Il contributo dell'agricoltura urbana alle città sostenibili uno studio comparativo tra Italia e Cina

The development of urban agriculture is a practice in the definition of the contemporary city that reflects growing social concerns about urban sustainability, lifestyle choices, and environmental protection. It is an important component of research on the“green revolution”and the construction of“resilience” in urban spaces. This area of research manifests itself in different systems and expressions of value. The issue, both in Europe and China, and especially in some large cities, is closely linked to the concept of sustainable development, which combines social, environmental, economic, and sometimes cultural sustainability. Urban agriculture not only reduces the length of food supply chains, helping residents, particularly low-income families, to access fresh food and reduce their dependence on long-distance supplies, but also rebalances the relationship between consumers and producers, promoting shared environmental and food safety practices. At the same time, it has an impact on urban greenery, environmental quality, and the psychological well-being of residents. It also achieves socially inclusive development by supporting vulnerable groups and promoting urban regeneration. Urban agriculture affects many aspects of the city, from urban planning to the design of new open spaces (such as community gardens, orchard parks, and small vegetable gardens), the integration of agricultural production with the built environment (rooftop farming and greenhouse systems), and the design of smart agricultural equipment. Designers and architects are therefore required to design innovative spaces or components for these new functions in order to respond to the changing needs of urban development. This study starts from an investigation of the historical development of urban agriculture to explore the potential for integrating green production networks into cities with an in-depth exploration, from a design perspective, of urban spatial relationships and the design of product systems involved in urban agriculture. The ultimate goal of the research is to provide a multidimensional model for urban agriculture in China and Italy, with the aim of expanding its social functions in multiple dimensions, adding educational and training spaces, catering spaces, and public exhibition spaces. Secondary objectives include reducing food expenses for urban residents, strengthening the economic resilience of communities, involving residents in the formation of management communities, supporting vulnerable groups, providing educational and training functions for young people, and building spaces for social communication. The research objectives include defining strategies for the transformation of marginal spaces in order to promote sustainable urban development.