We can describe Urban farming as the growing of plants and the rearing of animals with the main goal of utilization for food and other domestic use within a city or a town and its environs. It also covers activities like processing, production, marketing, and delivery of farming products. Urban farming includes production systems, which vary from domestic and household levels to large-scale agriculture within the city peripherals.
Urban farming has amazing potential to fulfill basic human requirements. It gives food and offers a sustainable distribution and production system that create employment opportunities and regular income for individuals. At the same time, it tremendously helps small countries like Singapore maintain food security. Urban farming Singapore currently utilizes various studies that show how urban farming can tackle food waste.
Let’s check out the benefits of urban agriculture.
Economic benefits
Income generation. Urban farming is a precursor for new businesses that create income for its owners, employment for people in the community, and as an extension to battle food security and waste management issues. It provides a way for employees to earn a living and assist businesses in sustaining their operations.
Local government benefits. Urban farming assists the local government in acquiring revenue which to help them run operations. The land used for Urban farming can also boost its value. This lessens the cost for the government for land maintenance while also discouraging illegal dumping of materials on the land or vandals.
Environmental benefits
Urban farming can lessen stormwater runoff and enhance environmental quality. Urban farming introduces various benefits to the environment and supports biodiversity, improving air quality and mitigating heat impacts.
Urban farming leads to less use of chemicals, limiting the need for herbicides, pesticides, and other artificial fertilizers, especially if organic farming is practiced. The benefits have a varying impact depending on the type of farming practiced.
Urban farming leads to a new home for pollinators to boost the chances of preserving indigenous crops, which don’t usually fare well under other conditions. As an offshoot, it leads to the breeding of new crops.
Urban farming grows food mainly in the geographical location it is consumed, which helps in reducing the carbon footprint created by farms, especially emissions. The green plantations assist in acting as carbon sinks, particularly via urban forestry.
Health and Food Accessibility
Urban farming creates a sense of urban food security and can mitigate food waste. Urban farming Singapore is highly encouraged and supported by the government. It is evident in the diverse educational resources available for those looking to get started on it.
Urban farming can lead to a big chance of boosting demand for food such as local fruits and vegetables. Urban farming ensures fresh food is always available and affordable while helping provide alternatives to buying grocery food, ultimately reducing food wastage and the cost of living. Donating surplus food to food banks by urban community farms helps provide a steady food supply, which lessens the expenses of individuals and families with low income.
Urban farming also promises fresh food availability and reduces the dependence on processed foods, leading to a healthy society and minimizing the risk of lifestyle diseases like obesity and cancer.
