Nancy Brett

Urban and peri-urban food systems intersect with key areas such as waste management, food security, urban planning, and broader sustainability objectives. As urban expansion encroaches on fertile agricultural lands, peri-urban spaces and local food systems have become critical for urban planners. However, the current land-use market often prioritizes commercial development over food production, largely because the ecosystem services these lands provide remain undervalued. This challenge is further compounded by the fragile business models of peri-urban commercial farming, which struggle to compete in such markets.

My research interests lie in adopting an interdisciplinary approach to explore the economic and social dimensions of sustainable transitions. Building on my previous work, which highlighted the lack of economic valuation for recycled nutrients, my current project proposal focuses on the pressures of growing urban populations on agricultural lands. I aim to investigate and evaluate potential nutrient recycling practices within peri-urban areas and develop strategies to value and promote these practices. This involves conducting surveys and interviews with key stakeholders, including local governments, urban planners, farmers, and residents. 

The project seeks to achieve two main objectives: first, to create a valuation framework that accounts for environmental, economic, and social factors in nutrient recycling; and second, to integrate this knowledge into urban planning and market practices to better support sustainable nutrient management.