This document discusses the possibilities of urban agriculture. It notes that while traditional crops like wheat, corn, and rice require large fields and are not ideal for urban farming, wheat and potentially rice could still be grown in cities under certain conditions. Fruit trees and vegetables are also discussed as crops that can be grown in urban areas. Community gardens are highlighted as a way to grow vegetables in cities, and issues around fruit trees in urban environments, like property rights and disease management, are addressed.

1. URBAN FARMING
General overview of present day
agriculture and the possibilities of its
development among urban
circumstances

2. Agriculture in general
• Agriculture is based on crop production till the Agrucultural
Revolution (for 10000 years).
• The main crops are wheat, corn and rice. They requires different
climatic circumstances, thus they can be considered in ceartain parts
of Earth.
• Wheat is typical in Central-Asia, Middle-East, Mediterraneum and
Europe. It is sucessfully cultivated also in North- and South-America.
• Corn is native in Central- and North –America, it is successfully
cultivated around the whole world.
• Rice requires a lot of water during the breeding-season, so that it is
cultivated mostly in monsoon climate countries (East- and Southeast-
Asia).
• It can be stated in general that these are not really ideal for urban
farming (they requires huge fields).

3. Wheat field
• Agriculture is based on crop production till the Agrucultural Revolution (for
10000 years).
• The main crops

4. Corn field
• Agriculture is based on crop production till the Agrucultural Revolution (for
10000 years).
• The main crops

5. Rice field
• Agriculture is based on crop production till the Agrucultural Revolution (for
10000 years).
• The main crops

6. Main crops in the city I.
• Although it is unequivocal that these main crops are not suitable for
cities there must be mentioned two fact, which could make two of
them still useful.
• The first is the lifestyle of the wheat. The seeds are usually sown in
autumn (October in Hungary) and the crop used to be harvested in
summer (in Hungary, in mediterranean countries a little bit earlier).
• Considering the typical climate of a mediterranean type city (Central-
and South-Europe, Middle East, South-Africa, southern part of the
wast coast of USA, almost entire Australia) the lifecycle of the wheat
is ideal for the climate. Thus it does not require any additional
irrigation.
• This means that wheat (and barley) can be even used on rooftops
instead of present day extensive roofs covered by Sedum and
mosses.
• Harvesting, sowing product delivering can be a problem.

7. Main crops in the city II.
• The second such factor is the cultivation of rice.
• Rice requires water cover, but it must be shallow and the depth must
remain on an exact value.
• Thus, the greatest problem at the beginning of rice production is
creating an absolutely smooth horizontal surface in the field before
planting. In case of greater field this is a great problem (there must
be used special earthwork tools with laser levelling geodesic
arrangement).
• In historical landscapes especially in East-Asia this was made by
human force (rice terraces).
• In case of rooftops, the smooth horizontal surface is given, so if the
annual precipitation distribution makes it possible (East-Asia), rice
production can be viable.

8. Rice terraces (mosaic of flat surfaces)
• Agriculture is based on crop production till the Agrucultural Revolution (for
10000 years).
• The main crops

9. Solving the problem of harvest
• Agriculture is based on crop production till the Agrucultural Revolution (for
10000 years).
• The main crops

10. Solving the problem of harvest
• Especially because of the rice terraces, which feed about 1 billion
people, there were innovated small harvaesters and tractors, with
quite low weight (under 2 tons), to be able to use them even 2 m
wide rice terraces, without the risk of sliding the retaining wall.
• These can be used for rice, but also for wheat (and barley).
• Thus, by using appropriate soil thickness (thicker than 25 cm),
appropriate strong bearing structures (walls, pillars) then traditional
crops can be sucessfully cultivated on rooftops on all kind of
temperate and subtropic climate (in these climate zones live about
two third of the world population).
• On this way, semi extensive and extensive green roofs can be used up
for crop production.
• As against present day intensive green roof the irrigation can be
neglected, which means increased sustainability.

