Neither environmental gains nor nutritional gains, the finding is bitter for urban agriculture

A study in New York City has shown that commercial urban agriculture, often touted as the revolutionary idea for the future of food, brings few environmental gains and does not really improve urban food security.


Urban agriculture or controlled-environment agriculture (CEA) has grown significantly in New York City covering 3.09 acres. With the theoretical benefits of bringing agriculture closer to urban populations, increasing food security and improving the environmental footprint of agriculture by reducing emissions associated with food production and transportation.


Researchers wanted to examine whether these benefits corresponded to reality by studying 10 farms that produce vegetables grown on rooftops and inside buildings. While rooftop farms benefit from natural light, they use high-tech systems that drive up energy costs as well as indoor farms that use artificial lights.


These farms produce leafy vegetables such as lettuce and herbs. Sold in high-end stores, these products are not of great nutritional value to the urban population, especially those who are threatened by food insecurity.


For researchers, urban agriculture would be optimal in places where it takes less heat and more light to grow food. There is also a need to think more about the nutritional value of the products grown.

source : anthropocenemagazine.org