Agriculture in urban and peri-urban areas

The development of urban and peri-urban agriculture, as well as enhancing local markets, can be encouraged through the following:

• Set organic waste bans that prohibit food waste from being sent to landfills, encouraging retailers and other downstream supply chain actors to reduce their food waste. Legislation could require the distribution of unsold edible food to charities. A more moderate policy option would be to disincentivize waste by instituting landfill tipping fees.
• Set up a regulatory framework allowing the practice of urban and peri-urban agriculture. The regulation should be consulted with the community, academia and business, to meet local necessities and priorities, as well as to provide long-term legal certainty. In addition, it should regulate land management practices for home, community, institutional and commercial activities.
• Develop zoning for urban agriculture and the cluster of activities relevant to food production, distribution and consumption. Include specific ecosystem provisions and a well-balanced zooning / spatial approach for biodiversity-friendly practices in urban agriculture zoning, such as mandating native plant corridors, pollinator-friendly spaces, and green infrastructure.
• Increase responsible investments in food system technologies, infrastructure, services, logistics, and supply chains, especially focused on creating benefits in areas with prevalent multidimensional poverty.
• Develop systems for sustainable circular sanitation, with the potential for re-using adequately treated wastewater or greywater for peri-urban or urban agriculture.
• Create a circular food production plan to transform food and urban agricultural waste into by-products ranging from biomaterials (like compost) to bioenergy. See Building circular food systems in cities.
• Prioritize the protection and sustainable use of wetlands, flood zones, and steep slopes for urban and peri-urban agricultural projects in urban planning
• Provide inclusive training programmes on urban agriculture for local food producers and communities through local education institutions.
• Offer property tax exemptions for lands or buildings that establish urban food gardens, community-supported agriculture or similar models.
• Scale up community gardens and allotments (i.e. public or community-owned land primarily used to grow food), or “edible cities” initiatives that integrate sustainable food production into urban landscapes. This will allow communities to participate in the food production process and raise awareness about good consumption practices.
• Improve the hygienic and sanitary conditions of local markets, including farmers’ markets, to ensure food safety and increase community support. In addition, provide urban farmers equitable access to trade their produce in such markets.
• Support advertising and publicity of local food markets to inform the public of when and where they take place, and support complementary activities (e.g. eating out in local markets and advertising through local tourism boards).
• Implement demand-side policy actions, such as a public procurement program of locally produced food for public institutions to ensure demand for local products. See Integrating healthy and sustainable diets in public procurement.
• Embrace agroecological principles and nature-positive practices as a foundation for building integrated ecosystem services that enhance resilience and deliver multiple benefits to both nature and society within urban and peri-urban farming systems, e.g. for populations of pollinators and other beneficial insects.
• Incorporating fish farming into urban gardening through the implementation of (semi-)closed water cycles that support fish cultivation, integrated with hydroponic crop production (aquaponics) enhances resource efficiency by utilizing fish waste as natural fertilizer and promoting diversified food production.
• Encourage the cultivation of diverse native plant species and the creation of wildlife-friendly habitats within community gardens, as local and traditional foods (LTFs) and neglected and underutilized species (NUS) play a vital role in promoting demand for food products sourced from biodiverse landscape. These practices not only support dietary diversity for rural and peri-urban consumers but also help increase the disposable incomes of smallholder farmers, have a strong potential to improve access and healthy diets for low-income households and boost the physical and mental health and wellbeing of users.

