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Agronomy
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Enabling Urban Agriculture: Exploring the Mainstreaming of Global Urban Food...
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Enabling Urban Agriculture: Exploring the Mainstreaming of Global Urban Food Initiatives

A special issue of Agronomy (ISSN 2073-4395). This special issue belongs to the section "Farming Sustainability".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (15 January 2022) | Viewed by 20081

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Michael Hardman

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Science, Engineering & Environment, University of Salford, Salford M5 4WT, UK
Interests: urban agriculture; food security; green infrastructure; human geography; planning
Dr. Luke Beesley

E-Mail Website
Co-Guest Editor
The James Hutton Institute, Craigiebuckler, Aberdeen AB15 8QH, UK
Interests: soil contamination; waste recycling; technosoils; urban soils
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Interest in the concept of urban agriculture (UA) is at an all-time high, with governments, charities, the private sector, and a host of other actors investing in the concept. We are now seeing large-scale urban farms in cities, from Paris to New York and beyond. Yet despite this, models for upscaling and mainstreaming UA are in their infancy; projects often fail and the sector suffers in terms of long-term sustainability. Nevertheless, urban farmers are adapting to growing higher yields in cities, using hydroponics and other innovative solutions to ensure more sustainable models.

This Special Issue (SI) calls for more critical perspectives on radical UA in cities, through reflecting on innovative models, growth strategies, and other elements. We are also interested in papers that provide a critical lens on the practice, enabling other sites to reflect on barriers and learn lessons from pioneering projects. This interdisciplinary SI is relevant for agronomists and also social scientists, environmental scientists, planners, geographers, and other disciplinary areas. We hope to bring together an SI which provides a holistic critical exploration of UA and its potential to upscale and be mainstreamed.

Dr. Michael Hardman
Guest Editor
Dr. Luke Beesley
Co-Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Agronomy is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • urban agriculture
  • food security
  • community gardening
  • urban farming

Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

15 pages, 1206 KiB  
Article
Mainstreaming Urban Agriculture: Opportunities and Barriers to Upscaling City Farming
by Michael Hardman, Andrew Clark and Graeme Sherriff
Agronomy 2022, 12(3), 601; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/agronomy12030601 - 28 Feb 2022
Cited by 15 | Viewed by 4562
Abstract
Urban Agriculture (UA), i.e., the production of crops or rearing of livestock in cities, is growing in popularity. Upscaled UA is increasingly gaining support from policy makers, funders, local authorities and other key actors across the globe. Radical forms of the concept, in [...] Read more.
Urban Agriculture (UA), i.e., the production of crops or rearing of livestock in cities, is growing in popularity. Upscaled UA is increasingly gaining support from policy makers, funders, local authorities and other key actors across the globe. Radical forms of the concept, in the form of edible rooftops, urban farms and high-tech growing projects, are becoming more commonplace in our cityscapes; enabling production on a level not witnessed previously. With the mainstreaming of large-scale UA comes the potential to further the social, environmental and economic value of the practice, through job creation, biodiversity enhancement, the creation of short food supply chains and other benefits. Yet, despite this growth, there are barriers to upscaling city farming. Evidence suggests that a core issue surrounds urban soil contamination and hesitation with regards to crops in the city. This paper uses a qualitative approach to explore the UK’s largest urban farm and a spectrum of other UA sites to illustrate such barriers. We reveal how public hesitation, financial barriers and soil quality prevent development. We reflect on the breadth of the issue and call for a more pragmatic approach to these barriers. In doing so, we propose a path forward for enabling UA at scale. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Enabling Urban Agriculture: Exploring the Mainstreaming of Global Urban Food Initiatives)
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15 pages, 2046 KiB  
Article
Exercise, Urban Food Production, Preparation and Consumption: Implications, Benefits and Risks to Grow-Your-Own (GYO) Gardeners
by Jonathan Stubberfield, Mads Troldborg, Louise Ander, Neil Crout, Scott D. Young and Rupert L. Hough
Agronomy 2022, 12(1), 181; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/agronomy12010181 - 12 Jan 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2069
Abstract
This study is the first to consider, and estimate, the influence of gardening routines on exposures to both health benefits and health risks. This holistic approach helped to contrast the healthy lifestyle of gardening with health risks from exposures to potentially toxic elements [...] Read more.
This study is the first to consider, and estimate, the influence of gardening routines on exposures to both health benefits and health risks. This holistic approach helped to contrast the healthy lifestyle of gardening with health risks from exposures to potentially toxic elements such as Cd and Pb in urban environments. A total of 120 participants who grew their own produce in an urban setting were recruited to the study. A detailed questionnaire was developed that included sections on gardening activity, cultivation and consumption of produce, consumption of commercially grown produce, and other lifestyle factors. Administered alongside the questionnaire was the Short Form 36 (v2) as a standardised tool for measuring physical and mental health. Fruit and vegetable consumption was found to be correlated with the amount of gardening individuals did in autumn/winter and was greater than fruit and vegetable consumption, on average, in the UK general population. Levels of physical activity were also found to be higher in our study than regional averages, whilst BMI was lower than average. This is the first study to find a relationship between gardening more regularly (in autumn/winter) and the physical component of the Short Form 36, and this relationship was elevated compared to non-gardening populations. The physical component scores from this study were also significantly higher for older participants, compared to means from a Western population. This finding supports studies suggesting that gardening may be more beneficial for the elderly generation. These benefits were assessed in the context of potential exposures estimated from the type and frequency of produce being consumed. The benefit of maintaining a healthy lifestyle is likely to outweigh the health risks of gardening on soils mildly contaminated with Cd and Pb but requires formal consideration within a risk management framework. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Enabling Urban Agriculture: Exploring the Mainstreaming of Global Urban Food Initiatives)
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15 pages, 5118 KiB  
Article
Potential Toxic Elements Accumulation in Several Food Species Grown in Urban and Rural Gardens Subjected to Different Conditions
by Sabina Rossini-Oliva and Rafael López-Núñez
Agronomy 2021, 11(11), 2151; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/agronomy11112151 - 26 Oct 2021
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1862
Abstract
Urban agriculture increased in Seville (South Spain) in the last 20 years and play different roles in the urban context. Edible species can be contaminated by soil and airborne contamination leading to health risks. Samples of different crop and fruit species and their [...] Read more.
Urban agriculture increased in Seville (South Spain) in the last 20 years and play different roles in the urban context. Edible species can be contaminated by soil and airborne contamination leading to health risks. Samples of different crop and fruit species and their soils were collected in urban and rural gardens, including urban gardens from a mining area to investigate the potential contamination in food and soils. Results show that soils from mining gardens were the most contaminated. In the city, crops were generally not more contaminated those in the rural area. Most differences were observed between species, chard and lettuce were the species that reached the highest level of most elements’ accumulation and fruits always had lower metal accumulation than leafy vegetables. Arsenic, Cd, and Pb concentrations did not exceed the FAO/HWO and European legal maximum levels for vegetables studied, so their consumption would be safe for human health. The concentration of Cr, Cu, Mn, and Ni can be considered in the range cited in the bibliography. Special attention should be paid for leafy green vegetables (lettuce and chard) since high values of Ba and Zn were found, up to 42 and 123 mg kg−1, respectively, and the risk to human health associated with consuming these species should be studied. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Enabling Urban Agriculture: Exploring the Mainstreaming of Global Urban Food Initiatives)
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16 pages, 891 KiB  