11. Fruits and vegetables
• Fruits are typically growing on trees and shrubs, while vegetables are
typically anual plants.
• Currently the trend is against using fruit trees in cities.
• The main arguments:
– It makes dirt (if it is not harvested).
– It can be dangerous for children (they are climbing up for the
fruits and they can fall).
– The fruit itself is dirty and unhealthy (due to the concentrated
urban pollution)
– The property is not clear (for example in case of a tree on the
street, the fruit should belong to the local government)
– Plant protection (against insects and fungus) can not be provided
efficiently in dwelling zones (the protective chemicals are usually
poisonous)

12. Fruit tree problems
• Dirt: if the fruit is harvested in time, then there is no dirt.
• Danger: we have to admit some children climb trees independetly
from fruit. Moreover appropriate corridors (which can be necessary
in case of allees due to car parking) can simply solve the problem.
• The fruit quality and pollution content problem: It comes primarily
from air pollution, and secondary from the polluted subterranean
water. The air pollution nowadays cause much smaller danger, due to
the sulphur and lead content of gasolin is almost zero. Using cleaner
vehicles (fuel cell, or electric, or gas cars) can be solved the problem.
The polluted subterranean water can not be solved. The pollution
rate of it needs permanent examination and of the concentration of
any dangerous material is too high, then the fruit production (or at
least consumption) must be banned.

13. Fruit tree problems II.
• Property problems: there are many solutions. The so called
community garden, moreover the hiring (a community hires a garden,
or an inner yard; an urban farmer hires an allee from the local
government, or simply a band of unpaved property and plant into it
fruit trees etc.). In urban circumstances the stealing is a much smaller
problem, due to the cameras public lights and the permanent
appearance of other unknown people.
• Plant protection is a great problem: Current chemicals are not
suitable. There are two possible solution: 1. developing new
chemicals (needs a lot of money and time and the success is not
sure); 2 choosing such selected fruit tree types which do not require
chemicals, highly resistant for insects and fungus (already exist such
selected fruit tree types).

14. Urban fruit trees (orange)
• Property problems: there are many solutions. The so called
community garden, moreover the hiring (a community hires a garden,
or an inner yard; an urban farmer hires an allee from the local
government, or simply a band of unpaved property and plant into it
fruit trees etc.). In urban circumstances the stealing is a much smaller
problem, due to the cameras public lights and the permanent
appearance of other unknown people.
• Plant protection is a great problem: Current chemicals are not
suitable. There are two possible solution: 1. developing new
chemicals (needs a lot of money and time and the success is not
sure); 2 choosing such selected fruit tree types which do not require
chemicals, highly resistant for insects and fungus (already exist such
selected fruit tree types).

15. Urban fruit trees (turkish hazelnut)
• Property problems: there are many solutions. The so called
community garden, moreover the hiring (a community hires a garden,
or an inner yard; an urban farmer hires an allee from the local
government, or simply a band of unpaved property and plant into it
fruit trees etc.). In urban circumstances the stealing is a much smaller
problem, due to the cameras public lights and the permanent
appearance of other unknown people.
• Plant protection is a great problem: Current chemicals are not
suitable. There are two possible solution: 1. developing new
chemicals (needs a lot of money and time and the success is not
sure); 2 choosing such selected fruit tree types which do not require
chemicals, highly resistant for insects and fungus (already exist such
selected fruit tree types).

16. Vegetables I.
• The simpliest and most widely used even in present days.
• Vegetables can besuccessfully cultivated even in pots on balcony.
• There are many kind of them, with different demands.
• There surely exist a vegetable, which can be succesfully cultivated in
any given urban environment.
• They can be used also in inner yards, immediately besides building
and even on very small surfaces (which is quite common in
downtown).
• Most community gardens producing vegetables.
• They provide remarkable product in very short time. Lettuce,
cucumber, paprika, tomato can appear in a few weeks after
plantation.

