Tuesday, June 18, 2013

Farm to City... China goes for it...

China's Great Uprooting




"The primary motivation for the urbanization push is to change China’s economic structure, with growth based on domestic demand for products instead of relying so much on export. In theory, new urbanites mean vast new opportunities for construction companies, public transportation, utilities and appliance makers, and a break from the cycle of farmers consuming only what they produce. “If half of China’s population starts consuming, growth is inevitable,” said Li Xiangyang, vice director of the Institute of World Economics and Politics, part of a government research institute. “Right now they are living in rural areas where they do not consume.”"

Sunday, June 9, 2013

Sprout Middle East

Sprout Middle East

"Sprout is an innovative organization focused on educating youth and communities about the growing issues our world faces today such as water scarcity, desertified soils, and pollution and the positive impacts individuals can make through sustainability and change.  With a focus on health and wellness, we bring awareness to students and the community about health, nutrition and teaching how to live in more sustainable ways.
Our Sprout Educational Garden Program introduces and addresses these issues through hands-on educational gardens for schools where students learn how to grow, harvest and then cook the foods they have grown themselves."

Food Security - Qatar

"Food Security as a new paradigm for Urban Planning and Design. This involves examining how to integrate the production of food into the architectural, urban, and landscape design and also to design more productive landscapes."

Dr Anna Gritching, architect and urbanist, Qatar University