Article
How Young Consumers Perceive Vertical Farming in the Nordics. Is the Market Ready for the Coming Boom?
by Linthujan Perambalam, Dafni D. Avgoustaki, Aspasia Efthimiadou, Yongming Liu, Ying Wang, Maozhi Ren, Antonios Petridis and George Xydis
Agronomy 2021, 11(11), 2128; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/agronomy11112128 - 24 Oct 2021
Cited by 17 | Viewed by 4624
Abstract
Producing food via vertical farming (VF) is an efficient method since it requires less space with increased yield per unit area. Such a system can assist in solving major food-shortage problems since it presents a higher crop yield per unit area compared to [...] Read more.
Producing food via vertical farming (VF) is an efficient method since it requires less space with increased yield per unit area. Such a system can assist in solving major food-shortage problems since it presents a higher crop yield per unit area compared to conventional farming. Thus, VF can be seen as a production method that can cope with the challenge of the constantly growing population, making it also possible to cultivate crops in regions with adverse climate conditions. However, the public might be concerned about the sustainability of VF systems since plants are produced in an unconventional setting. Therefore, there is a need to consider and evaluate the consumers’ acceptance of VF. The particular study attempts to both analyse consumer acceptance of VF in the Nordic areas and offer insights into VF acceptance among young customers in a comparative analysis. The results indicated that VF is not widely accepted by young Nordic consumers. The concept of sustainability is one of the principles driving forces behind consumer acceptance of vertical farms. The more cases of vertical farms in European cities, the better seems to be the level of acceptance among young customers and their willingness to purchase their products. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Enabling Urban Agriculture: Exploring the Mainstreaming of Global Urban Food Initiatives)
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13 pages, 627 KiB  
Article
Does Small-Scale Organic Farming Contribute to the Local Environment—A Case Study in Suburban Shanghai, China
by Reija Hietala, Pingyang Liu and Shengxin Qi
Agronomy 2021, 11(8), 1601; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/agronomy11081601 - 12 Aug 2021
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 3322
Abstract
Small-scale organic farming is developing rapidly in China, especially in suburbs of megacities, and enriches the connotation of urban agriculture–. Much attention has been paid to the socio-economic aspects of small-scale organic farming and takes for granted that it contributes to the local [...] Read more.
Small-scale organic farming is developing rapidly in China, especially in suburbs of megacities, and enriches the connotation of urban agriculture–. Much attention has been paid to the socio-economic aspects of small-scale organic farming and takes for granted that it contributes to the local environment and the sustainable agriculture while little has been explored regarding its actual environmental contributions and associated influencing factors, especially in those rapid developing suburb areas. Based on the case study of three small-scale organic farms in the suburbs of Shanghai, we examined uncertificated organic farming practices, focusing on the farm diversity, fertilization and pest control without chemical inputs, and the restoration of biosystems. Potential of environmental contributions were evaluated from the production perspective of input reductions. It was found that such uncertificated small-scale organic farming does contribute to the local water environment, helping improve soil quality, and gradual recovery of farm biodiversity. However, all the environmental benefits are fragile and highly dependent on the profit availability and professional knowledge of the farm as well as the availability of policy supports. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Enabling Urban Agriculture: Exploring the Mainstreaming of Global Urban Food Initiatives)
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12 pages, 1508 KiB  
Article
A Geochemical and Agronomic Evaluation of Technosols Made from Construction and Demolition Fines Mixed with Green Waste Compost
by Malcolm Coull, Benjamin Butler, Rupert Hough and Luke Beesley
Agronomy 2021, 11(4), 649; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/agronomy11040649 - 29 Mar 2021
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2505
Abstract
Construction and demolition fines (C&D-fines) and green waste compost (GWC) are two commonly generated urban waste materials that represent repositories of geochemical value. Here technosols were produced from volumetric mixtures of these materials ranging from 0–100% C&D-fines, with the remaining proportion comprised of [...] Read more.
Construction and demolition fines (C&D-fines) and green waste compost (GWC) are two commonly generated urban waste materials that represent repositories of geochemical value. Here technosols were produced from volumetric mixtures of these materials ranging from 0–100% C&D-fines, with the remaining proportion comprised of GWC. Agronomic assessment was carried out by way of pot and rhizobox plant growth experiments with ryegrass, barley and pea to determine germination, plant mass and rooting behaviours. Geochemical and mineralogical evaluation was achieved by soil pore water solution measurements combined with X-ray powder diffraction analyses respectively, to characterise the technosols and their distinct deviations from a reference agricultural geogenic soil (soil). The results demonstrated that germination, growth and root mass/surface area of vegetation were up to 80-fold greater after 30-days in the technosol composed of equal volumes of the two materials (50% C&D-fines: 50% GWC) compared to the soil. High concentrations of Ca and Mg in pore waters (550–800 mg·L−1) were dominant features of the technosols, in contrast to the soil (<50 mg·L−1), resulting from gypsum and calcite enrichment of the C&D-fines. In contrast, the GWC represented a source of soluble K (450–1000·mg·L−1). Highly elevated Ca concentrations in extended leaching tests of the C&D-fines reflected ongoing gypsum dissolution, whereas soluble Mg and K were rapidly depleted from the GWC. In summary, short-term performance of the technosols as plant growth substrates was strong despite their geochemical and mineralogical distinction from soil. Gleaning additional geochemical value from combining urban wastes in this way is potentially suited to myriad scenarios where geogenic soils are contaminated, sealed or otherwise absent. Further assessment will now be needed to determine the geochemical longevity of the technosols before wider scale applications can be recommended. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Enabling Urban Agriculture: Exploring the Mainstreaming of Global Urban Food Initiatives)
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