17. Vegetables I.
• The simpliest and most widely used even in present days.
• Vegetables can besuccessfully cultivated even in pots on balcony.
• There are many kind of them, with different demands.
• There surely exist a vegetable, which can be succesfully cultivated in
any given urban environment.
• They can be used also in inner yards, immediately besides building
and even on very small surfaces (which is quite common in
downtown).
• Most community gardens producing vegetables.
• They provide remarkable product in very short time. Lettuce,
cucumber, paprika, tomato can appear in a few weeks after
plantation.
• They require a great number of workers, can not be automatized as
against crop production. This is advantageous by community gardens.

18. Vegetables in cummunity gardens I.
• The simpliest and most widely used even in present days.
• Vegetables can besuccessfully cultivated even in pots on balcony.
• There are many kind of them, with different demands.
• There surely exist a vegetable, which can be succesfully cultivated in
any given urban environment.
• They can be used also in inner yards, immediately besides building
and even on very small surfaces (which is quite common in
downtown).
• Most community gardens producing vegetables.
• They provide remarkable product in very short time. Lettuce,
cucumber, paprika, tomato can appear in a few weeks after
plantation.
• They require a great number of workers, can not be automatized as
against crop production. This is advantageous by community gardens.

19. Vegetables in community gardens II.
• The simpliest and most widely used even in present days.
• Vegetables can besuccessfully cultivated even in pots on balcony.
• There are many kind of them, with different demands.
• There surely exist a vegetable, which can be succesfully cultivated in
any given urban environment.
• They can be used also in inner yards, immediately besides building
and even on very small surfaces (which is quite common in
downtown).
• Most community gardens producing vegetables.
• They provide remarkable product in very short time. Lettuce,
cucumber, paprika, tomato can appear in a few weeks after
plantation.
• They require a great number of workers, can not be automatized as
against crop production. This is advantageous by community gardens.

20. Vegetables in community gardens III.
• The simpliest and most widely used even in present days.
• Vegetables can besuccessfully cultivated even in pots on balcony.
• There are many kind of them, with different demands.
• There surely exist a vegetable, which can be succesfully cultivated in
any given urban environment.
• They can be used also in inner yards, immediately besides building
and even on very small surfaces (which is quite common in
downtown).
• Most community gardens producing vegetables.
• They provide remarkable product in very short time. Lettuce,
cucumber, paprika, tomato can appear in a few weeks after
plantation.
• They require a great number of workers, can not be automatized as
against crop production. This is advantageous by community gardens.

21. Vegetables in community gardens IV.
• The simpliest and most widely used even in present days.
• Vegetables can besuccessfully cultivated even in pots on balcony.
• There are many kind of them, with different demands.
• There surely exist a vegetable, which can be succesfully cultivated in
any given urban environment.
• They can be used also in inner yards, immediately besides building
and even on very small surfaces (which is quite common in
downtown).
• Most community gardens producing vegetables.
• They provide remarkable product in very short time. Lettuce,
cucumber, paprika, tomato can appear in a few weeks after
plantation.
• They require a great number of workers, can not be automatized as
against crop production. This is advantageous by community gardens.

22. Stock farming
• Planting is something simple. „They never run away”
• Stock-farming is something very complex and difficult.
• Animals needs also plants (they must be fed), and these plants must
be produced.
• Medical treatment is also necessary, there can occur illnesses and
even diseases.
• Moreover the welfare of these animals must be provided.
• They produce manure continously, which must be handled/delivered
away.
• To be able to use them up special tools and professionals are
necessary (the work of a slaughter is much mor complex and riskful,
than harvesting cucumber).
• In urban environment the noise of animals (even poultry) is
disturbing.

