New perspective on the [food] landscapes in MRA 2050

Abstract

The purpose of this graduation report is to give an overview and inspiration on the route towards a resilient & attractive metropolitan [food] landscape of Amsterdam in 2050. The topic of research is the impact of climate change, unsustainable agriculture and urbanisation towards 2050, on the agricultural landscapes in the metropolitan region of Amsterdam, in the Netherlands. With the challenges and the problems that arise from these, it becomes inevitable to design a transition of the [food] landscapes in the region. Therefore the following research question is defined: ‘‘How to design a new perspective on the food landscapes in the metropolitan region of Amsterdam towards 2050 for a landscape that is resilient to the effects of climate change, to restore the ecosystem (in the freshwater) of the landscape and create opportunities for new activities to start that will strengthen the connection between cities and landscapes, for a resilient & attractive region?’’ A new method is used to find solutions for the three challenges in an integrative way, as there is a lot of potential in the synergy of the solutions. The maximization method provides an overview of individual solutions for the problems in the region, which can be used if the challenges change over time. Subsequently, in the optimization phase, the solutions with the most potential to be combined are given (water storage, new food types, a circular water system, purifying nature & greenhouses). In the final integration phase, the solutions are integrated into the landscapes of the region. An innovative element in this research is the addition of scenarios for the future transition of agricultural landscapes to the maximization method to create climate resilient, purifying agriculture or recreational [food] landscapes. This, together with interviews, results in a new perspective on the [food] landscapes in the region, that is a design for the landscapes created by the synergy between the solutions for the challenges (with a focus on the purifying & climate resilient scenarios). With a new perspective, pilot projects are designed to give an example of the new perspective solutions through the scales and by using the unique characteristics of the agricultural landscapes in the region (in Waterland, Haarlemmermeer, Zaanstreek & the Beemster). In the conclusion, the new perspective combined with pilot projects will create solutions for the challenges in the metropolitan region of Amsterdam towards 2050.