Feeding the city: historical evolution of the food supply and its territorial planning impacts, end 18th century – end 20th century

Abstract

This paper investigates the historical evolution of food supply systems and their territorial planning impacts, with a focus on Paris from the late 18th to the late 20th century. Using the framework of territorial ecology, it examines the co-evolution of the city’s food hinterland and its governance. The study highlights the progressive liberalisation of food supply, the influence of technological advances in farming and transport, and the impact of agricultural policies at regional, national, and European levels. These developments reshaped rural areas surrounding Paris and transformed urban–rural relations, leading to the dominance of agrifood industries, large-scale retail, and mass consumption. Since the 1970s, however, this hegemonic model has been increasingly challenged. By tracing these long-term transformations, the paper contributes to a better understanding of urban–rural trajectories and provides insights into current debates on food system relocalisation and its implications for urban and territorial planning.