BETWEEN DISCOURSE AND PRACTICE

CHALLENGES IN THE INSTITUTIONALIZATION OF URBAN AND PERI-URBAN AGRICULTURE IN JUNDIAÍ (SP) FROM 2021 TO 2024

Abstract

Urban and peri-urban agriculture has been increasingly incorporated by Brazilian municipalities as a strategy to promote food security, the social use of land, and socio-spatial inclusion. However, the institutionalization of these initiatives as structured public policies still faces significant limitations. This article analyzes the Urban Garden Program of the municipality of Jundiaí (São Paulo, Brazil), seeking to understand the contradictions between institutional discourse, the normative framework, and the territorial practices observed. Methodologically, the study is based on qualitative analysis of official documents, such as the Municipal Master Plan and Decree No. 30,050/2021, as well as a semi-structured interview with the manager responsible for designing the program. The results indicate that, although the municipality has a favorable legal framework and guidelines aligned with urban planning and food security, the program’s effectiveness remains limited due to its low territorial coverage, the reduced number of active gardens, and its dependence on isolated initiatives. It is concluded that the experience of Jundiaí reveals important normative advances, but also highlights the need for long-term public policies with continuous institutional support in order for urban agriculture to be consolidated as a permanent component of urban planning in medium-sized Brazilian cities.