Precariousness and multifunctionality of the agricultural lands next to urban conurbations

Regarding the increasing needs for residential and economic developments and the improvement of the living environment for food and energy productions, the research reflects on the use of agricultural lands. Even if the citizens and the regional government are rediscovering the multiple services provided by agricultural lands, agricultural landscapes in Wallonia are in precarious situations, especially at the edge of the cities. The paper relates twofold research to conduct a prospective assessment: first, a survey among 587 Walloons on the perception of agricultural lands and their functions; secondly, ten case studies next to the main Walloon conurbations to identify the services provided by these agricultural lands and the different pressures that they face. The research improves our understanding of the role(s) played by agriculture within, or at the edge of, cities, underlines the thorny issue of land ownership, points out the diversity of situations encountered, and propose adaptations and ways to sustain peri-urban agricultural activity while preserving the environment and developing their social and educational roles.