Comparing the carbon footprints of urban and conventional agriculture
January 22, 2024 | Nature Cities |
Introduction: Urban agriculture (UA) is seen as a key solution for creating sustainable urban food systems. In collaboration with European researchers, a US research team based in University of Michigan compared the environmental impact of UA to conventional agriculture across 73 sites in Europe and the United States.
Key findings: Results showed that UA produces six times more carbon emissions per serving compared to conventional farming. However, some UA crops and sites outperform conventional agriculture, suggesting ways to reduce climate impact. Recommendations include cultivating crops typically grown in greenhouses or air-freighted, prolonging UA infrastructure lifespan, and utilizing urban waste for inputs. Despite UA's higher carbon intensity, it offers social benefits like improved mental health and community building. Future research should explore strategies to mitigate UA's environmental impact while maximizing its social and nutritional benefits.
Figure | Infrastructure and carbon footprints at urban agriculture sites.
Viewed Articles
January 22, 2024 | Nature Cities |Introduction: Urban agriculture (UA) is seen as a key solution for creating sustainable urban food systems. In collaboration with European researchers, a US research
Read More
Introduction: Intensive rice production relies heavily on chemical fertilizers, particularly nitrogen (N), but substantial N losses through ammonia (NH₃) volatilization can reduce nitrogen-use efficie
Introduction: Agricultural fertilizer use is essential for maintaining crop productivity but is also an important source of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, particularly nitrous oxide (N₂O) associated
June 2023 | Journal of Environmental Management | Volume335Introduction: Agricultural land does not have to choose between producing food, generating renewable energy, and protecting biodiversity. Sch
August 2022 | Vehicles | Volume 4Introduction: Agriculture is under growing pressure to increase productivity while reducing greenhouse gas emissions, fossil fuel dependence, soil degradation, and lab
Introduction: Chemical fertilizers have been essential to boosting food production worldwide, but nutrients that crops fail to take up can be lost to the atmosphere or waterways, leading to greenhouse
