Urban agriculture – often defined as agricultural and/or food production activity that takes place within a city and which forms an integral part of the surrounding ecological system and urban economy – has always existed in developing countries, where it can play a major role in feeding populations. Feeding today’s and tomorrow’s cities using sustainable food production is an urgent task. With the continually-growing world and urban populations, climate change and pressure on natural resources, global food security are paramount. Feeding the planet’s population will be one of humanity’s greatest challenges. Vertical farming and urban agriculture, if designed and implemented appropriately, could offer sustainable and innovative solutions for improving food security. The growing of food in cities will never mean that conventional agriculture will disappear. 

At the moment we cannot grow staple foods such as grains indoors or on a small scale. We might be able to keep chickens and produce eggs in urban environments, but our consumption of meat protein is either going to have to decline considerably due to the greenhouse gas emissions associated with animal production and the inefficient use of land or perhaps we will find a way to grow meat in factories without the need for animals. But for the remainder of our diet, we can choose now from the following range of options. Introducing agricultural projects on roofs, walls, aboveground and underground lots supports the development of a sustainable and resilient urban model in a multitude of ways. These include shortening food supply chains, strengthening community ties, building awareness around healthy eating, contributing to food security, providing ecological services like storm water management, fostering biodiversity, mitigating heat islands and enhancing energy efficiency in the built environment.