RURAL REVITALIZATION

What does it mean to be in a ‘rural place’ and within a ‘rural community’? The Oxford dictionary defines
rural as “relating to, or characteristic of the countryside rather than the town”. This connotes landscapes
and geographies that have not yet been absolutely shaped by human development and significantly
overlap with and connect to the natural environment. Accordingly, rural spaces and communities act
as the interface between human societies and the natural world, which positions them in a significant
societal role, serving as the nexus between human populations and natural places. They have vital
functions in harvesting and gathering the natural resources that are distributed to and used by
communities of all sizes and urbanity. Hence, cities across the globe are interdependent with rural
communities for fundamental needs such as food, energy and building materials for shelter. In addition,
rural spaces serve as ‘gateways’ to natural environments 1, meaning they provide important
opportunities for people to experience, recreate in, and connect with nature.
As important as rural places are to human societies, they can also be incredibly economically, socially
and culturally vulnerable. The economies and identities of rural communities often develop around
single-resource industries, which means their well-being can be threatened by volatile resource
markets2. In addition, rural communities that move away from extraction-based economies and attempt
to leverage their proximity to nature to develop local tourism are sensitive to the fickleness of the
industry, and are affected by factors that are difficult to predict and control such as fluctuating weather
conditions and cost of travel3. Communities that are embedded in industry ‘boom and bust’ cycles
experience severe economic, social, and cultural impacts when mired in extended periods of ‘bust’.
Therefore, in order to sustain rural vitality, understanding how rural communities can revitalize from
periods of economic downturns and build local resilience against further exogenous shocks is essential.
Our sixth Solutions Agenda e-Dialogue brings together researchers and community practitioners with
the CRC research team to discuss revitalization of rural communities in Canada. We will discuss
strategies and innovations that contribute to rural vitality and resilience. Through this conversation, we
hope to identify the opportunities and innovations for increasing and sustaining the vitality of rural
places, our gateways to the natural world and the life-support for large urban centres.
 Accepting cultural differences for peaceful co-existence
 Type of farming technology
 Strategic agriculture and fishery development zones
 Strategic crop development zone

