The Sustainable Food System Governance of Community Gardens at Tempelhofer Feld (Berlin)

The study examines the sustainable food system governance of community gardens at Tempelhofer Feld. The 300 hectares central area in Berlin had since the end of the 20th Century multiple democratic and anti-democratic uses in the past, including a horse racing track, a parade ground and prison for the Prussian military, an area for a football stadium and place for experiments with airships and balloons. In the first half of the 20th Century, an airport was constructed in the field, with temporary use as concentration camps for Jewish citizens and prisoners of war to supply the armaments industry. In this century, the city plans to build a new airport (Berlin Brandenburg) brought an urban issue of Tempelhofer’s use. The citizens claimed to access the area and organized demonstrations, but conflicts happened with the police. In 2014, by democratic engagement in a referendum, 739,124 Berliners wanted to preserve (from real state market) the entire field as a full, permanent, unrestricted and free of charge leisure and recreation area protected by law, as it is so far. The area had important role during the COVID-19 pandemic as an open urban space. The current territory includes, for instance, temporary shelters for refugees, areas for grill, sports, dogs and multiple community gardens. Despite barriers, such as language, lack of governmental support and land-access, the community gardens at Tempelhofer Feld showcased a unique intersection of urban policy transformation – Berlin’s community gardens program was developed since 2009, being launched in 2023 –, and food democracy by emphasizing the role of citizens in actively shaping local food systems. Given that, the study investigated how are these community gardens’ territories and their governance. Furthermore, it explored the profile and activities of gardeners. The case study included documentary and bibliographic research, in addition to interviews with gardeners, researchers, and a policy maker between 2020 and 2023. The thematic analysis generated results demonstrating a governance based on the urban commons system focusing on use-value and sustainable resources sharing – not on exchange-value or privatization of resources as the dominant global agri-food system. In general, the gardeners are volunteers in search for socialization, leisure and contact with the nature while producing food as a hobby. Despite its achievements, the park and its community gardens face political threats as market-driven forces seek to undermine this model of public and democratic space. This ongoing struggle reflects broader tensions between participatory governance and neoliberal urban policies. In view of that, the study argues that protecting spaces like Tempelhofer Feld is essential for sustaining food democracy and empowering citizens to challenge and reimagine the dominant food systems. It also underscores the potential of grassroots movements to influence policy and create resilient alternatives, offering valuable insights for the global discourse on food democracy.