The necessary components for green food production are found in flows of urban resources as nutrients, water, CO2 and energy in heating. If products are grown in closed urban agricultural systems using the best available environmental techniques, risks for both plants and consumers will be minimized. The Problem - The solution and biodiversity as a consequence (Washington D.C. November 16, 2011)

1. Plantagon – Urban Agriculture (UA)
The necessary components for green food production are found in flows of urban resources as
nutrients, water, CO2 and energy in heating, certainly in cities.
Without photosynthesis there is no life. The cyclic processes behind photosynthesis are an important
link between humans and the technical systems that deliver services in cities (waste water treatment,
heating, waste handling, energy production etc.). Therefore urban agriculture (UA) is a solution as
long as people are urban.
As modern people we must strive to find good solutions in food production that use synergies in the
hinterland between technology and everyday life. In urban agriculture as well as in rural area based
businesses there are too many uncontrolled flows of endless resources. One of all problems in our
modern society is “peak phosphorous” that points out the need of solutions that capture phosphorous
before entering rivers and seas. Phosphorous is not endless. Urban agriculture close to urban
resources can integrate production to these flows of resources. Only the possibility to use these locally
produced nutrients is a reason for UA by itself.
Food has been an urban product since long. The United Nations Development Program (UNDP)
estimated that UA delivers up to one fifth of the food produced today. UA is more than just old habits
following farmers as they migrate into urban areas, UA can emerge wherever there are needs.
For city planners that do not understand the link between the resources (energy, water, sunlight,
carbon etc.) urban agriculture and livestock keeping it is easy to stop developing UA. Farming in
general has been considered as a risks factor. Therefore planners argue that unsolved questions on
e.g. dangerous bacteria, different zoonosis or the leakage of nutrients imply an advantage to rural (far
away from cities) agriculture.
These short notes below try to capture the arguments behind Urban Agriculture as a phenomena
and Plantagon as the Solution making its way through an ever-increasing urban market, as that is
where people live.
In short:
UA is a concept that restores our common knowledge of a cyclic system of life and its necessities.
We cannot distance ourselves from the resources we need or the waste we produce.

2. 2
The Problem - The solution and biodiversity as a consequence
By 2050 up to 80% of the earth's population will reside in urban centers. Until then
human population will increase by about 3 billion, applying conservative estimates.
If food is to be consumed and produced in as inefficient way as today we will need
further arable land the size of Brazil by 2050. Over 70 % of land area suitable for
farming is used for crop production (sources: FAO and NASA). Most of this
production is for fodder for animals not for human food, this happens in a time when
grazing on natural land is more and more rare even though it produces both
biodiversity and a landscape with high nature values.1
An effective land-use solution that embraces the market and the infrastructure is the
only solution.
Modern agriculture, not least field production of vegetables, uses a multitude of
pesticides or different chemicals in the production system. Many products will meet
its consumer after a global tour by boat, by road or by air leaving climate gases in
traces and chemicals on plates. Urban farming is safer, more local and with less/no
input of unnatural pesticides. The market of fair-trade products, organic,
environmental eco-labeled products are getting stronger. It is clear that values that
are added to food brands are reflected on the price. It will of course take time until all
on the market understands ecocertified products. Products from UA are in most cases
probably already ecologically sound in some perspectives.
There are of course always agricultural products that need to be transported on a
global free market with many positive effects on a global integrated market that also
embraces local culture, local food production from countries that earn their only
economic resources from good, integrated production systems that of course can be
rather large scale systems.
Urban farming supports the market with products that do not need to be
transported.
If products are grown in closed urban agricultural systems using the best available
environmental techniques, risks for both plants and consumers will be minimized.
Urban Agriculture if controlled will result in less spoilage (food) since locally
produced crops can be sold and consumed relatively short after harvesting.
Urban modern farming needs a new work-force with new employment opportunities
in production and in local logistics. Urban farming helps urban areas make use of
abandoned lots and buildings.
Growing crops in a controlled environment has benefits such as: no animals to
transfer diseases to plants through untreated waste; no massive crop failures as a
result of weather-related disasters; less likelihood of genetically modified “rogue”
strains entering nature. And, without herbicides, pesticides, or fertilizers agricultural
runoff is not of the same importance as if it is produced in rural water catchments
1
Almost 15% of the arable land is destroyed by poor management practices. (Dickson Despommier, Prof. Department of Environmental Health
Sciences. Columbia University

3. 3
where people and grazing animals are bound to one fresh water source. In UA water
from production is close to water treatment plants, meaning it is less risks for
destroyed water bodies.
“Cities already have density and infrastructure needed to support vertical farms, and
super-green skyscrapers could supply not just food but energy, creating a truly self-
sustaining environment.”2
• Mega Cities need food production within to avoid paralyzing congestion.
• Especially important is demand for organic food close by.
• Cities need to be green to keep up biodiversity.
• Many cities have grown organically from farming villages; local history is
important for city-dwellers identity. Farming should be tangible.
• Cities need a diversity of jobs and competencies to have a sustainable
labour market with low unemployment; farming jobs add a new
dimension.
• Farming in an urban environment can give impetus to develop new
methods for agriculture through all the competencies, research etc
embedded in a city environment – compared to traditional rural ways or
“industrial” large scale ranches.
• Sustainable waste management and water treatment can give good inputs
and nutrients for urban agriculture, which can become a part of an
ecological system.
2
New York News and features, by Lisa Chamberlain Published Apr 1, 2007 http://nymag.com/news/features/30020/