23. Stock farming
• Thus, in urban environment stock farming is almost impossible.
• There are only a few exceptations:
– In garden city suburbs and in villages sometimes (depending on
the local culture) poultry is allowed.
– Slaughterhouses can be inside the city („Chicago Bulls”).
– Fish stocking is possible even in urban environment without the
mentioned disadvantages.
– Practically, all kind of water ecosystem can be used as food
producer among urban circumstances, there is also possible to
produce food also from water plants (i. e. edible algae, water
caltrop etc.)
– There is possible to combine fish-farming and water plant food
production in the so called aquaponic systems.

24. Fish-farming I.
• Thus, in urban environment stock farming is almost impossible.
• There are only a few exceptations:
– In garden city suburbs and in villages sometimes (depending on
the local culture) poultry is allowed.
– Slaughterhouses can be inside the city („Chicago Bulls”).
– Fish stocking is possible even in urban environment without the
mentioned disadvantages.
– Practically, all kind of water ecosystem can be used as food
producer among urban circumstances, there is also possible to
produce food also from water plants (i. e. edible algae, water
caltrop etc.)
– There is possible to combine fish-farming and water plant food
production in the so called aquaponic systems.

25. Fish-farming II.
• Thus, in urban environment stock farming is almost impossible.
• There are only a few exceptations:
– In garden city suburbs and in villages sometimes (depending on
the local culture) poultry is allowed.
– Slaughterhouses can be inside the city („Chicago Bulls”).
– Fish stocking is possible even in urban environment without the
mentioned disadvantages.
– Practically, all kind of water ecosystem can be used as food
producer among urban circumstances, there is also possible to
produce food also from water plants (i. e. edible algae, water
caltrop etc.)
– There is possible to combine fish-farming and water plant food
production in the so called aquaponic systems.

26. Fish-farming III.
• Thus, in urban environment stock farming is almost impossible.
• There are only a few exceptations:
– In garden city suburbs and in villages sometimes (depending on
the local culture) poultry is allowed.
– Slaughterhouses can be inside the city („Chicago Bulls”).
– Fish stocking is possible even in urban environment without the
mentioned disadvantages.
– Practically, all kind of water ecosystem can be used as food
producer among urban circumstances, there is also possible to
produce food also from water plants (i. e. edible algae, water
caltrop etc.)
– There is possible to combine fish-farming and water plant food
production in the so called aquaponic systems.

27. Algae-farming
• Thus, in urban environment stock farming is almost impossible.
• There are only a few exceptations:
– In garden city suburbs and in villages sometimes (depending on
the local culture) poultry is allowed.
– Slaughterhouses can be inside the city („Chicago Bulls”).
– Fish stocking is possible even in urban environment without the
mentioned disadvantages.
– Practically, all kind of water ecosystem can be used as food
producer among urban circumstances, there is also possible to
produce food also from water plants (i. e. edible algae, water
caltrop etc.)
– There is possible to combine fish-farming and water plant food
production in the so called aquaponic systems.

28. Hydroponic farming
• Thus, in urban environment stock farming is almost impossible.
• There are only a few exceptations:
– In garden city suburbs and in villages sometimes (depending on
the local culture) poultry is allowed.
– Slaughterhouses can be inside the city („Chicago Bulls”).
– Fish stocking is possible even in urban environment without the
mentioned disadvantages.
– Practically, all kind of water ecosystem can be used as food
producer among urban circumstances, there is also possible to
produce food also from water plants (i. e. edible algae, water
caltrop etc.)
– There is possible to combine fish-farming and water plant food
production in the so called aquaponic systems.

29. Poultry in the city
• Thus, in urban environment stock farming is almost impossible.
• There are only a few exceptations:
– In garden city suburbs and in villages sometimes (depending on
the local culture) poultry is allowed.
– Slaughterhouses can be inside the city („Chicago Bulls”).
– Fish stocking is possible even in urban environment without the
mentioned disadvantages.
– Practically, all kind of water ecosystem can be used as food
producer among urban circumstances, there is also possible to
produce food also from water plants (i. e. edible algae, water
caltrop etc.)
– There is possible to combine fish-farming and water plant food
production in the so called aquaponic systems.

