(PDF) A Capillary, Noncirculating Hydroponic Metho...
There is increased interest in urban agriculture in recent years that has emerged for many reasons. Some are concerned about food security, sovereignty, and impacts of agriculture on the environment. Some see new business opportunities for urban food operations, utilizing new technologies such as hydroponics and high-efficiency lighting systems. Others see urban farms and community gardens as mechanisms for community building, or as means of improving the nutritional security of vulnerable populations. In truth, urban agriculture is not at all new. In the Global North, urban agriculture was vigorously promoted during the First and SecondWorldWars, and it provided considerable volumes of food at that time. In the Global South, urban agriculture has long been a significant component of food systems. We consider both historical and geographic perspectives of urban agriculture and also consider urban agriculture in terms of its effects on environmental, economic, and social sustainability. Urban farms and community gardens can have both positive and negative environmental impacts. They can, for example, either reduce or increase energy consumption, improve water infiltration, and beautify neighborhoods, or produce odors and contaminate water. The most significant environmental issue for urban farms, however, is food safety. Land in the urban environment can be contaminated with many pollutants, including lead and a range of toxic hydrocarbons, and water may be contaminated with human pathogens. Particular care should be taken if urban agriculture is being considered as a mechanism for remediation of brownfields. Urban farms are viewed by many to deliver economic and social benefits, although some people see them as an inappropriate land use and a hindrance to progress. We consider urban agriculture to be broadly progressive and capable of delivering a suite of environmental, economic, and social benefits. We urge city planners and urban farm managers to be diligent in developing urban agriculture systems that deliver the greatest possible benefits while mitigating risks.
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