At the same time, the pressure is high. Over the past few decades, public agricultural land has increasingly been sold off, often to the highest bidder, leading to consequences such as rising land prices and reduced long-term security for farmers. Agricultural land is also being taken out of agricultural use more quickly, which complicates local food strategies.
However, this is precisely where an opportunity lies: public agricultural land can act as a lever for sustainable agriculture, local food supply and climate adaptation, whilst also creating space for social and participatory models such as CSAs (Community Supported Agriculture), care farms and community-run pick-your-own gardens.
In the coming years, UCSIA intends to focus on the leverage function of these public agricultural lands. In particular, we want to pay attention to the potential of land owned by church councils and public social welfare centres. To this end, we are bringing together key stakeholders – public and church owners, civil society, experts and farmers – to build and share expertise.
Together, we want to work towards a shared vision and offer support to public landowners (including church councils) in the sustainable, future-oriented ownership and management of their land, with a focus on agriculture as a common good: land that serves the community and the long term.