 Bringing food production closer to urban

 The concers of growing food in cities differ somewhat from traditional farming
 Urban Agricultural Architecture (UAA) is the practice of
integrating organic, hydroponic, aeroponic or aquaponic farming technologies into buildings of all types.
 Horticulture
 Aeroponics is the process of growing plants in an air or mist environment without the use of soil or an
aggregate medium (known as geoponics). The word "aeroponic" is derived from the Greek meanings
of aer (ἀήρ, "air") and ponos (πόνος, "labour").
 As urban populations continue to rise, innovators are looking beyond traditional farming as a way to feed
everyone while having less impact on our land and water resources. Vertical farming is one solution that's
been implemented around the world. Vertical farms produce crops in stacked layers, often in controlled
environments such as those built by AeroFarms in Newark, New Jersey. AeroFarms grows a variety of leafy
salad greens using a process called "aeroponics," which relies on air and mist. AeroFarms' crops are grown
entirely indoors using a reusable cloth medium made from recycled plastics. In the absence of sun
exposure, the company uses LED lights that expose plants to only certain types of spectrum. AeroFarms
claims it uses 95% less water than a traditional farm thanks to its specially designed root misting system.
And it is now building out a new 70,000 square foot facility in a former steel mill. Once completed, it's
expected to grow 2 million pounds of greens per year, making it the largest indoor vertical farm in the world.
 Its definitely not cheap with all those fabrications and stuff but it might make up for it's initial cost in the long
run. And with all those lights it sure is consuming a lot of energy. Using solar panels can help in the area.
Overall pretty expensive than traditional farming but I guess it's more reliable and profiting in the long run
 it's not cheaper, more energy is used and the overall workload is increased. it sure will be a lot more
affordable in the future as solar power is on the rise and more workload tends to create new jobs. the most
important thing however is reducing erosion of farmland and to get rid of pesticides and herbicides
 best thing is not using soil, depleting it, or pesticides Wich kills soil And super massive building int he middle
of the city could supply for all of it
 Nothing like fresh vegetables planted on real soil, using real sunlight etc. All natural
 These vertical Aerofarms are eco-friendly farms and are good example of "Sufficient cultivation in limited
resources" these farms can be widely used to cultivate endangered & other economically important plants.
 The lies of omission here, there is no discussion of where the nutrients are coming from, what the
environmental degradation is caused when getting those nutrients, how waste is dealt with or how much
energy is required, or how much equipment is needed and what the eco-footprint of that equipment is.
 How much energy is needed to power the special LED lights for the plants to grow? Could a wind turbine
power these LED lights? Let's go green everywhere!
 Today we must think differently about crop production, due to climate change, depleted natural resources,
population growth and availability of land. The Urban Produce High Density Vertical Growing System
(HDVGS) has been developed as a sustainable alternative to traditional agriculture, utilizing advanced
hydroponic technologies in a controlled environment. Our patented technology takes the best of hydroponics
and increases the yield by stacking produce vertically, in a closed automated environment. Our produce
rotates in the greenhouse giving all our product equal light and air distribution. This automated system
delivers the proper amount of water, and nutrition exactly when needed. The process greatly increases
growing efficiency and significantly reduces costs.
 Change the way it is grown, transported and consumed
 How do we feed a growing population in areas where land is scarce? Grant Imahara visits Tokyo, where
"vertical farms" give us a glimpse at what the future of farming may look like.
 It's been 4 months but if you didn't find out these farms can use specifically the spectrums of light plants
need and not use any that they don't for maximum efficiency. Also in terms of taller plants there is a indoor
jungle in Dubai that uses mirrors to spread the light evenly through the entire building to be used by the
plants at different levels. You could use the same method for plants that aren't always level with each other.
 An even more efficient way (and economical) would be to build sea-based platforms, no? Electricity could
even be produced by kinetic energy produced by waves. Out-water filtered with vortexers, CO2 emissions
captured and re-used to grow algaes. This is really cool field to be involved in!
 Agricultural runoff
 It also aims to uncover multiple relationships between man and nature: as common members in food chains and
also as spiritual partners.
 Building collaborative tools and platforms
 Water and energy use can be minimized
 Breaking down geographical limitations and cutting down on transportability requirements
 Controlled environment agriculture
 Minimize the need for land, water, energy and pesticides
 I would like to know how the nutritional content compare to traditional farming and organically raised
crops
 no minerals no vitamins no essential elements needed by the body to grow that's only seen in the soil, FOR
SHORT they are not growing food they are GROWING JUNKS!
 You do realise that the water in which the plants are growing is in fact a cocktail of minerals and other stuff
that plant need. Otherwise they wouldn`t grow at all. As plants don`t grow on poor soil onluy because it is
wet. Did you think before you commented ?
 hopefully this will gain traction. vertical farming/hydroponics is the future for sure. look at those massive
buildings in NYC, if 90% of a skyscrapers usable square footage was devoted to food production, complete
with water recycling systems and a distribution level on the bottom what would that look like? no need for
genetic modifications, no need for seasonality, no need for pesticides, no waste of resources, no
degradation of nutrients, next to no carbon footprint. maybe the future will be bright after all.
 Pedestrianization of the old CBD where landscaping, period architecture of commercial and institutiional
buildings, and a turn-of-the-century motorized “tranvia”, could be introduced

 New seat of government: since th epresent city hall cannot house the entire city government offices, a new
govenrment center is being proposed to be constructued in cabatangan, where the Regional government Center
is already established. The defuncct LTP and Sanggunian Pampook in Cabatangan could be used as the new site
for the city governemnt center. This will likewise help decongest the city propoer. However, since the proposed
site is within the agricultural development area, commercial activities may be allowed, but only to help sustain
the presences of various institutions thereat. With this plan, the road network also needs to be taken care of to
facilitatae path movements.

 Transport investments: More strategically aligned roads that will connect west and east coasts, without passing
the old urban core, are needed to enable urban growth to expand to both sides of the peninsula. Page 31

 The transfer of government offices located in the vicinity of Fort Pilar, i.e., the Petit Barracks, to allow a clear
view of Fort Pilar from the old CBD, the Pershing and Rizal Parks, and the City Hall, and the landscaping of streets
and sidewalks to complement the pedestrianization scheme. This will create unique environmental ambience to
raise the quality of urban amenities in Zamboanga City, increase commercial activities, and create an attractive
destination that will appeal to national and domestic tourism

 A satellite CBD (e.g., complementing the larger, old CBD and the new CBD in the present airport will
complement this). Catalytic investments will include: a) convention and hotel centers, b) the city university, c) a
city medical research center, d) spaces for private colleges and universities that will be zoned out of the old CBD,
e) a land transport terminal and parking facility, f) parade ground and theme parks and g) socialized housing

 Studies on urban redevelopment of the Rio-Hondo Mariki Area, and of /recode Area, to preserve the rich
Muslim culture and tradition through community site renewal

