The case for urban agriculture: Opportunities for sustainable development

This review examines the potential role of urban agriculture – the practice of farming within and around cities and densely populated areas – in addressing the pressing challenge of sustainable development, correlated to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). As a set of 17 interconnected goals designed to guide action towards a sustainable and equitable future, the SDGs represent a call to action for all countries and highlight the most pressing challenges and opportunities of today. In recognising that the function and impacts of sustainably and equitably feeding the world’s population are inherent to many of the goals, an interrogation of literature about food supply from within the urban environment (where most people live) has been conducted to support the research aim of considering urban agriculture as a strategy to help achieve urban sustainability and resilience goals. Through a narrative review approach this novel investigation extends beyond the constraints of narrow SDG-centric literature to sustainable development more broadly, finding that urban agriculture is highly valued for its ability to strengthen local food systems and its ecosystem service contributions to urban sustainability, along with socio-cultural attributes. This review depicts practices, highlights multifarious benefits, and features potential perverse outcomes and considerations; in the process identifying that the strongest and deepest connections between urban agriculture and sustainable development are with three specific goals: SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), and SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production). Accordingly, the insights gleaned from this narrative review have been structured to reflect the connections with these three SDGs and related to the human- and systems-centric themes of People and Planet . Overall, sensitively applied urban agriculture can strengthen food security, reduce the overall impact of cities, and contribute to the circularity of production and consumption systems, helping to achieve global sustainable development aims. • Urban agriculture is a highly accessible farming system that can contribute to multiple Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) • The potential role of urban agriculture is explored from the critical perspectives of People and Planet . • Urban agriculture helps achieve sustainable development aims by addressing multifaceted needs in an integrated manner. • Sensitively applied it can reduce the environmental impact of cities whilst strengthening food security and resilience. • Recognised benefits and potential perverse outcomes need to be carefully balanced.