International Journal of Natural Resource Ecology and Management

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Use of Urban Agriculture in Addressing Health Disparities and Promotion of Ecological Health in South Africa

Received: Jan. 26, 2020    Accepted: Mar. 10, 2020    Published: Mar. 23, 2020
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Abstract

Socio-economic disparities create conditions that contribute to poor population health. Poor health increases this socio-economic burden on the health care system and undermines society’s capacity to reduce disparities and develop resilience to converging challenges regarding global, regional and national food systems. Using a structured mixed literature review design as well as both primary and secondary data sources collected through a combination of qualitative and quantitative methods and studies, this paper reflects on some key socio-economic challenges facing South Africa and shows how the findings from the research can contribute to and address public health and agricultural development policies and challenges. These themes have been presented within the broader and contemporary discourse on the relationship between ecological health, food security and national development. The agriculture system in South Africa is one of the biggest governments supported systems with a wide community reach and is thus a key sector. The debilitating effects of unhealthy communities, poor environments and socio-economic disparities are inextricably linked to food and nutrition insecurity. The findings from the reviews of the various papers and reports clearly demonstrate on the one hand the high prevalence of food and nutrition security but on the other hand reports and studies emphasize the positive outcomes of an integrated approach to addressing nutrition and food security. Furthermore, agricultural extension highlights how multi and trans-disciplinary methods based on ecological health promotion can achieve systemic changes to improve food security, public health status and also contribute socio-economic development.

DOI 10.11648/j.ijnrem.20200501.14
Published in International Journal of Natural Resource Ecology and Management ( Volume 5, Issue 1, March 2020 )
Page(s) 26-30
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Socio-economic Disparities, Agricultural System, Food Security, Ecological Health, South Africa

References
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  • APA Style

    Michael Rudolph, Evans Muchesa, Florian Kroll. (2020). Use of Urban Agriculture in Addressing Health Disparities and Promotion of Ecological Health in South Africa. International Journal of Natural Resource Ecology and Management, 5(1), 26-30. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijnrem.20200501.14

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    ACS Style

    Michael Rudolph; Evans Muchesa; Florian Kroll. Use of Urban Agriculture in Addressing Health Disparities and Promotion of Ecological Health in South Africa. Int. J. Nat. Resour. Ecol. Manag. 2020, 5(1), 26-30. doi: 10.11648/j.ijnrem.20200501.14

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    AMA Style

    Michael Rudolph, Evans Muchesa, Florian Kroll. Use of Urban Agriculture in Addressing Health Disparities and Promotion of Ecological Health in South Africa. Int J Nat Resour Ecol Manag. 2020;5(1):26-30. doi: 10.11648/j.ijnrem.20200501.14

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  • @article{10.11648/j.ijnrem.20200501.14,
      author = {Michael Rudolph and Evans Muchesa and Florian Kroll},
      title = {Use of Urban Agriculture in Addressing Health Disparities and Promotion of Ecological Health in South Africa},
      journal = {International Journal of Natural Resource Ecology and Management},
      volume = {5},
      number = {1},
      pages = {26-30},
      doi = {10.11648/j.ijnrem.20200501.14},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijnrem.20200501.14},
      eprint = {https://download.sciencepg.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijnrem.20200501.14},
      abstract = {Socio-economic disparities create conditions that contribute to poor population health. Poor health increases this socio-economic burden on the health care system and undermines society’s capacity to reduce disparities and develop resilience to converging challenges regarding global, regional and national food systems. Using a structured mixed literature review design as well as both primary and secondary data sources collected through a combination of qualitative and quantitative methods and studies, this paper reflects on some key socio-economic challenges facing South Africa and shows how the findings from the research can contribute to and address public health and agricultural development policies and challenges. These themes have been presented within the broader and contemporary discourse on the relationship between ecological health, food security and national development. The agriculture system in South Africa is one of the biggest governments supported systems with a wide community reach and is thus a key sector. The debilitating effects of unhealthy communities, poor environments and socio-economic disparities are inextricably linked to food and nutrition insecurity. The findings from the reviews of the various papers and reports clearly demonstrate on the one hand the high prevalence of food and nutrition security but on the other hand reports and studies emphasize the positive outcomes of an integrated approach to addressing nutrition and food security. Furthermore, agricultural extension highlights how multi and trans-disciplinary methods based on ecological health promotion can achieve systemic changes to improve food security, public health status and also contribute socio-economic development.},
     year = {2020}
    }
    

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  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - Use of Urban Agriculture in Addressing Health Disparities and Promotion of Ecological Health in South Africa
    AU  - Michael Rudolph
    AU  - Evans Muchesa
    AU  - Florian Kroll
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    T2  - International Journal of Natural Resource Ecology and Management
    JF  - International Journal of Natural Resource Ecology and Management
    JO  - International Journal of Natural Resource Ecology and Management
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    PB  - Science Publishing Group
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    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijnrem.20200501.14
    AB  - Socio-economic disparities create conditions that contribute to poor population health. Poor health increases this socio-economic burden on the health care system and undermines society’s capacity to reduce disparities and develop resilience to converging challenges regarding global, regional and national food systems. Using a structured mixed literature review design as well as both primary and secondary data sources collected through a combination of qualitative and quantitative methods and studies, this paper reflects on some key socio-economic challenges facing South Africa and shows how the findings from the research can contribute to and address public health and agricultural development policies and challenges. These themes have been presented within the broader and contemporary discourse on the relationship between ecological health, food security and national development. The agriculture system in South Africa is one of the biggest governments supported systems with a wide community reach and is thus a key sector. The debilitating effects of unhealthy communities, poor environments and socio-economic disparities are inextricably linked to food and nutrition insecurity. The findings from the reviews of the various papers and reports clearly demonstrate on the one hand the high prevalence of food and nutrition security but on the other hand reports and studies emphasize the positive outcomes of an integrated approach to addressing nutrition and food security. Furthermore, agricultural extension highlights how multi and trans-disciplinary methods based on ecological health promotion can achieve systemic changes to improve food security, public health status and also contribute socio-economic development.
    VL  - 5
    IS  - 1
    ER  - 

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Author Information
  • Office of the Vice Chancellor, University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg, South Africa

  • Siyakhana Growth and Development NPO, Johannesburg, South Africa

  • Siyakhana Growth and Development NPO, Johannesburg, South Africa

  • Section