Urban farming strengthens resilience

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Climate change is already disrupting food supplies in cities

Traditional rural agriculture is already suffering from changing weather conditions caused by climate change such as increased storms and downpours, shifting seasons and water scarcity which is disrupting food production, processing, and distribution, making cities increasingly vulnerable to food supply shortages and increasing prices. Vulnerable populations are hit hardest by these disruptions, as food insecurity worsens. Additionally, declining rural productivity often drives people to migrate to cities in many parts of the world, leading to faster urbanisation 1Marielle Dubbeling et al., “Urban Agriculture: Another Way to Feed Cities, Urban agriculture as a climate change and disaster risk reduction strategy, Field Actions Science Report”, SPECIAL ISSUE 20, 2019, https://journals.openedition.org/factsreports/5650.

While cities have to face considerable challenges as a result of fast-growing urbanisation, such as having to ensure safe housing, infrastructure and economic opportunities for their citizens, all exacerbated by the increasing effects of climate change, cities also possess the capacity to take scalable action, as they harbour the bulk of economic activity as well as cultural and social capital.

Over the past decade, many local authorities have demonstrated their potential to influence both the causes and consequences of climate change and are contributing to national and international climate change strategies. Amongst these solutions are urban and peri-urban agriculture initiatives, which help build more resilient cities, and contribute towards cities’ challenge of providing adequate, safe, nutritious, affordable and culturally appropriate food for their populations 2Dubbeling et al., “Urban Agriculture”..

As a result, there is a growing international focus on the role of cities in building sustainable and resilient food systems that can help cities become more resilient to events caused by climate change or natural disasters such as droughts, storms, or floods, or by economic shocks.

Watch this video about how to grow food on a rooftop in Toronto::

Watch this video to learn more about Singapore’s 30% target by 2030:

Urban farming is nothing new: Victory Gardens

The urban farming initiatives of today share similarities with the Victory Gardens of wartime periods. Both movements emphasise local, self-sustaining food production to bolster food security in times of need. Victory Gardens emerged during World Wars I and II as a response to food shortages, encouraging citizens to grow vegetables and fruits on private land and in public parks to reduce pressure on the food supply chain, improve nutritional intake and boost morale. The gardens, used along with rationing cards and stamps, helped to prevent food shortages and freed up commercial crops to feed troops.

Similarly, modern urban farming initiatives address issues like food deserts, climate change, and economic challenges, promoting healthier, sustainable diets in cities. While Victory Gardens were primarily motivated by wartime necessity, today’s urban farming initiatives focus on environmental sustainability, community resilience, and public health. As such, the urban farming initiatives are adapting the concept of local food production to contemporary urban and global challenges.

Urban farming initiatives are usually small-scale and localised community initiatives that emphasise sustainability and eco-friendly practices like organic farming, composting, and permaculture. Urban farming typically focuses on producing fresh food for local communities, reducing the need for transportation, minimising waste, and integrating green spaces into city landscapes, which helps improve air quality, reduce the urban heat island effect, and promote biodiversity. Urban food initiatives usually have a strong community-building aspect which fosters social interaction, strengthens community bonds and enhances both physical and mental well-being as well as boosts morale.

The motivations for urban private or community gardens are similar to many of the sentiments driving people to care for and nurture their Victory Gardens during World War II. There was a lot of anxiety in the air—not just anxiety about food supply and availability, but also anxiety about a larger crisis. Just like in World War II, most of us are feeling a little powerless when facing huge global problems like climate change. Urban gardening is a concrete way that can make people and communities feel empowered.

Watch this video to learn more about Victory Gardens (perhaps a little old-fashioned, but I love it):

Watch this video to learn how the COVID-19 pandemic, another global crisis, motivated some Parisians to start their urban food growing initiatives (Paris):

Urban food forests

The concept of urban food forestry is relatively new, and is an interesting variation of community gardens in cities, offering a richer and more immersive experience with nature. While traditional gardens primarily focus on seasonal planting and limited crop types, food forests incorporate diverse layers of perennial plants, trees, and shrubs that mimic natural ecosystems. This complexity can boost biodiversity and create a more resilient, self-sustaining green space. Urban food forests also offer residents a chance to engage in foraging, learn about ecological processes, and experience a sense of discovery and wonder, enhancing their connection to the environment in a way community gardens may not.

