Hawkesbury Harvest will be cited as a model for the benefits of locating agricultural enterprises in urban areas, at the inaugural World Planners Congress.

NSW DPI Leader for Urban Agriculture, David Mason, will attend the first ever congress in Vancouver, Canada, in June.

Mr Mason is co-author of a paper titled "Growing Food and Growing Houses - it’s a landscape thing", which fits with the conference sub-theme "Planning for Food: A Cornerstone of Sustainable Urbanisation".

"This conference will provide the opportunity to share ideas about integration of agriculture in landuse planning in both established and developing urban areas in developed countries," Mr Mason said.

"There will also be presentations from Austria, Scandanavia, the US and Canada.

"This is particularly relevant, following the release of the Sydney Metropolitan Strategy at the end of 2005.

"The metro strategy recognises the economic, social and environmental benefits that local agriculture can provide to urban communities."

Mr Mason said this was a far cry from half a decade ago, when agriculture in the Sydney region was regarded as a transient form of human activity and land use.

"The challenge now lies in having those values and benefits expressed on the ground to enhance the sustainability of Sydney," he said.

The paper to be presented in Vancouver argues that broader considerations of "landscape" - incorporating local agriculture and associated agribusiness - can be the catalyst for meeting housing requirements and providing rural amenity, food security,employment, and the social integration of different cultural groups.

Mr Mason, a major contributor to the development and success of both the Hawk esbury Harvest and the Farm Gate Trail, said the model could demonstrate to the world’s planners how perceptions of agriculture could change as metropolitan expansion continues in cities like Sydney.

In Vancouver, the authors will further research these practicalities and share their insights with other professionals in the field.