Advancing urban and peri-urban agriculture requires effective governance frameworks that enhance institutional capacity, enabling the development of resilient and sustainable food systems in rapidly urbanizing environments:

• Establish a coordination mechanism between local authorities, urban food producers, local food markets, supermarkets, restaurants and food banks.
• Include urban and peri-urban agriculture in local development plans and budgets to articulate different government levels and ensure enough funding for specific activities, such as maintenance of green productive areas.
• Adopt territorial approaches for regional development and food system planning, including in local markets and agroecology, that strengthen equitable market connections and regional trade to build opportunities for local small-scale producers and benefit consumers.
• Encourage and support initiatives such as community gardens, community-supported agriculture etc. that foster sustainable urban and peri-urban agriculture and link producers and consumers directly.
• Assess local capabilities, potentials and risks of urban and peri-urban agriculture, as well as local markets, which serves as evidence-based guidance to design and implement concrete policy actions.
• Implement social organization principles such as fairness, which considers participation, power relations and reflects context-specific needs.
• Ensuring that urban food production is properly addressed in local zoning plans reducing restrictions on urban and peri-urban agricultural uses.
• Support dignified and robust livelihoods for all actors engaged in food systems, especially small-scale food producers, based on fair trade, fair employment and fair treatment of intellectual property rights.

Key tools and guides to support the successful implementation of agriculture in urban and peri-urban areas can include:

Tools

Guides

Urban and peri-urban agriculture provides multifaceted benefits across environmental, economic, and social dimensions. In addition to mitigation benefits, these contributions align with and support the objectives of the UAE Framework for Global Climate Resilience, the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KM-GBF), and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Climate change mitigation benefits

Building urban and peri-urban agriculture and local markets increases green spaces in urban settlements and hence sequesters GHG emissions; these markets also shorten food supply chains resulting in a net reduction of GHG emissions from supply chains.

• Urban and peri-urban agriculture influences changes in food consumption towards lower carbon footprint products. It has the potential to reduce 205kg CO2eq per year per capita when policies address dietary patterns, food origin and mobility behavior.
• Shorter food supply chains result in a reduction of emissions associated with transport, cooling and packing.
• See Implementing nature-positive food production practices and Sequestering carbon in soil and enhancing soil health in crop systems for information on agricultural practices with mitigation benefits.

Climate change adaptation benefits

Agriculture in urban and peri-urban areas can directly contribute to the following targets under the UAE Framework for Global Climate Resilience:

• Target 9a (Water & Sanitation): Urban agriculture often relies on innovative water management techniques such as rainwater harvesting, drip irrigation, and greywater recycling. These methods promote efficient water use and help cities adapt to water scarcity. Additionally, composting and organic waste recycling in urban farms can reduce pressure on sanitation systems and promote circular resource use.
• Target 9b (Food & Agriculture): Urban and peri-urban agriculture increases local food production, making cities less dependent on long supply chains that are vulnerable to climate shocks. By promoting community gardens, rooftop farms, and local food markets, cities can ensure a steady supply of fresh produce, improve food security, and reduce the carbon footprint associated with food transportation. This also encourages the adoption of climate-smart agricultural practices, improving resilience to extreme weather events.
• Target 9d (Ecosystems): Integrating agriculture into urban environments can enhance biodiversity by creating green spaces that serve as habitats for pollinators and other wildlife. Urban farms can use sustainable practices that reduce pesticide and fertilizer runoff, protecting local waterways and supporting ecosystem health.
• Target 9e (Infrastructure): Urban agriculture can be integrated into city infrastructure-such as rooftops, vacant lots, and vertical gardens-making productive use of underutilized spaces. This not only increases food production but also improves stormwater management, reduces flooding risks, and contributes to greener, more resilient urban infrastructure.
• Target 9f (Livelihoods): Expanding urban and peri-urban agriculture can create new job opportunities in farming, distribution, agri-tech, and food retail. It can support smallholder farmers, entrepreneurs, and marginalized groups, providing alternative sources of income and strengthening local economies.

