While urban food growing has gained momentum in various forms throughout Australia, it has not yet reached its full potential. The enthusiasm for urban agriculture continues to grow, as evidenced by the diverse range of projects, enterprises, and trends. Consequently, governments at all levels are increasingly showing interest in this sector. The future of food is a topic of great interest to everyone, and when it intersects with urbanism, additional dimensions must be considered to ensure that urban agriculture can deliver the often-repeated benefits to society.
One of the critical factors necessary for the success of urban agriculture is governance, particularly the governance of enterprises that strive to make urban agriculture a reality in our cities and towns. Governance is not merely a dry bureaucratic task; rather, it serves as the backbone of urban agriculture, enabling growth, innovation, and sustainability. The future success of urban farming depends on our ability to embrace governance as a strategic imperative, aligning it with the goals of local and state governments as well as the interests of local communities. By doing so, we can tap into the untapped potential of urban agriculture, creating thriving and sustainable urban landscapes.
Indeed, good governance is essential for the success of an urban farming business. It facilitates the alignment of strategies with the necessary financial resources while promoting innovation, partnerships, collaboration, and growth. Ultimately, governance can be the competitive advantage that sets an urban agriculture enterprise apart from others.
While governance encompasses sets of rules governing various business operations, it is the integration of these rules that shapes the culture within the enterprise. Culture is a unique and irreplicable aspect of an organisation. While enterprises may share similarities, they can never be exactly the same.
Therefore, it is worth considering governance as a guiding star for strategy, mission and culture. Governance forms the foundation upon which innovation and growth are fostered, making it the most critical capability for success. In the dynamic and risk-filled realm of urban farming, governance becomes unavoidable if resilience is desired.
To navigate this path intelligently, we must recognise that good governance is not only expected by governments but also by the community, funding agencies, and investors. Governments play a vital role in every industry within the country, and without their support, no industry can thrive. However, to obtain their support, we must align our endeavours with their mindset and goals. Our starting point, therefore, is to ask ourselves: How can we be useful? How can we add value? How can we assist the government in perceiving the total sense in our endeavours and values? Prior to engaging in dialogue with government stakeholders, we must first address a crucial aspect: governance. While it may not always be the most glamorous part for those passionate about urban agriculture, governance serves as the trellis upon which we can build the foundations of urban agriculture.
Governance lays the groundwork for urban farming by addressing the concerns and worries of local and state governments. These concerns revolve around managing enterprises to ensure they effectively manage risks and unintended consequences. Without a solid governance structure in place, good management becomes unattainable. Therefore, governance is an indispensable foundation for urban farming.
AUTHOR
Jelenko Dragisic is a co-founder of Gleanr and writes regularly about various aspects of resilience, strategy, and collaboration.
