The FAO Regional Office for Europe and Central Asia (REU), in collaboration with FAO HQ, launched in June 2023 the informative webinar on Urban agrifood systems in the ECA region: Challenges and opportunities for country offices. The World Agriculture Watch (WAW) has played a key role in supporting REU's work by classifying different farm types based on labor, structure and performance to deepen understanding of the realities and challenges of urban and peri-urban agriculture. 

In its first phase of diagnosis, the methodology was tested using already existing data within the Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS) program, which has been part of the FAO Regional Workplan since 2018. The GIAHS program is an ideal framework for the analysis, as it is a recognition of unique agricultural systems that have been resilient for hundreds and even thousands of years but are currently under threat.

L'Horta de València, in Spain, was selected as a first pilot case to apply the WAW approach in urban and peri-urban agriculture. This agricultural system received the GIAHS recognition in 2019, due to its unique canal irrigation network,  built in the 8^th century under the Al-Andalus reign, allowing to sustain high yields over 12km² of small, cultivated plots, in a dry and urbanized environment. At the end of the network, the canals flow in the biggest lake in Spain: The Albufera, which is home to a rich biodiversity, and serve for small-scale traditional fishing activity. Furthermore, this irrigation system is protected by the oldest institution of justice in Europe: the Tribunal de las Aguas. This court is run by farmers of L'Horta themselves and has the authority to enact and enforce their traditional rules for distributing water.

The ongoing expansion of urban areas places additional strain on agricultural lands, which are already affected by shifting climate patterns and diminishing water resources. L’Horta de València is an example of resilience, which originates from a traditional irrigation system and cultivating practices, and its legal preservation and protection from local institutions. This agricultural patrimony not only provides an access to fresh food for the urban area of València, but also environmental and cultural services, which improve the quality of life to its citizens. Nevertheless, this millennial system is nowadays facing challenges inherent to the agricultural world in southern Europe, and the growing urbanization. Thus, its protection is more important than ever.

FAO REU GIAHS specialist Marta Arnés and WAW intern Antoine Lemaitre visited L'Horta Valenciana to meet with local farmers stakeholders and to identify existing data sources. “These meeting confirm that there is a necessity to assess specific needs and vulnerability at the farm level to strengthen the action plan of l’Horta de València”- explains Antoine. More broadly, this analysis will also serve to qualify the urban and peri-urban agriculture in different cities throughout the world, by confronting studies using this common methodology.