Biodiversity benefits

Urban food systems and accessible food markets can help to deliver on several KM-GBF targets, particularly:

• Target 1 (Plan and Manage all Areas To Reduce Biodiversity Loss): Urban agriculture can be integrated into comprehensive spatial planning strategies, contributing to the target’s goal of ensuring that all areas are under biodiversity-inclusive spatial planning. By incorporating urban and peri-urban agriculture into city development plans, this policy supports the creation of multifunctional landscapes that balance human need for housing, jobs and recreation, with food production and biodiversity conservation. Furthermore, integrating urban agriculture into spatial planning can enhance the overall ecological connectivity of cities and surrounding areas, providing habitats for various species and contributing to the “spill over” of biodiversity across urban areas.
• Target 2 (Restore 30% of all Degraded Ecosystems): Rapid degradation of peri-urban ecosystems is resulting in a loss of associated ecosystem services. Water provision, storm- and waste-water regulation, along with protection from natural disasters and erosion, are the impacted services that most acutely affect poor or vulnerable populations. Conventional ecological restoration practices may not be suitable to urban and peri-urban landscapes due to pronounced fragmentation of restoration patches and other disturbances inherent to cities. In this context, urban and peri-urban agriculture – if in line with agroecological principles and approaches – can represent a sound restoration strategy for resilient cities and communities.
• Target 7 (Reduce Pollution to Levels That Are Not Harmful to Biodiversity): Urban and peri-urban agriculture often employ small-scale, low-intensity farming methods that are less reliant on pesticides and fertilizers, which therefore reduce pollution of soil and water, and minimize harmful chemical use in food production. Local food markets reduce pollution associated with long-distance food transportation (e.g. air pollution from fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions from vehicles). By shortening supply chains and making them more climate-resilient and nutrition-sensitive, these markets help decrease the environmental footprint of and risks in food distribution. Repurposing agricultural subsidies (e.g. food pricing, food labelling, and certification) to support these sustainable urban farming practices can accelerate the shift toward environmentally friendly food systems and reduce incentives for polluting, high-input agriculture.
• Target 10 (Enhance Biodiversity and Sustainability in Agriculture, Aquaculture, Fisheries, and Forestry): When urban agriculture embraces the principles of agroecology and implements nature-positive practices, it does not rely excessively on chemical inputs and the use of pesticides is substantially reduced, which ultimately contributes to preserve and restore urban biodiversity. These systems also support climate resilience by integrating green infrastructure into urban settings. In addition, the establishment of local food markets provide a platform for small-scale farmers to sell their produce directly to consumers, in a farm-to-fork setup. This can facilitate the establishment and commercial viability of sustainable, small-scale production systems in urban and peri-urban areas, while increasing the availability of and access to healthy foods for urban populations.
• Target 11 (Restore, Maintain, and Enhance Nature’s Contributions to People): Urban agricultural spaces act as micro-habitats for various species, offering refuge for native flora and fauna in urban environments. In fact, urban farms and gardens provide a range of ecosystem services such as food production, climate regulation, and pollination while also improving human well-being by increasing access to fresh and nutritious food, and to green spaces, which also provide cultural and recreational services for residents in urban and peri-urban areas.
• Target 12 (Enhance Green Spaces and Urban Planning for Human Well-Being and Biodiversity): Urban and peri-urban agriculture represents a key element of this Target, and it contributes to sustainable urbanization, enhances ecosystem services, and bolsters the resilience of urban ecosystems. Urban green spaces, including community gardens and urban farms, not only increase access to fresh, nutritious food, but also provide opportunities for physical activity, stress reduction, and social interaction, collectively contributing to improved physical and mental health outcomes for people. Urban and peri-urban agriculture, often closely linked to local food markets, can transform unused urban land into productive green spaces which can deliver multiple ecosystem services. Additionally, these initiatives can serve as educational hubs, increasing food literacy and encouraging more sustainable behaviors among urban residents.
• Target 16 (Enable Sustainable Consumption Choices To Reduce Waste and Overconsumption): By promoting sustainable consumption patterns through local food markets this policy option can reduce the environmental impact of food consumption, including reducing food miles and packaging waste. Local food markets encourage consumers to make more sustainable food choices, supporting the target’s goal of ensuring that people are encouraged and enabled to make responsible choices. Urban farms can help manage organic waste through composting, reducing the overall waste output of cities and urban agriculture and local food markets can also contribute to reducing food waste, as shorter supply chains often result in fresher produce with longer shelf lives.
• Target 21 (Ensure That Knowledge Is Available and Accessible To Guide Biodiversity Action): Urban and peri-urban agriculture can significantly contribute to biodiversity knowledge and decision-making by serving as living laboratories for ecological research and education. These sites provide opportunities for monitoring local biodiversity, studying ecosystem services, and developing sustainable farming practices. These spaces allow for the collection of valuable data on urban ecosystems, which can inform policy decisions and management strategies. Additionally, urban agriculture initiatives often involve local communities, including Indigenous groups, fostering the diffusion of traditional ecological knowledge across urban and per-urban residents.

