CityLab Daily: Cities Test the Limits of Urban Farming

The majority of all food produced globally is consumed in urban areas, but getting meals to the table comes with a costly environmental toll. Food miles, or the distance from farm to plate, account for a fifth of all food-related emissions, prompting some to make the case that agriculture should be based in and around cities.

Different types of urban farms have already begun sprouting up in places like Paris and Barcelona, from vertical farming and open-air rooftops to edible walls and indoor greenhouses. Resiliency experts, meanwhile, are working to restore agricultural activity at the edges of cities. But questions remain about whether these efforts can be scaled up to combat food insecurity, while also delivering genuine environmental benefits. Contributor Peter Yeung reports today on CityLab: Can a City Feed Itself?