From Montreal to Nairobi: Reflections on a Transformative Study Visit
“For our team from Montréal, the balance between sessions at the Mazingira Institute and the different site visits was especially appreciated. It gave us the opportunity to reflect together on concrete strategies we could apply in our own contexts while also sharing the insights we had gained from each activity. This led to enriching and thought-provoking discussions throughout the week. ”
- Karine Martineau
Study Visit Reflection- By Karine Marineau
At the end of this first week, several meaningful elements stand out from my experience in Nairobi.
First and foremost, I want to highlight the joy I felt during every encounter. Each Kenyan I met showed remarkable openness, curiosity, and genuine pleasure in getting to know us. Rarely have I felt so warmly welcomed anywhere. Their attentive listening and active presence made me feel relevant and included in every activity we took part in.
I was also impressed by the quality of the training we received. Each visit, every practical or theoretical workshop, and every discussion on urban agriculture or the current food system helped me better understand the realities of life in Nairobi. The Mazingira Institute designed a thoughtful schedule that allowed us to explore pressing issues and possible solutions in a way that encouraged everyone to learn from one another and share their knowledge.
The variety and quality of the teaching methods kept me fully engaged throughout the week. Field visits, formal meetings, dynamic lectures, and hands-on demonstrations created a truly stimulating environment for exchange and learning.
For our team from Montréal, the balance between sessions at the Mazingira Institute and the different site visits was especially appreciated. It gave us the opportunity to reflect together on concrete strategies we could apply in our own contexts while also sharing the insights we had gained from each activity. This led to enriching and thought-provoking discussions throughout the week.
During our presentation earlier in the week, I had the chance to speak about the educational dimension of our organization and the importance, for me, of working with young people. Following this, I met a participant who shared a similar motivation. He explained that his primary reason for developing skills in urban agriculture was to ensure that future generations could access this field. He stressed the importance of food autonomy as well as intergenerational knowledge transfer, which he saw as vital to preserving both culture and heritage.
That conversation deeply moved me. Having worked in education for several years, I saw it as a privilege to exchange with someone equally committed to youth. It was inspiring to witness the existence of such meaningful initiatives not only in Québec but also in Nairobi.
In conclusion, this week has been a wonderful opportunity for dialogue, discovery, and learning with the Nairobi community. On a more personal note, I am also grateful for the many culinary discoveries of the past few days. Kenya is an inspiring place, rich in both people and flavors.
“This study trip left a profound impression on me. Farming was described during the week as “the first profession on earth,” a reminder of the dignity and fundamental importance of this vocation. ”
- Marie-Andrée Mauger
Study Visit Reflection – By Marie-Andrée Mauger Mayor of Verdun
From August 11 to 15, 2025, I had the privilege of participating in a study week in Nairobi, Kenya, organized by Rooftops Canada – Abri International and the Mazingira Institute. The theme was urban agriculture and food systems, analyzed through a gender equity lens. The program combined training sessions, field visits, and exchanges with thirty young Nairobians already engaged in agricultural practices, eager to improve their knowledge, broaden their perspectives, and strengthen sustainable methods such as composting and organic farming.
The training revealed the remarkable diversity of urban agriculture in Nairobi: vegetable farming, mushrooms, flowers, poultry, dairy cattle, pigs, bamboo, and permaculture. Gender equity was also integrated, with childcare provided and co-coordinators of both sexes appointed. Senior Nairobi County officials addressed participants with strong encouragement, reminding them that farming is not mere activism but a professional path to dignity, food security, and prosperity.
Day after day, trainers emphasized both technical knowledge and philosophical reflections. Agriculture, they reminded us, demands patience and resilience. From the importance of soil health and composting to innovative practices like multistorey gardens, participants were encouraged to see farming as essential not only for survival but also for business opportunities. Exchanges revealed skepticism about composting, but the arguments for its ecological and economic value resonated strongly.
Field visits enriched the discussions. We toured two large city-run markets, where governance structures and challenges became clear. With more than fifty markets in Nairobi, access to consumers is a central issue. Projects supported by the C40 network, such as solar-powered refrigeration to reduce food waste, demonstrate innovative efforts. Yet, women’s participation in governance structures remains limited. Another visit led us to a family farm in the upscale Karen neighborhood. On less than an acre, Lilian and her husband cultivate an impressive diversity of crops, produce biogas and compost, and sell surplus food locally. This encounter, both warm and inspiring, illustrated the potential of small-scale, sustainable farming.
Comparisons with Montreal are inevitable. Montreal and Nairobi both struggle with access to land and the burden of real estate pressures. Both face the challenge of food waste, with Nairobi officials estimating losses of up to 60 percent. But differences are equally striking. Nairobi County enjoys more autonomy to regulate its food system, allowing farming across the city without permits or inspections. Governance in Montreal, layered across multiple levels, contrasts sharply with this flexibility. Regulation in Nairobi appears minimal, though practices such as cooking all food may reduce health risks. Agricultural succession is another common concern: while land is scarce in Montreal, agriculture often lacks appeal for Nairobi’s younger generations.
Beyond contrasts, there are similarities worth underlining. Both cities are part of the C40 Cities network, committed to climate action and food systems. Both recognize the urgency of adapting to urban growth and climate pressures. But Nairobi’s context, marked by rapid population increase and precarious living conditions for up to two million residents, makes food security a pressing existential concern.
This study trip left a profound impression on me. Farming was described during the week as “the first profession on earth,” a reminder of the dignity and fundamental importance of this vocation. In Nairobi, the awareness of food security challenges is acute, rooted in the city’s fast expansion and fragile balance of supply. In Montreal, by contrast, the population seems more distanced from food production and overly reliant on imports, with a quiet confidence in abundance.
The objectives of this mission were fourfold: to build ties between Montreal and Nairobi, to share land use and public space policies, to compare approaches to food systems, and to meet with farmers and officials across Nairobi County. These goals were fully achieved. I return to Montreal enriched by the experience, grateful for the opportunity, and determined to pursue efforts to strengthen our own metropolitan food system. .
