Background

Rooftop garden. Source: Singapore.2019

This urbanization process goes together closely with growing urban poverty and food insecurity. It also creates several challenges such as poverty, pollution, climate change, and food insecurity (FAO 2019). As cities expand, so do the food needs of urban families, therefore, urban agriculture plays a significant role as it could not only support the food demands but also build up the resilient community. Food supply or food security is the fundamental criterion to classify the wellbeing and prosperity of a community. Therefore, urban agriculture becomes the key factor in creating sustainable development in cities. Urban agriculture or urban farming is one of the food solutions as well as contributing to sustainability of the cities. Moreover, it also helps cities to adapt to climate change, generates employment, recycles urban wastes, creates greenbelts and reduces their ecological footprint (FAO, 2019).

Global food crisis: background of the project. Source : FAO.2019

Urban agriculture could be understood as the growing of plants and the raising of animals within and around cities. It provides food products from different types of crops (grains, root crops, vegetables, mushrooms, fruits), animals (poultry, rabbits, goats, sheep, cattle, pigs, guinea pigs, fish, etc.) as well as non-food products (e.g. aromatic and medicinal herbs, ornamental plants, tree products) (FAO, 2019) This type of activities could help to reduce the food miles, carbon emission by transportation and help to improve the community relationship when interacting with nature and agriculture.

Local food system cycle. Source : UN-HABITAT.2016

There are different types and benefits of urban farming that have been discussed in several kinds of literatures, however, in this writing, I only will look at four main different types of benefits, which have the significant useful applications for our current urbanisation situation.

1. Environment Benefits

Urban Agriculture. Source : Singapore.2020

When talking about sustainability cites, resilience of the community development, the bioregionalism or the sense of place, agriculture and food supply system play an important role, especially in the urbanisation decades (FAO 2019). The environmental benefits of urban farming are obvious. Gardening which plan trees or vegetable help to improve several environmental issues such as cooling down the temperature, reduce carbon footprint, reducing pollution, increases urban green spaces, mitigates urban heat island also helping birds and insects living conditions as well as reducing the waste by recycling them to use in soil (Mobbs 2012). In addition, how food and gardening process will create positive impacts on the environment; reconnect the community with natural environment, especially for the region sustainability and local resilience. The developing trends in this century with the population growth, the need for food are more considerate. The global challenge for traditional agriculture will be significant when in 2050; nine billion people will rely on the food of limited resources (Big Ideas 2018). Besides, urban agriculture also supports biodiversity, reducing stormwater runoff, improving air quality and mitigating urban heat island effects to reducing the temperature. In the case of organic farming, eliminating pesticide, herbicide and synthetic fertilizer use, urban agriculture affords a variety of environmental benefits. The extent of these benefits depends on what type of urban agriculture is practiced and how it is managed (Steele 2017). Furthermore, urban farming supports biodiversity by providing crucial habitat for pollinators such as bees, bats, butterflies and birds and offers opportunities for culturally significant, heirloom and wild crops to be re-introduced (ibis).

2. Social, Education and Culture Benefits

In terms of social and cultural benefit, urban agriculture could create a positive impact on the local community relationship and community development. The local community is the fundamental unit of a country (Australia Government 2018). Therefore, developing the local community is the best way to build a prosperous and united country. To encourage the involvement of the city members, the community garden is one of the good examples, which could create the opportunity and bring people together. They can be socialized, make the relationship with other families in the region or even from other places. It is a healthy and educational activity where children are teaching about gardening. Gardening is one of the most obvious ways to teach children about how nature works (Hilton Harvest Community Garden 2018). As a result, it is the way to provide them the opportunities to experience food planting and harvesting by themselves. Urban agriculture also can be an “agent of change” for communities by providing opportunities for strengthening social bonds, expressing and maintaining cultural heritage, and engaging in activities promoting social and political change. Importantly, urban agriculture is seen by many as integral to practicing food justice. Moreover, one of the ways to make the social and cultural connection is community activity. The good way to make the connection is to invite people to join the meaningful and joyful activities together, regardless of age, gender, career or ability. In addition, creating a belonging feeling is another way to be attached to the place. You will not have the feeling of belonging with the place if you do not involve and participate in the community activities (Jennings 2009). Therefore, urban farming or community garden is important to build a sense of place, creating a social connection as well as building a culture for the community and to become a good example of region resilient practice.

Melbourne Green Future. Source: City of Melbourne. 2017

In terms of education benefit, urban farming could provide job training for young people and those looking for new opportunities. In addition, working in urban agriculture requires a multitude of skills in areas such as leadership, fundraising, marketing, project management, and customer service, all of which can be acquired through formal programs or routine, daily participation. Besides, urban agriculture also offers opportunities to gain knowledge and expertise in aspects of the food system, including agriculture methods, sustainability and environmental stewardship, horticulture, and animal husbandry, food provenance, and nutrition.

You can read Part 1 of the article here: https://phanexperience.com/?p=306