RUAF undertakes policy- and action-oriented research in the fields of intra- and peri-urban agriculture, urban food security, city region food systems, and food policies.
The research undertaken by the RUAF partners often focuses on closing the gap between policy and practice by providing policy makers with evidence-based information on the food production and distribution systems in the city region, related challenges and alternative strategies to meet these challenges, and their expected results and costs.
RUAF is frequently requested to assist in the design, monitoring and evaluation of urban food policies and projects, and implements and supports research projects that seek to enhance innovation (both technical and socio-organisational).
RUAF applies a participatory, multi-disciplinary and gender-positive approach in its research projects, which normally also have a strong learning (sharing, training, coaching) component in order to facilitate the development of local institutional capacities.
