of urban agriculture in mainstream spatial
planning, and guide cities towards the
creation of demarcated zones for urban
agricultural production. When urban
agriculture is formalised as a land use,
it has the potential to change the entire
urban and agricultural landscape, increase
access to healthy food options in urban
areas, and mitigate the environmental
impact of feeding the world.
Although urban agriculture might not be
the only solution to solving food security
across the world, it is certainly part of the
solution to feed the 70% of urban poor
households in South Africa, adding to
the development of sustainable,
socially inclusive, food-secure and
environmentally healthy cities.
▪FWand transportation options. From an
agricultural perspective, accessibility and
choice pertain to options to ensure food
security within the contemporary city.
Agricultural technologies and smart
data and analytics are set to increase food
production within cities. They will also
help meet the ever-growing global demand
and logistical distribution of food without
further disturbing the urban environment.
This smart city solution is encapsulated
in the notion of urban agriculture.
GROW FOOD IN PLACES WHERE
IT WAS PREVIOUSLY IMPOSSIBLE
Urban agriculture offers innovative,
sustainable solutions to the improvement of
food security in cities, and simultaneously
assists with mitigating the environmental
challenges faced by cities. Urban
agriculture can be as simple as small,
outdoor community, rooftop and backyard
gardens, or as complex as indoor vertical
farms with nutrient-enriched water and
UV lighting to mimic the effects of the
sun. New technologies enable food to be
grown in places where it was previously
difficult or impossible, making urban
agriculture a viable option for cities
where space is limited.
Although not all crops can be
grown indoors, urban agriculture
has the potential to become a
dynamic economic sector
that can quickly
adapt to changing
urban conditions
and demands,
diversifying the
functions of the city.
Urban agriculture
makes it possible
to produce fresh,
nutritious food
with low carbon
and water footprints,
while conserving land,
reducing emissions and
waste, and providing healthy,
affordable, accessible food
to a city’s poorest residents.
It is, therefore, not surprising
that a growing number of
cities worldwide have already
designed policies and
programmes to include
urban agriculture as part
of city planning. Perhaps
South Africa, too, should
consider the integration
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