Browsing by Author "Khalushi Musedzaphanda Phophi"

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    Analysing urban agriculture through the prism of the water, energy, food nexus approach: A case study of Gugulethu urban food forest initiative (GUFFI), Cape Town, South Africa
    (University of the Western Cape, 2023) Khalushi Musedzaphanda Phophi
    Food systems in developed and developing countries are under pressure due to climate change, among other factors. Food shortages, price hikes, and unsustainable practices are all occurring in cities around the world, indicating a need for more diverse means of producing and receiving food within urban food systems. Urban agriculture is proposed as a practical approach to achieving more sustainable and resilient urban ecosystems through policy growth. A wide range of research has been done on urban agriculture in terms of food security and income. However, very little research has investigated the relationship between urban agriculture and the water, food, and energy (WEF) nexus. Thus, this study aims to investigate how urban agriculture can be studied in the context of the WEF nexus approach as a strategy to fill this gap in the literature. Urban agricultural practices in South Africa are now being considered as an opportunity to produce food in urban areas where it was not previously possible. Urban agriculture demands water and energy for the production and transportation of food. However, water scarcity and access to energy are major challenges in South Africa. Thus, studying how water, energy and food are linked in the process of urban agriculture provided a solution of how when there is both water and energy shortages how can urban agriculture be achieved. This study analysed urban agriculture through the WEF nexus, with focus on understanding the complex interconnections and interdependencies between these resources within urban agriculture. The study also demonstrates the importance of community-led initiatives in addressing challenges of food insecurity and environmental sustainability in urban areas or townships. Furthermore, this study addressed the following research questions: How does GUFFI’s urban agriculture initiative promotes food security, how important are WEF nexus resources such as water, energy, and food in the success of UA and how important are WEF resources in promoting urban agriculture initiatives that lead to the greening of Gugulethu. This study used a qualitative research methodology, with Gugulethu Urban Food Forest Initiative as the selected case study. Semi-structured interview, participant observation, focus group and questionnaire were the methods used to collect data. The findings of this thesis highlight the interconnected nature between WEF nexus and urban agriculture. Moreover, the case study demonstrated the importance of community involvement and empowerment in driving sustainable urban agriculture initiatives, emphasizing the role of social and environmental justice in creating resilient food system. The study provided valuable insights into the key strategies and policy recommendations necessary to scale up and replicate uccessful urban agriculture initiatives in other urban contexts, contributing to the global effort of achieving sustainable urban development.