Productive peri-Urban territories. Contributions and reflections for their definition, based on collective mapping in Buenos Aires, Rosario, and Córdoba (Argentina)

Abstract

This study contributes to ongoing discussions about peri-urban areas. We propose advancing the conceptualization of Productive Periurban Territory (TPP), a term recently introduced by grassroots organizations and researchers to describe the relational space where Indigenous Peasant Family Agriculture (AFCI) thrives, producing much of the food consumed in urban areas. Current definitions of peri-urban spaces often overlook the activities and processes that occur within them, which must be acknowledged to implement policies that protect and strengthen their critical role in food production. To contribute the concept of Productive Periurban Territory, we adopted a methodology based on collective mapping, involving Indigenous Peasant Family Farmers, technicians, grassroots activists, and researchers, utilizing the Google Maps platform. Our findings show that Productive Periurban Territories are dynamic spaces with varied morphologies and diverse food production activities that extend beyond horticulture. These territories depend on infrastructure, marketing circuits, socio-ecological processes, and spaces for the livelihood of Indigenous Peasant Family Agriculture that go beyond individual plots. Additionally, they are shaped by conflicts that must be addressed through an integrated and effective approach. This research underscores the value of collective mapping as a methodology to critically analyze and reshape ideas about spaces, drawing on the knowledge and lived experiences of the territory's inhabitants.