A Conceptual Framework for Integrating Deltaic Food Systems and Spatial Design: The Case of the Mekong River Delta

Sophia Arbara ^* Fransje F.L. Hooimeijer

• Delft University of Technology, Delft, Netherlands

Food and deltaic systems are complex, interlinked systems, crucial for future sustainable development. This paper explores these two systems in synergy with the aim to set an agroecological framework for delta urbanism. Drawing reference from political ecology approaches and the infrastructural turn, the paper critically revisits food systems to understand how these can be better synergized with hydrological, infrastructural, and urban – rural processes and addresses underlying fundamental questions for the creation of new pathways and the redesign of deltaic areas. Second, it explores past and future models of food equations in relation to the deltaic landscape. Third, it suggests a spatial framework based on the layers approach which through scales and historic timeframes aims to set an analytical approach for research and design on deltas and food. The operational ground to present this methodology is the case of the Mekong River Delta and the territories of rice cultivation. Findings emphasize the significance of technological milestones and their spatial implications in shaping resource availability, population growth, and climate change. Further application and operationalization of this framework will provide a deeper understanding of the complex interactions between food production, environmental change, and socio-economic structures, offering insights for sustainable agricultural practices and climate adaptation.