Other sustainable development benefits

Urban and peri-urban agriculture, and local markets, have a positive impact on the following SDGs:

• SDG 1 (No Poverty): Urban agriculture reduces poverty by generating income, creating jobs through local food value chains, improving access to nutritious food, and enhancing food security for low-income urban households. It also fosters skills development and economic inclusion, helping vulnerable populations build sustainable livelihoods.
• SDG 2 (Zero Hunger): Urban agriculture enhances local food production, reducing reliance on global supply chains and avoiding related transport, storage, and logistical challenges. By improving access to fresh, nutritious, and more nutrient-dense foods like fruits and vegetables, it supports low-income communities and contributes to dietary diversification. Furthermore, integrating urban agriculture with city infrastructure can make it more cost-effective, further enhancing food security and resilience in urban areas where fresh produce is often limited.
• SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-Being): Human well-being benefits through urban farming by reducing stress and encouraging social interaction, particularly in areas with limited green spaces, as well as through improved nutrition and enhanced air quality.
• SDG 4 (Quality Education): Communal urban farming supports quality education by providing hands-on learning experiences where participants develop practical skills and knowledge. It fosters peer-to-peer learning and raises awareness of important topics such as climate change, sustainable land use, and environmental stewardship, enriching educational outcomes beyond the classroom.
• SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation): Urban agriculture like rooftop farming can support clean water and sanitation goals by rainwater harvesting, wastewater reuse, and reducing water demand for irrigation, e.g. through using collected rainwater to meet irrigation needs. These activities improve water-use efficiency and promote sustainable management of water resources.
• SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure): Urban agriculture supports sustainable, resilient infrastructure by integrating with green systems and advances inclusive, sustainable industrialization through modern farming techniques and technologies that boost production in limited spaces.
• SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities): By fostering community development, reducing social exclusion, offering alternative urban lifestyles, enhancing social cohesion, and encouraging active civic participation, urban agriculture promotes social, economic, and political inclusion.
• SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities): Urban agriculture contributes to sustainable cities by integrating green spaces within urban areas, creating open spaces around housing that improve design and living standards. Community gardens serve as inclusive, accessible green hubs that encourage social engagement and enhance residents’ overall well-being.
• SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production): By converting waste and unused land into green spaces, urban agriculture promotes ecosystem services and climate regulation. Adopting sustainable practices reduces chemical use and waste, conserves natural resources, lowers food miles, minimizes food waste, and improves soil fertility through composting.
• SDG 13 (Climate Action): The adoption of sustainable agriculture practices in urban farming, such as nature-based solutions and agroforestry techniques, enhances terrestrial carbon storage and soil carbon sequestration, contributing to climate change mitigation efforts.
• SDG 15 (Life on Land): Urban and peri-urban agriculture supports biodiversity by providing habitats and delivering ecosystem services, such as noise reduction and improved air quality. Through soil enrichment and land restoration, it helps combat desertification and contributes to the preservation of urban forests, promoting the conservation and sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems.
• SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals): The rise of ecological urban planning, known as eco-tech cities, integrates increased use of information and communication technologies aimed at promoting sustainable lifestyles and supporting green infrastructure like urban agriculture for all, thereby helping foster broad collaboration for common goals.

