Global study reveals urban agriculture’s impact on Sustainable Development Goals ahead of UN Summit of the Future 2024

Furthermore, urban agriculture significantly enhances food security by producing fresh, nutritious food locally, reducing dependency on external food sources, and minimizing food miles.

The Himalayan
Sept 14, 2024

[Must see. Mike]

Excerpt:

KATHMANDU, SEPTEMBER 14 A comprehensive global study led by Dr. Prajal Pradhan from the University of Groningen (The Netherlands), along with nine colleagues, provides an extensive evaluation of how urban agriculture impacts the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The research, which systematically reviewed approximately 1,450 publications from a pool of 76,000, explores the multifaceted contributions of urban agriculture to achieving the SDGs, revealing both positive and negative effects. The study is published in the journal Cells Report Sustainability.

The study found that urban agriculture is deeply intertwined with all 17 SDGs, positively influencing 81 targets and adversely impacting 51. These findings are particularly significant as they precede the United Nations’ Summit of the Future 2024, aimed at accelerating progress toward the SDGs.

Dr. Prajal Pradhan from the University of Groningen highlighted the dual nature of urban agriculture, stating, “Urban agriculture offers immense potential for sustainable development, but realizing this potential depends crucially on adopting practices that minimize its adverse effects while maximizing its benefits. Insights on the dual nature of urban agriculture resonate strongly with the aims of the Summit of the Future 2024.

“The research identified major challenges, such as potential health risks from contamination and the substantial resource demands of urban farming practices. Daya Raj Sudebi, Lecturer at Midwest University (Nepal) and PhD Candidate at Beijing Forestry University (China), emphasized the need for equitable access and rigorous management of environmental risks to maximize urban agriculture’s contributions to sustainable development.

Read the complete article here.

See complete paper here.