New technologies for urban vegetable production

As urban population continues to expand and resources such as arable land, water, and nutrients diminish, there is a growing interest in exploring alternative forms of agriculture that prove viable in urban settings. Urban agriculture emerges as a promising avenue for enhancing food and nutrition security within cities, while also promoting local and circular economies, social integration, and environmental sustainability. Across different regions of the world, a variety of urban farming systems have emerged, each tailored to the local and unique socio-economic context, infrastructure, and environmental circumstances. These systems exhibit varying degrees of technological sophistication, reflecting the multifaceted needs and challenges faced by urban communities globally. This paper summarizes the highlights and key findings of a workshop jointly organized by the International Society for Horticultural Science (ISHS) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), held during the 5th All Africa Horticultural Congress on February 27, 2024, in Marrakech, Morocco. The workshop aimed at exploring available technological solutions for vegetable crop production in urban environments across Africa and elucidate the role of urban production in driving the transformation of urban and city region food systems. Targeted participants included urban farming entrepreneurs, horticulturists, technology suppliers, practitioners engaged in urban food systems, investors, policymakers, developers, and researchers. The workshop was attended by around 150 participants and animated a fruitful discussion and exchange on the potential of the technology across different African contexts.