Sustainable urban agriculture: Practices and future strategies for resilient cities

Abstract

The world is seeing an unprecedented rate of urbanization, which is causing serious problems like climate change, biodiversity loss and environmental degradation. Urban gardening plays an increasingly important role in enhancing the sustainability and livability of urban areas as their population increases and they become more crowded. By providing answers to many of the environmental problems that urban dwellers encounter, urban gardening contributes significantly to the ecological and social fabric of cities. Enhancing food security, biodiversity, and environmental sustainability all depend on urban horticulture. Many environmental issues, such as poor air quality, flooding, and the urban heat island effect, can be lessened in cities by integrating nature-based solutions like urban farms, vertical gardens, and green roofs into the urban landscape. By adding aesthetic value, boosting recreational areas, and encouraging community involvement through urban farming and gardening projects, green infrastructure also enhances the quality of life for people living in cities. This review covers a variety of sustainable urban horticultural techniques, including composting, rainwater gathering, rooftop gardening, hydroponics, aquaponics, and vertical farming etc. In order to promote sustainable green spaces in urban areas, it also highlights the significance of integrated pest management, intelligent irrigation systems, and urban agroforestry.