Soils provide food for urban and peri-urban population.

Over 80% of the food consumed in cities comes from family farmers who rely on healthy soils in rural areas. Investing in more sustainable agricultural practices and soil health in rural areas helps meet the rising food needs of expanding urban populations, while also protecting farmers’ livelihoods and strengthening global food security. Healthy urban soils currently supply about 10% of global vegetables, legumes, and tubers for cities. They can help feed urban and peri-urban populations by ensuring that safe, fresh food grown in plots, gardens, or even on rooftop farms, remains available and accessible to urban markets. Urban agriculture remains an important part of urban socio-economic systems and provides new job opportunities for urban residents.

 

Through integrated land use planning, compact urban growth, and agrifood system integration, we can safeguard soils, secure food and build more sustainable cities. The City Region Food System (CRFS) planning offers one approach, encouraging farming in and around cities to boost food security and local economies.