 New government center complex at cabatangan

 Park system to encompass the old CBD, including Fort Pilar, Pettit Barracks, the old City Hall, the port area,
Cawa-Cawa Boulevard, Plaza Pershing, Rizal Park and the pedestrianization scheme

 Bog Lake Eco-Tourism Park

 Urban Redevelopment of Rio Hondo/ Mariki and the Recodo Areas

 New CBD at the present airport site

 Pedestrianization and landscaping of Old CBD including tranvia people-mover system

 Expansion of Sangali Fishing Port Complex to International and Domestic Cargo Container Port
 Traffic Rerouting to Complement the CBD Pedestrianization Scheme, including Parking Areas/ Buildings
 Drainage and Sewerage Project
 Flood Mitigating Measures. Page 34
 Cross-cultural City University cum Technical Skills Training Center
 City Medical and Research Center
 City Social Welfare Complex System
 City Police and Fire Protection Complex System
 Socialized Housing Project
 Zero Waste Management Scheme and New Sanitary Landfill/ Composting Facility
 Lumbangan Sanitary Landfill
 Monitoring of Air/ Effluents Pollution including Acquisition of Equipment and Training of CENRO Staff
 Organization and Operation of Bantay Dagat and Bantay Gubat Citizen Volunteer NGOs
 Establishment of Wastewater Treatment Facility for Government-owned Facilities
 Weak Enforcement of City Ordinances on Environmental Sanitation: It was noted that city ordinances having to
do with environmental sanitation were poorly enforced. Tis is coupled with insufficient support services for solid
waste disposal and the lack of appreciation for a clean and beautiful environment on the part of its citizenry.
 Absence of an operational city tourist information center
 Need to Upgrade Support Infrastructure: There is a need to upgrade support infrastructure such as drainage
systems for the city-center based attractions (Plaza Pershing and Pettit Barracks) and for the island-based tourist
attractions (berthing facilities going to Sta. Cruz Island)
 Squatter Encroachment: The problem of squatter encroachment is evident in some tourist areas such as
Pasonanca Park and the vicinity of Fort Pilar
 Image Problem: Zc has an image problem. It is largely perceived as an area with peace and order problems.
Damage control has to be done to ensure that anyone, whether domestic or foreign tourist, who visits the city
will have fond memories, evoking a desire to return next time, with more of his family members, friends, and
associates. Tourism thrives on repeat business and this can only happen when the aspect of security is
adequately addressed.
 Aside from the abundance of raw materials, the City has a fishing port complex with a refrigeration capacity of
815 MT, and which could provide the much needed support facility for the industry. However, this is not
enough. Refrigerated vans are inadequate to transport the products abroad. There is also a concern for poor
handling and lack of skilled labor in the industry.
 Page 129: Ornamental Horticulture: The major concerns of the sector include: low production capacity,
inadequate post-harvest handling and storage facilities, inadequate knowledge on new production technology
and techniques, establishment of linkages with concerned agencies to facilitate entry of imported seed stocks,
and assistance in the sourcing of additional capital. At present, the industry is faced with competition from large
cut flower growers not only locally, but also in the foreign markets in Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand and Japan.
 Major trading activities. Major “barter” trade centers: Canelar Trading Center, Baliwasan Commercial Complex,
Sta. Cruz Market, Zamboanga Muti Trade Arcade, Sambagora
 Large-scale urban renewal
 Environmental sanitation
 Page 182: Production and Processing: Establishment of a Livestock Auction Market and Meat Processing
Complex, Establishment of a Fish Processing and Cannery Plant, Establishment of Fruit Processing Plants
 Information, Education and Communication on Protection of Natural Resources, Technologies and Market
Information
 Irrigation Development in Selected Rainfed Lowland Areas of the City
 Establishment of Agriculture and Marine Training Center
 Business One-Stop-Shop Center for Trade, Industry and Investments
  Agriculture Sub-Sector Map. Page189
 Urban transport planning
 Example of organic building form in architecture
 Non-Creation of ENRO: It should be noted that while the creation of the Environment and Natural Resources
Office is optional as provided for in the Local Government Code, ZC has not created a separate office to handle
matters pertinent to the environment and natural resources. At present, this particular office is part of the office
of the City Agriculturist.
Considering that Zamboanga is a highly urbanize city and in view of the various environment
problems and concerns identified, there is a need to create and operationalize the ENRO to handle issues and
concerns related to natural resources and environment.
Relative to this, the major question is:
- What are the necessary institutional measures to strengthen environmental management
capabilities of the local government?

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