Urban agriculture is emerging as a transformative force reshaping our cities, fostering sustainability, and nurturing community bonds. My Fellowship offered me a unique opportunity to explore this movement’s potential, initially seeking to understand how urban food growing could boost biodiversity. However, my journey across North America revealed a broader and more profound impact: urban agriculture’s power to redefine our relationship with food, the environment, and each other.

The urgency for change is stark. Conventional agricultural practices, dominated by chemical inputs and monocultures, have ravaged rural ecosystems, depleting soils and eroding biodiversity. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) warns that a global temperature rise above 1.5°C poses grave risks to food security and ecological stability. Coupled with the UK’s heavy reliance on imported fresh produce, which leaves us vulnerable to climate-related supply chain disruptions, the necessity for sustainable urban food systems is clear.

Climate change and food insecurity hit the poorest in society the most.  According to the Food Foundation, 9.3 million adults in the UK experienced food insecurity in 2022. The crisis is particularly acute in urban areas where high living costs, coupled with limited access to fresh produce, create significant barriers to healthy eating. The Trussell Trust reported a record number of emergency food parcels distributed by food banks in 2021-2022, underscoring the urgent need for systemic change.

Urban agriculture presents a promising alternative. Cultivating food within city limits not only reduces the carbon footprint associated with long-distance food transport but also alleviates pressure on rural landscapes. Its environmental benefits are manifold: enhancing biodiversity, improving air and water quality, mitigating floods, and fostering ecological resilience. Moreover, local food production promotes healthier dietary choices, contributing to positive public health outcomes and easing the burden on healthcare systems. Incorporating urban agriculture into planning should be a cornerstone of efforts to achieve biodiversity net gain (BNG).

During my eight-week exploration of North American urban agriculture, I encountered pioneering initiatives that offer valuable lessons for cities like London. Toronto, Montreal, Detroit, Vancouver, and Portland are at the forefront, implementing innovative policies such as mandatory green roofs, expansive rooftop farms, and inclusive ‘agrihoods’ that seamlessly integrate agriculture into urban planning. My report, published in May, delves into these initiatives and examines their applicability to other urban centres facing similar challenges.

As climate disasters intensify, the imperative to embrace sustainable practices like urban agriculture becomes ever more pressing. While not a panacea for the climate crisis, urban agriculture is a vital component of a holistic approach to building resilient, equitable, and sustainable cities.

The success of urban agriculture hinges on collaborative efforts, innovative policies, and community engagement. Detroit’s Black Community Food Security Network (DBCFSN), co-founded by Malik Kenyatta Yakini, exemplifies this ethos. Operating a seven-acre urban farm, DBCFSN is spearheading the Detroit Food Commons, a co-operative grocery store and community hub aimed at addressing food insecurity and promoting local economic development.

The Detroit People’s Food Co-Op is a Black-led, community-owned grocery co-operative dedicated to enhancing access to healthy food and providing food education for Detroit residents. This co-operative meets the community’s needs through democratic control by its member-owners. Yakini envisions this project as part of a broader movement for power, self-determination, and justice, contributing to an international food sovereignty movement that embraces Black communities in the Americas, the Caribbean, and Africa.

While in Montreal, Carrefour Solidaire cultivates a healthy community and social justice through the power of food. Growing food at various city locations, Carrefour Solidaire ensures all harvested produce returns to the community. Their community kitchen and shop operate a sliding scale payment system based on individual circumstances, balancing financial sustainability with accessibility.

Similarly, FoodShare in Toronto sells produce at below-market prices at farmers’ markets, striving to make culturally appropriate food accessible to everyone and supporting a vision where everyone can nourish themselves and their loved ones.

Toronto Metropolitan University has two rooftop farms on campus that produce and distribute food, facilitate research and engage the community through ecological rooftop farming and food justice initiatives. The roof-top farm produces around 2,500kg of food per year from its market garden section. They have a very equitable model for distributing the produce: a third is donated, a third is sold to students at a subsidised rate, and a third is sold at market rate. The donated food goes to beneficial organisations including the Native Women Services, Good Food services and outreach work in the city’s food deserts.

These co-operative and equitable models highlight the potential of urban agriculture to address food insecurity, promote local economic development, and foster community resilience. By nurturing urban ecosystems and fostering a sense of collective stewardship, cities can forge a path towards a more food-secure and harmonious future.

Urban agriculture, supported by the co-operative movement, represents a critical piece of the puzzle in our quest for sustainable cities. It reconnects residents with nature, promotes fairer food prices, and fosters a sense of community and shared responsibility. As the new Labour government navigates the challenges of climate change and urbanisation the lessons from North America’s urban agriculture pioneers offer a roadmap for a more resilient and equitable future. You can read the full report here.

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Leanne is a former Labour councillor and co-founder and director of Wilder, an environmental social enterprise based in London that creates spaces for wildlife and people in ultra-urban areas.