The Role of Urban Planning Decisions in the Formation of Food Deserts: From Structural Causes to Justice-Oriented Holistic Strategies

Abstract

“Food deserts” describe areas in urban spaces where socioeconomically disadvantaged groups have limited access to healthy, fresh, and affordable food. This situation negatively impacts not only individuals' dietary habits but also public health, social inequalities, and the structure of spatial justice. The aim of this study is to demonstrate that the formation of food deserts is a multi-layered structural problem directly related to spatial planning processes and urban planning decisions, rather than individual socioeconomic deficiencies. In this context, 26 scientific studies published between 2008 and 2025 that address food deserts from a spatial perspective were comprehensively examined. The studies were evaluated in terms of their approach to the subject and spatial analysis criteria; thus, the relationship between the phenomenon of food deserts and the urban planning discipline was revealed. The study also explores how urban planning decisions pave the way for the formation of food deserts. The literature review shows that food deserts are not solely due to a lack of physical access; they are systematically produced through planning-based practices such as single-function zoning decisions, a single-centered urban development model, and the absence of urban agriculture in legislation. The findings reveal that access disadvantages persist, particularly in peripheral neighborhoods and areas with high concentrations of low-income groups. Furthermore, the literature's significant focus on metropolitan cities indicates a substantial gap in developing applicable policies for medium-sized cities. Consequently, the study demonstrates that addressing food deserts is possible not only through retail investments but also through holistic, justice-oriented, and planning-based policies encompassing all components of the urban food system. Urban planning should address food access as a tangible indicator of spatial justice and restructure decision-making processes accordingly.

Keywords

• Food Deserts
• Spatial Justice
• Food Justice
• Urban Planning
• Urban Food System

Gıda Çölleri Oluşumunda Kentsel Planlama Kararlarının Rolü: Yapısal Nedenlerden Adalet Odaklı Bütüncül Stratejilere

Öz

“Gıda çölleri”, kentsel alanlarda yaşayan sosyo-ekonomik açıdan dezavantajlı grupların sağlıklı, taze ve uygun fiyatlı gıdaya erişim olanaklarının sınırlı olduğu bölgeleri tanımlamaktadır. Bu durum, yalnızca bireylerin beslenme biçimlerini değil; halk sağlığını, sosyal eşitsizlikleri ve mekânsal adalet yapısını da olumsuz yönde etkilemektedir. Bu çalışmanın amacı, gıda çöllerinin oluşumunun bireysel sosyo-ekonomik yetersizliklerden ziyade doğrudan mekânsal planlama süreçleri ve kentsel planlama kararlarıyla ilişkili çok katmanlı bir yapısal sorun olduğunu ortaya koymaktır. Bu kapsamda, 2008-2025 yılları arasında yayımlanan ve gıda çöllerini mekânsal açıdan ele alan 26 bilimsel çalışma kapsamlı biçimde incelenmiştir. Çalışmalar, konuyu ele alış biçimleri ve mekânsal analiz kriterleri açısından değerlendirilmiş; böylece gıda çölleri olgusunun kent planlama disipliniyle ilişkisi ortaya konmuştur. Aynı zamanda çalışmada, kentsel planlama kararlarının gıda çöllerinin oluşumuna nasıl zemin hazırladığı irdelenmiştir. Literatür incelemesi, gıda çöllerinin yalnızca fiziksel erişim eksikliği olmadığını; tek işlevli bölgeleme kararları, tek merkezli kentsel gelişim modeli ve kentsel tarımın mevzuatta yer almaması gibi planlama temelli uygulamalarla sistematik olarak üretildiğini göstermektedir. Bulgular, özellikle çeper mahallelerde ve düşük gelir gruplarının yoğunlaştığı bölgelerde erişim dezavantajının kalıcılaştığını ortaya koymaktadır. Ayrıca literatürün büyük ölçüde metropol kentlere odaklanması, orta ölçekli kentlerde uygulanabilir politika geliştirilmesi açısından önemli bir boşluk olduğunu göstermektedir. Sonuç olarak çalışma, gıda çöllerinin giderilmesinin yalnızca perakende yatırımlarıyla değil, kentsel gıda sisteminin tüm bileşenlerini kapsayan bütüncül, adalet odaklı ve planlama temelli politikalarla mümkün olduğunu ortaya koymaktadır. Kent planlaması, gıda erişimini mekânsal adaletin somut bir göstergesi olarak ele almalı ve karar süreçlerini bu doğrultuda yeniden yapılandırmalıdır.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Gıda Çölleri
• Mekânsal Adalet
• Gıda Adaleti
• Kentsel Planlama
• Kentsel Gıda Sistemi

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