The Picasso Food Forest in Italy serves as a valuable case study to understand the benefits and challenges of these spaces. It is home to various perennial plants that offer fresh, edible fruits, vegetables, and herbs, allowing people of all ages to experience food-growing and foraging in a natural setting. The space helps foster a sense of community and belonging, encouraging people to reconnect with nature and healthy eating habits and learn about ecological processes and local biodiversity, which inspires curiosity. The Picasso Food Forest is an urban food forest model which can inspire other cities when rethinking urban design for more sustainable living 3Francesca Riolo, “The social and environmental value of public urban food forests: The case study of the Picasso Food Forest in Parma, Italy”, Urban Forestry & Urban Greening, 2019, https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1618866718300542.

Learn how the Picasso Food Forest has evolved since the beginning in 2012: https://www.fruttortiparma.it/foodforest.html

Feeding an increasing global population – what does futuristic farming look like and will vertical farming help solve the increased need for food?

Vertical farming is an innovative method of growing crops in stacked layers or vertically inclined surfaces, typically indoors, using controlled environments such as hydroponics, aeroponics, and artificial lighting. This farming technique allows for the efficient use of space, making it possible to produce food in urban settings where traditional farmland is limited. Vertical farming can contribute to mitigating climate change by reducing the need for long-distance food transportation, thereby lowering greenhouse gas emissions. Additionally, it uses significantly less water and eliminates the need for pesticides, further decreasing environmental impact. However, the energy demands for lighting and climate control must be managed sustainably to ensure that vertical farming plays a positive role in future climate adaptation. With advancements in renewable energy and energy-efficient technologies, vertical farming could become a key solution for producing food sustainably in a climate-conscious world.

Watch this video to learn more about futuristic farming:

Watch this video to learn more about the trends of vertical farming: 

The food systems of the future need to be more resilient than in the past

As we have observed with all the examples above: urban community gardens, urban food forests or vertical farming, the food systems of tomorrow must be more resilient than those of the past.

A resilient food system is understood as:

“A system that has the capacity over time to provide sufficient healthy, sustainable and fair food to all in the face of chronic stresses and acute shocks, including unforeseen circumstances… A resilient food system is robust (it can withstand disturbances without losing food security), has redundancy (elements of the system are replaceable and can absorb the effects of stresses and shocks), and is flexible, can quickly recover lost food security and can adapt to changing circumstances” 4Carey R. et al., Melbourne: Victorian Eco-Innovation Lab, “Melbourne’s food future: Planning a resilient city foodbowl”, A Foodprint Melbourne Report, 2016, https://msd.unimelb.edu.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0010/2355148/Foodprint-Melbourne-summary-briefing.pdf.

A resilient food system typically includes the following aspects 5Dubbeling et al., “Urban Agriculture”:

  • Increases resilience through diversification: using a variety of approaches to production and distribution while drawing on both commercial (large-scale) and community-based (small-scale) sources reduces dependency
  • Optimises use of waste streams: increase the capacity to draw on wastewater, food waste and organic waste for food production
  • Creates synergies and achieves multiple benefits: taking a holistic approach to policy objectives, e.g. increasing access to healthy food and creating jobs
  • Facilitates a people-centred and inclusive approach: putting people at the heart of the food system allows them to benefit from increased access to healthy, sustainable food and new employment opportunities, while they engage actively with the food system as citizen-consumers
  • Close monitoring for fast action: the capacity to monitor and address threats and reduce disaster risks in food systems
  • Contributes to reducing GHG emissions: is an important local strategy for climate change adaptation and mitigation
  • Supports effective land management and soil restoration

As such, urban food growing can offer a combination of environmental, economic and quality of life benefits depending on the local reality. It can provide access to fresh, locally grown produce, improve diets, and reduce chronic diseases like obesity and diabetes as well as promote physical activity, reduce stress and boost mental well-being.

Furthermore, by incorporating climate-resilient crops and sustainable farming practices, urban food-growing initiatives become more adaptable to changing conditions, ensuring that cities can continue to produce food even in the face of climate disruptions or other crises. In this way, urban food growing not only enhances urban greening efforts but also plays a vital role in building more resilient and sustainable cities.

Watch this video to learn more about the benefits of responsible urban agriculture:

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