A critical challenge of the near future will be the need to provide adequate food supplies for an estimated population of nine billion people, while at the same reducing the agricultural footprint on the environment (1). Towards that direction, alternative ways to ensure sufficient food production, without relying on the intensification of conventional agriculture or land clearing, are the focus of relevant research (2, 3). Urban agriculture, defined as the food-producing activity within or around the limits of an urban area, could be one way to increase food supplies, utilizing the already cleared spaces and areas (4).

Urban agriculture has multiple positive effects on individuals and societies. Urban agriculture’s main objective and contribution is the increase in food quantities, thus reducing hunger. Food production targeted at self-consumption by urban farmers and their families increases food security, and the availability of food disengaged from financial factors. Expensive food items, such as fruit and vegetables, can be supplied through home production. At the same time, food quality is improved, since urban agriculture provides fresher food with enhanced nutritional value, thus advancing nutrition and health (5).

Urban agriculture can also provide fresh goods to city markets, with little to no environmental impact. Storage and transportation needs are typically minimized when urban agriculture is applied since the food produced is consumed soon after production and at a close distance from the production site. Furthermore, it is observed that air quality and biodiversity are improved, while city waste is reduced, in urban agriculture sites (5).

In addition, urban farming fosters social inclusion and improves gender equality, as it can be applied by any citizen regardless of social status or gender. Underprivileged people and social groups can actively improve their living conditions and social integration by getting involved with urban farming at a group level (5).

Studies also indicate that the farming habit is linked to elevated mood, a result partly attributed to accompanying light exposure and physical activity. This positive impact of farming on people is noticeable, even when farming is practiced for a short duration (6). Gardening is linked to mental and physical health benefits, reducing depression, anxiety, and body mass index. It also has positive effects on quality of life, increasing life satisfaction and a sense of community. Except for engagement with nature, physical activity, and social interactions, gardening also impels people to healthier dietary choices (7).

Urban agriculture can be applied in various spaces within or around city limits. Smit et al. provide a thorough analysis of spaces suitable for urban agriculture in their book “Urban Agriculture: Food, Jobs, and Sustainable Cities (2001 Edition)”. Here we aim to present some highlights. The applicability of each space depends greatly on the prevalent lifestyle in each city, the terrain and the city’s layout, as well as the legal framework laid out by lawmakers and policy-makers, mainly concerning how land suitable for farming becomes available to urban farmers to use.

First and foremost, food can be grown around the house. The backyard of the house is the most suitable place for agriculture, being spacious and protected. The front yard or side yards can be used as well, although, being closer to the street, these have the disadvantage of being more exposed to theft, vandalism, and vehicle exhaust emissions leading to contamination of house crops. Apart from the yards adjacent to the urban cultivator’s residence, patios, balconies, and rooftops may be used for growing vegetables in pots. Vertical layouts may also be used to stack cultivations and make the most of the space available vertically. Around-the-house agriculture presents several advantages over other urban agriculture alternatives. Proximity to the urban cultivator’s residence saves the cultivator significant time, effort, and money since there is no commuting or transportation required. Lack of the need to commute or transport goods is also very beneficial to the environment. Water used for irrigation is also in general more easily accessible near the house than in alternative urban cultivation sites.

Community gardens are the next most common site where urban agriculture can be applied. A community garden is essentially a cooperative, in which each participant takes care of their cultivation, while all participants share responsibility and cost for common resources, such as pathways, fences, water supply, storage, and security. Sharing responsibility and cost entail lower effort and lower expenses, on average, for maintaining one’s cultivation. Community gardens additionally help bring the community together, benefiting members of the community outside the scope of food production.

Large tracts of lands belonging to public, quasi-public, or private establishments, such as universities, schools, and airports, which are reserved for landscaping or urban extension purposes, are also suitable for urban agriculture. Establishments enjoy financial benefits from leasing their land, while at the same time urban cultivators enjoy the availability of significant parcels of land. Maintenance of the land by the lessee is an additional benefit for the establishment. Industrial areas, such as inactive factories, can also be utilized for the agriculture of indoor crops, such as mushrooms.

Other cases of spaces suitable for urban agriculture contain roadsides and other public or quasi-public spaces, stream sides and floodplains (areas adjacent to rivers, at risk of flooding during certain periods, with high soil fertility), and steep slopes. Each case presents its complications, e.g., concerning ease of access, access to irrigation, and duration of use. The common benefit in all these cases is that an otherwise unused piece of land is used for food production. The common pitfall is the legal framework according to which these spaces can become available to urban farmers.

To raise awareness of urban farming and amplify its social and environmental benefits, we developed the Urbana platform (8). The Urbana platform is formed around a mobile application, which provides the space for urban cultivators and agricultural consultants to exchange knowledge and good practices regarding urban farming. Urban cultivators form the majority of the users and have diverse levels of relevant experience, while agricultural consultants are professionals in the field of agriculture that can provide scientific guidance regarding farming practices. In the Urbana app, users can create and share their own do-it-yourself (DIY) projects describing the steps and the resources needed for completion. Users may also initiate or participate in collective projects, thus promoting the common utilization of public areas and reinforcing social inclusion. Advanced users can, optionally, employ sensors to track their cultivation status. Finally, users can make use of a data analytics web application within the Urbana platform, to filter and view project cultivation data on tables, charts, and maps. Gaining a deeper insight into the platform’s data facilitates decision-making at the user level and magnifies the crowdsourcing power of the platform.

References

  1. Food Security: The Challenge of Feeding 9 Billion People – https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1185383
  2. Can we meet a growing need for food without destroying our environment? – https://ensia.com/features/sustainable-intensification/
  3. Sustainable intensification in agricultural systems – https://doi.org/10.1093/aob/mcu205
  4. Urban Agriculture: Food, Jobs, and Sustainable Cities (2001 Edition) – http://www.jacsmit.com/book.html
  5. Urban agriculture in the developing world: a review – https://doi.org/10.1007/s13593-013-0143-z
  6. Farming habit, light exposure, physical activity, and depressive symptoms. A cross-sectional study of the HEIJO-KYO cohort – https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2018.08.003
  7. Gardening is beneficial for health: A meta-analysis – https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pmedr.2016.11.007
  8. Urbana: An Innovative Platform for Collective Awareness and Enhancement of Urban Agriculture – https://www.urbana.com.gr/

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