Dr. Salim Kattar is a multilingual environmental and agricultural professional with a Ph.D. in Agricultural Engineering and a strong commitment to sustainable development, restoration, and community-based education. His career bridges academia, NGOs, municipalities, and field projects. With more than 18 years as a professor and department head, he has led research as well as contributed to reforestation, agroecology, and environmental training initiatives. Fluent in English, French, Arabic, and Russian, Salim is comfortable working with diverse communities, from university classrooms to refugee camps and municipalities. He combines scientific knowledge with field experience in plant establishment, maintenance, composting, soil improvement, and land management.
Question 1) Tell us about your work in urban contexts
There is a big difference between working alone in a forest versus an urban context. I graduated in 2000 as an agricultural engineer, and since then I have worked in several different settings, including a nursery, a landscaping team, and a municipality, before eventually managing my own landscaping team. While we worked on private villas and homes, as well as institutions, we also had a contract with a municipality and managed green spaces there for several years.
Question 2) Why is it important to have edible fruit trees in cities?
Let’s start by agreeing that cities need more green space and, where possible, that space should include trees. Not just patchy lawns. We have a lot of those in the GTA [Greater Toronto Area]. Trees add a vertical layer that cools streets, improves soil and moisture dynamics, slows rain runoff, and boosts biodiversity. If we accept that, why not choose trees that give extra benefits where the site allows it?
In some tight spots, living fences or regularly pruned strips, large fruit trees don’t make sense. However, edible trees are a natural fit in parks, orchards and community sites. They offer economic value through local produce, educational value by showing kids that fruit doesn’t come only from supermarkets, and social value when neighbours gather for harvests and shared activities.
Edible doesn’t have to mean only apples or pears. Aromatic, medicinal and melliferous species can provide similar benefits for pollinators and people. Overall, when sited and managed thoughtfully, fruit and useful trees multiply the benefits of urban greening.
Question 3) There are many fruit trees in cities, where the municipal government does not look after them. Why is it important to prune fruit trees?
There are a lot of fruit trees in cities and municipal governments often do not maintain them. However, pruning is very important because it stimulates and regulates tree growth. Checking the shape of fruit trees is vital in orchards as well as in urban landscapes. A good pruning opens the tree canopy, improves light access and generally enables better fruit production. Doing this makes fruits more available and better spread out. Pruning allows a fruit tree to have a shape that is better adapted to the context.
Contracting a professional could be expensive. Unfortunately, municipal staff do not always have the required expertise. Some municipal employees may ask themselves why invest in pruning as they believe that trees should have a nice shape and fruit production is secondary. However, we must remember that a proper pruning helps to reduce the risk of disease, makes a tree healthier, and have better air flow. Pruning helps to build a stronger and more reliable tree structure, which important for its longevity.
End of interview
Making the link: What do fruit trees have to do with planning?
Ontario’s Provincial Planning Statement sets land use priorities for municipalities to follow across the province. Fruit trees could help to satisfy Section 4.3.6 Supporting Local Food and the Agri-food Network, which states: “Planning authorities are encouraged to support local food, facilitate near-urban and urban agriculture, and foster a robust agri-food network.” Urban agriculture is defined in this document as food production in settlement areas, which includes personal consumption and education.
