UrbanFarm2022. Building multi-disciplinary knowledge for urban green regeneration and sustainable food systems

With the majority of the World’s population already living in urban areas, cities are at the core of the fight against climate change. The relentless urbanization has led policy-makers, academics, and researchers to find new solutions to the challenges presented by overcrowded cites. In this scenario, urban agriculture (UA) has become a common form of land use thanks to its multiple environmental, social and economic benefits. Furthermore, UA initiatives can actively contribute to a sustainable urban food production, also considering that cities abound in vacant or under-used spaces that may find a new life through integrated food production practices. Accordingly, a great variability of UA activities may be found across different projects, making UA a multi-dimensional concept. Given its strong multifunctional connotation and sustainable potential (resulting in a blend of agricultural purposes, social cohesion and business models pursued), it is crucial to facilitate a wider uptake of innovative UA-related policies by creating awareness on both institutional actors and the civil society.