Urban agriculture refers to the cultivation, processing, and distribution of food in and around a town, city, or metropolis. By some estimates, about 50 percent of the world’s population will live in urban areas by the year 2030, if not more, and along with the steadily growing population, global food security and safety is a major concern. Already, about 80 percent of the farmland suitable for agricultural purposes is being used. As such, the potential for urban farming can help alleviate the strain of traditional farming methods.

Urban agriculture has its roots in ancient times when residents of cities like Babylon cultivated hanging gardens and farms. During World War I, President Woodrow Wilson called for citizens to use as much available space as possible for food growth. It’s estimated that by 1919, over 5 million plots grew over 500 million pounds of produce. Efforts to plant foods to supplement rural farming also saw success during the Great Depression when many food shortages developed.

Almost $3 million worth of food came out of the Depression subsistence gardens. Around the time of World War II, victory gardens grew crops to bolster the war effort, boost morale, and lessen the pressure of food production, which led to more than 5 million Americans taking part in growing over 9 million pounds of produce a year. Now, even First Lady Michelle Obama has reestablished the idea of urban farming by planting her own 1,100 square food “victory garden” on the White House lawn.

Some cities have implemented community-run farms, such as the Collingwood Children’s Farm in Melbourne, Australia. Collingwood is a not-for-profit farm adjacent to the Abbotsford Convent complex. The farm is open year round and hosts a farmers’ market on the second Saturday of every month with produce from the farm and other producers in the area.

Other community models include the allotment garden where gardeners tend to their own individual, subdivided plots, generally between 50 to 400 square meters, within the larger garden. The parcels are leased from the owner, whether they’re operating through a public, private, or ecclesiastical organization. Gardeners typically pay a membership fee and must follow certain rules.

Difficulties persist in urban agriculture as well. Sometimes space can be hard to acquire in certain cities, security of the area’s time availability can be uncertain, or cultivated land can be contaminated and present a health risk. Some also argue that urban agriculture can never supply enough food to replace farming in rural areas or match its efficiency.

But whether the gardens are in abandoned lots, on rooftops, or in tracts of undeveloped land, the benefits of urban agriculture go beyond the security and availability of food, including economically, with the creation of job opportunities and an increase in small business activities; socially, with increased employment and income, improved community relations, and better health; and environmentally, with the production of potable water from waste water and recycling waste into energy and nutrients.
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