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Urban farming has grown by more than 30 percent in the United States in the past 30 years. Although it has been estimated that urban agriculture can meet 15 to 20 percent of global food demand, it remains to be seen what level of food self-sufficiency it can realistically ensure for cities.
One recent survey found that 51 countries do not have enough urban area to meet a recommended nutritional target of 300 grams per person per day of fresh vegetables. Moreover, it estimated, urban agriculture would require 30 percent of the total urban area of those countries to meet global demand for vegetables. Land tenure issues and urban sprawl could make it hard to free up this much land for food production.
Is urban farming a pipe dream, or can appropriating vacant lots for traditional farming or employing hydroponics make it work?
(Score: 2) by Phoenix666 on Thursday February 14 2019, @12:50AM (2 children)
Not all food crops need full sun.
There are operations in abandoned buildings that grow valuable crops like microgreens using artificial light. Many agricultural areas grow crops in greenhouses (hothouses) to extend the growing season; it's essentially the same thing.
Washington DC delenda est.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday February 14 2019, @02:15AM (1 child)
Greenhouses are about controlling temperature and humidity, they use natural light.
I guess you saw this article [gizmodo.com]? FarmedHere shut down two years ago. Electric bills too high.
Like, it's biologically possible to grow food indoors. Nobody is disputing that. It's just a bad idea.
Funny, isn't it, that mostly the same people that claim to want to reduce emissions from energy use want to take farming away from natural solar power and switch it to artificial light?
(Score: 2) by takyon on Thursday February 14 2019, @02:19AM
We can give it another shot when nuclear fusion comes online.
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