Infographic Transcript
Guide to Urban Farming
Take a free look at a trending topic in agriculture and urban development with AU Online’s guide, Plants and Policies: How Urban Farming is Transforming Cities. You’ll learn about the benefits of urban farming and how you, as a public official, can support it alongside urban farm managers and the community.
Read the GuideUrban farming is experiencing a dramatic increase in popularity, and that’s likely because there are so many ways to integrate it into the environment. Here’s a look at a few major types of urban farms.
Community Garden
- These gardens promote healthy eating and may reduce obesity for participants. [1]
Backyard Garden
- In the U.S., food travels between 1,500 and 2,500 miles from farm to table. [2]
- In the U.S., food travels as much as 25% farther than it did two decades ago.
- 35% of U.S. households grow food at home or in a community garden. [2]
School Garden
- The USDA reports around 7,101 school gardens in the country. [3]
Zfarming (Zero-Acreage Farming)
Zfarming projects are characterized by the lack of land or acreage use for farming activities.
- One square meter of agricultural rooftop space in a city can offset the annual carbon emissions of one car. [4]
- A 20,000-square-foot rooftop farm in Chicago produces 8,000 lbs. of produce a year. [5]
Indoor Farming
- The indoor farming technology market is projected to reach $40.25 billion in 2022. [6]
Vertical Farming
- A vertical farm in Japan yields up to 10,000 heads of lettuce a day at 25,000 square feet – 100 times more per square foot than traditional methods. [7]
Sources
- American Journal of Public Health
- The National Gardening Association
- USDA
- Environmental Pollution
- Open House Chicago
- Markets and Markets
- EcoWatch
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