Today, about a fifth of the world’s total is grown in urban areas. This is a significant piece of statistics by all means. The U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization says that urban agriculture supplies roughly a quarter of the global urban population, up to 700 million city dwellers. City farms are seen as a transforming approach that’s being widely adopted by scores of people from all over the world. There are agricultural projects cropping up in major cities around the world. In this article, we take a look at the world’s top city farms.
Food Field in Detroit, Michigan
Food Field is a city farm that was built on a unique site. The farm supports community-supported farming that provides abundant food supply as well as economic benefits to the neighborhood in which it’s been set up. Originally, the firm was the aged site of an elementary school. Alex Bryan and Noah Link started Peak Produce, LLC in 2011 and revitalized the area into a farm. Their goal? To establish an alternative to the to the conventional, corporate food system. The farm grows what the local community is asking for, from mulberries to salad greens. Community members are also able to volunteer at the firm. In the future, the project hopes to start an aquaponics program that will allow them to raise fish such as bluegill and catfish.
FARM:shop in London, UK
London’s Dalston’s FARM is a self-proclaimed pilot ‘urban farming hub’. It offers workspaces, small-scale farming endeavors, and a café for local residents. It was launched in 2001 by a successful eco-social design firm. FARM:shop, as it’s officially known, is a good example of thriving urban agriculture. Before the project commenced, the area used to host a neglected storefront. Today, the space is now full with high-tech indoor allotment, small-scale aquaponics fish farming, and a Polytunnel. The goal of the project was to demonstrate that it’s possible to grow food without needed acres of land. The next milestone for the establishment is to construct a massive rooftop farm where vegetables will be grown and fish raised in eco-friendly ways.
Singapore’s Sky Greens
In a small country where local produce only makes up about 7% of the consumption, Singapore’s Sky Greens farm has been a breakthrough city farming project. Founded by Jack Ng, the vertical farming at this location is an efficient and environmentally sound solution. Indeed, the project happens to be the world’s first-ever (low carbon) hydraulic water-driven city farm that diminishes the levels of energy and amount of land needed for conventional farming approaches. Produce from Sky Greens, despite being a premium good, is sold competitively at grocery stores in the country. Considered that Singapore imports most of its food from Indonesia, China, Europe and the U.S., Sky Greens is an example-setter regarding approaches that could be used to feed an ever-growing population.
Texas Distributed Urban Farming Initiative
Located in Bryan, Texas, this is a significant urban farming endeavor that was launched to transform empty lots. The project’s goal was to inspire residents to consume healthy food encourage both tourism and entrepreneurship. Abbreviated as DUFI, the firm was able to grow cabbage, broccoli, lettuce and cauliflower in pallet and raised bed gardens during the past winter. The project promotes a healthier community and employs garden spaces for field trips and events. This has been a great way to reconnect the community with their food system.
Sharing Backyards in Canada, New Zealand, and the U.S
This initiative has been providing a solution for individuals who don’t have land but still want to locally grow their own foodstuffs. Through its website, the project asks this group of people to take advantage of unused yard space. People who have unutilized property can share their location, and others who are looking for space can search nearby location at no cost. The project has made maintaining a community garden easier and more collaborative.
These five projects are just an example of what can be done. More cities and urban jurisdictions around the world are launching major farming initiatives with the goal of tapping into the ample benefits of urban farming.
Leave a Reply