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Urban Agriculture for Human and Planetary Health
Summary
This chapter reviews urban and peri-urban agriculture as a pathway to feeding growing cities, highlighting that while rooftop gardens, hydroponics, and aquaponics can supply 10–20% of urban food needs, plastic pollution and grey water recycling risks require careful planning and science-based management to avoid contaminating local food supplies.
At present 55% of the world population live in the city, and this is projected to increase to 70% by 2050. Rapid urbanization in Sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia and elsewhere is raising concerns about food and nutritional insecurity. Increase in food demand in mega cities and other growing urban centers is the primary driver of the adoption of urban agriculture (UA) and peri-urban agriculture (PUA). However, adequate planning is important in reducing risks of soil contamination, plastic pollution, and issues emerging from recycling of grey and black water and using compost from city waste. As much as 10–20% of the food consumed could be grown within the city limits, but careful planning is critically important. Conventional agriculture is affecting the environment, soil and water resources, allocation of large resources to import food, and the overall health of Planet Earth. Modern version of UA include rooftop gardens, multistory glass buildings and soil-less culture such as aquaculture, hydroponics, and aeroponics. This chapter also discusses barriers to the adoption of UA and outlines research priorities on biophysical and socio-economic factors (i.e., land tenure), which are major barriers to the upscaling of UA and PUA. With proper planning and using science-based information, UA and PUA can play an important role in feeding urban centers while restoring the environment.