Reimagining urban agriculture for sustainable urban futures: Education, health, and urban commons

Abstract

Urban agriculture, considered as a planning instrument, is critical to the construction of future sustainable cities and the improvement of existing green urban infrastructures. Historically, urban agriculture has been relatively unexplored as an urban planning modality. It has the potential to not only amplify food networks but also serve as a carrier of a host of other social, economic, and cultural benefits. This exploration of urban agriculture’s potential augments and expands the notion of productivity within the framework of multifunctional green infrastructures. These potential benefits range from improved social networks, mental well-being, and broader economic opportunities to the wholesale reimagining of public spaces. Because of this polyvalence, urban agriculture is catalytic and foundational to the reinvestment and renewal of existing urban fabrics as well as the development of sustainable urban futures.