What is the Urban agriculture and sustainability?
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Urban Agriculture and Sustainability
Introduction to Urban Agriculture and Sustainability
Urban agriculture (UA) refers to the practice of cultivating, processing, and distributing food in or around urban areas. It has gained significant attention as a means to promote sustainability in cities, addressing various socio-economic and environmental challenges. This article synthesizes recent research on the role of urban agriculture in fostering sustainable urban development.
Economic, Social, and Environmental Benefits of Urban Agriculture
Urban agriculture supports the economic, social, and environmental sustainability of cities. Economically, it can provide local food production, reducing food miles and the demand for processed food, which in turn lessens the environmental strain7. Socially, UA fosters community engagement, social inclusion, and enhances perceived well-being5. Environmentally, it contributes to urban regeneration, biodiversity support, and can even play a role in flood management8.
Challenges in Implementing Urban Agriculture
Despite its benefits, the implementation of urban agriculture faces several challenges. Key issues include air and soil contamination, limited availability of green spaces, and the need for appropriate urban infrastructure1. Additionally, the economic benefits of prime city land used for non-agricultural purposes often overshadow the potential gains from urban agriculture, making it difficult to justify its implementation solely on economic grounds2.
Urban Agriculture in Different Contexts
The effectiveness and sustainability of urban agriculture can vary significantly between different urban contexts. For instance, cities in the Global North and Global South face distinct socio-economic and environmental challenges that affect the adoption and success of UA practices1. In cities like Vancouver and Detroit, urban agriculture has been used both as a grassroots response to economic and environmental injustice and as a tool for enhancing economic competitiveness6.
Innovative Practices and Future Directions
Innovative urban agriculture (IUA) practices, such as vertical farming and hydroponics, have the potential to significantly enhance food security and environmental sustainability. These practices can produce high yields in limited spaces, making them suitable for densely populated urban areas9. Future research should focus on developing sustainable urban agriculture models that are adaptable to various urban contexts and can address both social and environmental issues1 3.
Conclusion
Urban agriculture holds promise as a multifaceted approach to achieving sustainable urban development. While it offers numerous benefits, its implementation is fraught with challenges that require careful consideration and innovative solutions. By addressing these challenges and leveraging the potential of innovative practices, urban agriculture can play a crucial role in creating resilient and sustainable cities.
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Most relevant research papers on this topic
Challenges to Promote Sustainability in Urban Agriculture Models: A Review
Urban agriculture faces challenges in air and soil contamination, green areas, infrastructure, and food distribution, requiring adaptable models for diverse contexts.
Systematic ReviewA review of the role of urban agriculture in the sustainable city discourse
Urban agriculture supports economic, social, and environmental sustainability in cities, but focusing solely on economic aspects is a mistake.
Literature Review
Highly CitedSustainable urban agriculture: stocktake and opportunities
Sustainable urban agriculture can contribute to resilient cities by identifying principles and trialing innovative institutional mechanisms, such as differential land taxes or carbon sequestration payments.
Literature ReviewHighly CitedKey insights of urban agriculture for sustainable urban development
Urban agriculture, applied under agroecology principles, can contribute to sustainable urban development by providing ecosystem services and promoting multifunctionality in urban planning and management.
Literature ReviewMonitoring the contribution of urban agriculture to urban sustainability: an indicator-based framework
Urban agriculture contributes to urban sustainability through food security, health benefits, social inclusion, and regeneration, but governance and planning aspects need further attention.
Urban agriculture and the sustainability fix in Vancouver and Detroit
Urban agriculture in Vancouver and Detroit has potential for radical responses to economic and environmental injustice, but has been manipulated by local governments to enhance economic competitiveness.
Highly CitedUrban Agriculture as an Alternative Source of Food and Water Security in Today’s Sustainable Cities
Urban agriculture (UA) in sustainable cities provides economic, social, and environmental benefits, reducing food miles and supporting biodiversity, while enhancing urban landscapes and shaping physical activity and social interaction.
Literature Review
Rigorous JournalUrban agriculture and land use in cities: An approach with the multi-functionality and sustainability concepts in the case of Antananarivo (Madagascar)
Urban agriculture in Antananarivo, Madagascar, plays a crucial role in maintaining food supply, employment, incomes, and environmental quality, but its sustainability may be jeopardized by poor production conditions and urbanization.
Highly CitedThe second green revolution: Innovative urban agriculture's contribution to food security and sustainability – A review
Innovative urban agriculture practices can contribute to global food security by supporting local food supply, strengthening the food value chain, and applying more sustainable practices than conventional agriculture.
Literature ReviewHighly CitedGlobal Trends in Urban Agriculture Research: A Pathway toward Urban Resilience and Sustainability
Urban agriculture research is growing in importance, with technological innovation needed to achieve sustainable development and resilience in urban food systems.
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