The success of agriculture projects in urban and peri-urban areas depends on thoughtful design and effective implementation, both of which can be constrained by a range of technical and non-technical challenges, including:

• Absence of urban and peri-urban agriculture in local development plans to ensure funding for planning and implementation of actions over time.
• Potential disputes concerning land ownership and tenure rights between landowners and land users.
• Economic barriers for local markets to (i) guarantee healthy products and (ii) compete with large companies able to offer lower product prices.
• Competition with other land uses in urban areas.
• Uncertainties around the environmental performance of urban agriculture, when compared to conventional agriculture.

Integrating the following measures into a well-rounded and strategic approach to urban and peri-urban agriculture can help mitigate trade-offs and address key implementation challenges:

• Implement governance structure using inclusive multi-stakeholder approaches to promote broad support of the community and relevant actors.
• Establish a robust regulatory framework clarifying land ownership and tenure rights, as well as land use.
• Set up a community-led negotiation process to help solve any dispute amicably.
• Invest in improving the sanitary and hygienic conditions of local markets so that this economic burden is not borne by urban farmers and local traders.
• Discourage use of synthetic fertilizers and encourage nature-positive food production. See Implementing nature-positive food production practices.
• Distribute spaces in land-use planning instruments in a manner that different land uses can coexist.

Effective monitoring and evaluation of urban and peri-urban agriculture initiatives require reliable tools, well-defined indicators, and integrated frameworks to track implementation progress and assess outcomes, including those related to biodiversity and climate action.

Indicators to monitor biodiversity outcomes

The Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity agreed to a comprehensive set of headline, component, and complementary indicators for tracking progress toward the targets of the KM-GBF. Some of these indicators could also be functional for monitoring the implementation of this policy option, including:

Tools to monitor biodiversity outcomes

Tools to monitor climate outcomes

The cost of this policy strategy and particular projects varies in accordance with their scope. However, policymakers and the community should take a holistic approach to the financial costs and socio-economic and environmental benefits of urban food systems.

Some working examples of interventions regarding agriculture in urban and peri-urban areas in the global context include:

• Belo Horizonte in Brazil has been promoting urban agriculture since 1993 through land-use plans and food security programs.
• Land banks and property tax exemptions were used by the city of Rosario in Argentina to promote urban agriculture and improve the life conditions of low-income residents.
• The Parisculteurs initiative in Paris, encourages rooftop and vertical farming, aiming to cover 100 hectares of urban space with vegetation, half of which is designated for food production. These urban farms create habitats for pollinators and support a diverse range of plant and animal species, combating biodiversity loss caused by urban sprawl.
• Vancouver city in Canada, supports initiatives like City Farmer, which educates residents about composting and organic gardening. Another project, The Sole Food Street Farms, transforms vacant lots into productive urban farms employing people facing barriers to traditional employment.
• Sunqiao Urban Agricultural District, in Shanghai, China, combines farming with educational and recreational spaces. These high-tech farms maximize limited urban space while reducing water and resource usage. They provide fresh produce directly to local markets, cutting down on transportation-related emissions.
• Community initiatives like the Greening of Detroit repurpose vacant land for urban agriculture. These garden spaces promote local self-sufficiency and address food deserts while also enhancing urban biodiversity.
• An edible forest in Mexico City, Mexico with 45 tree varieties, a seed bank, and a large section of bio-intensive gardening was created with the vision to contribute to the development of healthy and resilient cities via the construction of comprehensive and replicable projects for the recovery and transformation of spaces through urban agriculture, sustainable trades and community linkage.
• Malawi identifies 131 plant species with medicinal properties in its NBSAP, emphasizing the potential of edible plants, e.g. the Baobab fruit (Adansonia digitata), which is both highly nutritious and multifunctional and is used in health products and widely applied in food industries. By promoting the cultivation and conservation of such multipurpose plants within urban and peri-urban areas, Malawi demonstrates how urban farming can improve food security, public health, and economic resilience. This approach aligns with biodiversity goals by reducing reliance on imported foods and synthetic inputs while protecting native species and ecosystems.

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