Urban Agriculture: An Approach Towards Creating Sustainable Smart Cities: A Review

Abstract

The global food system is projected to experience increasing challenges over the years due to rising population and per capita consumption. Rapid population growth magnifies the effects of climate change by depleting resources and increasing exposure to climate-related risks, especially in urban areas with limited resources. Urban poor people have been proven to be more vulnerable to rising global food issues, climatic changes and unemployment rates due to unique elements of their urban life. Cities that deal with multiple urbanization challenges ultimately develop an urban sprawl which has detrimental effects on the economy, society and environment. Here comes the prevalence of urban agriculture as a form of modern agriculture that places an emphasis on its numerous goals in ensuring food security, maintaining urban ecosystem services and enhancing urban living standards. Urban green spaces are universally acknowledged as a nature-based solution that promotes social cohesion, healthy living and climate change mitigation and adaptation. Urban agriculture benefits a community in a variety of ways, from providing food and nutritional security, economic and environmental benefits and even modifying a city’s urban form.