marini