An Overview Of The Benefits Of Urban Agriculture

Almost 15% of the food in the world comes from urban agriculture. Urban farms already feed about 700 million inhabitants in cities, which means a quarter of the world's urban population. According to this organization, in 2030, 60% of people in developed countries will live in cities. Data, no doubt, revealing.

Today there are many urban farmers who strive every day to grow their organic products, grow fair food and revitalize urban land. Urban agriculture not only contributes to improving food security but also to the environmental, cultural and educational administration of society. They produce food, jobs, and a variety of less quantifiable benefits, many of which we mention below:

Benefits of Urban Agriculture for Society

-Helps unite families and communities, working towards a common goal that will be beneficial for everyone.

-Provides direct links to food production.

-Creates a better living environment due to the greening of the city and makes it more productive.

-It makes people stronger, depending on their food security and makes them more independent and autonomous.

-Create jobs, income, and food.
Help fight hunger.

Benefits of Urban Agriculture for the Environment

-"Green" the city

-Help in wastewater management.

-Stops erosion and improves soil quality.

-Increases the distribution of locally purchased food which reduces the need for transportation and therefore the carbon footprint.

-Facilitates the reuse of waste for food production.

-It has a direct impact on urban ecology.

Benefits of Urban Agriculture for the Economy

-Create jobs and contribute income in spaces that would otherwise be completely unproductive.

-It improves the local economy and avoids having to buy products from distant territories.

-It makes use of valuable resources, such as compost, which would otherwise be lost in the city.

               Urban agriculture in cities has a long tradition in Asia and Europe. For many years, this technique has been practiced for many years due to poor transport quality and the proximity of consumer products. Urban agriculture was at that time a means of survival, as it is today for many poor people. It also brings freshness, variety and greater aesthetic enjoyment.

Some Interesting Facts about Urban Agriculture

-Urban agriculture provides 30% of vegetable consumption in Kathmandu, 50% in Karachi and 85% in Shanghai.

-50% of urban households in Asia have a farm.

-Animals are important too. In Kenya, 17% of urban households own livestock.

-The average Latin American family living in the city spends 1 to 1.5 days of work a week in their urban garden and saves between 10% and 30% with their food.

-It is estimated that 35% of the drinking water supply is lost through leaks and illegal connections made by urban farmers.

-Fruits, vegetables, pork, and poultry provide between 10% and 40% of the nutritional needs of urban families in developing countries.

In addition, urban agriculture helps to fill spaces that are leftover in cities. Organic gardens or farms can be built in empty areas such as the top of buildings, river banks or vacant lots. Spaces that, if not taken advantage of by this wonderful trend, would be wasted. These gardens can use wastewater to irrigate their crops, therefore, they would also improve the treatment of wastewater in the area.