Urban farming, or the production of crops and livestock in urbanised areas, has experienced a surge in popularity since the 1970s. In Singapore alone, it’s estimated that 4.3% of vegetables, and 8% of seafood were grown in urban farms in 2021, with the Government setting the ambitious goal of producing as much as 30% of food locally by 2030. But what’s behind this surge in popularity in urban farming, and why is it becoming more important?
This article will explore the three main areas in which urban farming can positively impact a society: from the environmental and economic benefits, to the positive community outcomes it can contribute.
Environmental Benefits of Urban Farming
As the world’s population increases, so too does our need for resources like water, food, and clean air. Traditional farming methods that rely on vast amounts of open spaces, chemical pesticides, and vast amounts of water, all contribute to environmental degradation which over time, is unsustainable. While growing produce in cities can never completely replace the output of traditional farming, it provides a viable eco-friendly alternative in a number of ways. But how exactly is urban farming sustainable?
A Reduced Carbon Footprint
Urban farming helps reduce the carbon footprint of the food we consume by reducing food miles. Food miles refers to the distance that food must travel from farm to table. Growing food locally means less emissions from transportation, and reduces the need for long-haul trucking, air freight, or shipping. In addition to reducing food miles, urban farming often requires less packaging than traditionally farmed produce. This means less wasted single use plastic, and reduced carbon emissions from the production and disposal of packaging materials.
Improved Air Quality
Through photosynthesis, plants are able to clean the air around us by absorbing CO2 emissions and producing oxygen. Urban farming solutions such as rooftop and vertical gardens can help create better air in our workplaces, homes, and cities. What’s more, greener cities can help fight against phenomena such as the Urban Heat Island Effect. This occurs when urban areas experience higher temperatures when compared to rural areas.
Water-Saving
Water scarcity is an on-going issue in many nations, with Singapore said to be one of the most water-stressed countries in the world. According to some estimates, traditional agriculture accounts for the usage of 65% of the world’s freshwater supply. Urban farming harnesses a range of modern technologies that work to reduce water wastage. Some of these include smart irrigation systems such as drip irrigation, rainwater collection, soil moisture management, and hydroponics. Other factors such as reduced evaporation, producing crops without soil, and recycling used water, also help to ensure urban farms cut down on water wastage.
The below image showcases the environmental benefits of growing produce with a Grobrix vertical urban farming system over 365 days, on a wall installation of just 6 Grobrix units. Assumptions, calculations and references found here.
Economic Impact of Urban Agriculture
As well as having numerous benefits for the planet, urban farming can also have important effects on the economies in which they are located.
Urban Farming Creates Food Security
The UN estimated that as many as 828 million people were affected by hunger in 2019, with this number set to grow as populations increase. Creating food security is a key way to assist these growing populations ensure access to fresh produce. By growing food in densely populated areas, urban farming increases people’s access to organic, nutritious food that is cost-effective.
Urban Farms Keep Money within Local Communities
Because urban farms do not usually require complex distribution systems and have low food miles, those growing produce can stay closer to their consumers. This means maximising profits through local supply chains, and being able to readily adapt to local demands. Local supply chains also work to stimulate the economies in which they operate, ensuring financial benefits reach local producers, suppliers, distributors and vendors.
Urban Farms Revitalise Cities
Urban farming facilities are often created in areas that are unused or abandoned. This renewal of abandoned spaces works to revitalise these areas, bringing people, businesses, and tourism. Urban farms can also often help to increase property value, as well as improving the aesthetics of the areas in which they are built. Some studies have even shown a correlation between urban farms and a decrease in crime.
The Social Benefits of Urban Farming
Urban farming isn’t just about the environment and the economy. At the heart of this practice lies the community in which it operates. Urban rooftop farms, vertical gardens in office spaces and hydroponics in residential buildings, can all help foster a strong sense of community, by bringing people together to cultivate shared green spaces and grow their own produce. It also provides opportunities for social interaction, education, and skill-sharing.
Discover how our urban farming solutions can help cultivate a sense of community and boost employee engagement and wellbeing in your office or workplace.
Vertical Gardens in Workplaces
Why Urban Farming is So Important
Urban farms have positive impacts on the environment, the economy, and the communities in which they operate. These effects are also often highly interlinked, with positive environmental and economic impacts, having trickle down effects on society as a whole. As issues such as food security, urban sprawl, and global warming continue to take centre stage, grass-roots solutions like urban agriculture movements will continue to provide a viable community-centric solution to some of the biggest challenges facing our cities today.