30. Poultry in the city
• Thus, in urban environment stock farming is almost impossible.
• There are only a few exceptations:
– In garden city suburbs and in villages sometimes (depending on
the local culture) poultry is allowed.
– Slaughterhouses can be inside the city („Chicago Bulls”).
– Fish stocking is possible even in urban environment without the
mentioned disadvantages.
– Practically, all kind of water ecosystem can be used as food
producer among urban circumstances, there is also possible to
produce food also from water plants (i. e. edible algae, water
caltrop etc.)
– There is possible to combine fish-farming and water plant food
production in the so called aquaponic systems.

31. Fungus farming
• Besides plants and animals there is a third possibility: producing
fungus for food.
• Edible fungus species are quite healty with a lot o nutritions.
• Most edible fungus can be produced in cities, especially inside
buildings (cellars, closed chamber rooms).
• They need usually organic material to use it up.
• These organic materials are usually straw, but there are fungus types,
which can use up even arborescent organic materials.
• Oyster mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus) is edible and can grow on
tree trunks (on simply wood).
• Composting is already widely used and accustomed in urban areas.
• By using appropriate fungus types, almast all kind of compostable
organic materials can be easily used up for food production.
• Great risk is that the concentration of pollution is increased in fungus.

32. Fungus farm I.
• Besides plants and animals there is a third possibility: producing
fungus for food.
• Edible fungus species are quite healty with a lot o nutritions.
• Most edible fungus can be produced in cities, especially inside
buildings (cellars, closed chamber rooms).
• They need usually organic material to use it up.
• These organic materials are usually straw, but there are fungus types,
which can use up even arborescent organic materials.
• Oyster mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus) is edible and can grow on
tree trunks (on simply wood).
• Composting is already widely used and accustomed in urban areas.
• By using appropriate fungus types, almast all kind of compostable
organic materials can be easily used up for food production.
• Great risk is that the concentration of pollution is increased in fungus.

33. Fungus farm II.
• Besides plants and animals there is a third possibility: producing
fungus for food.
• Edible fungus species are quite healty with a lot o nutritions.
• Most edible fungus can be produced in cities, especially inside
buildings (cellars, closed chamber rooms).
• They need usually organic material to use it up.
• These organic materials are usually straw, but there are fungus types,
which can use up even arborescent organic materials.
• Oyster mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus) is edible and can grow on
tree trunks (on simply wood).
• Composting is already widely used and accustomed in urban areas.
• By using appropriate fungus types, almast all kind of compostable
organic materials can be easily used up for food production.
• Great risk is that the concentration of pollution is increased in fungus.

34. Oyster mushrooms
• Besides plants and animals there is a third possibility: producing
fungus for food.
• Edible fungus species are quite healty with a lot o nutritions.
• Most edible fungus can be produced in cities, especially inside
buildings (cellars, closed chamber rooms).
• They need usually organic material to use it up.
• These organic materials are usually straw, but there are fungus types,
which can use up even arborescent organic materials.
• Oyster mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus) is edible and can grow on
tree trunks (on simply wood).
• Composting is already widely used and accustomed in urban areas.
• By using appropriate fungus types, almast all kind of compostable
organic materials can be easily used up for food production.
• Great risk is that the concentration of pollution is increased in fungus.

35. Oyster mushrooms with cucumber
• Besides plants and animals there is a third possibility: producing
fungus for food.
• Edible fungus species are quite healty with a lot o nutritions.
• Most edible fungus can be produced in cities, especially inside
buildings (cellars, closed chamber rooms).
• They need usually organic material to use it up.
• These organic materials are usually straw, but there are fungus types,
which can use up even arborescent organic materials.
• Oyster mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus) is edible and can grow on
tree trunks (on simply wood).
• Composting is already widely used and accustomed in urban areas.
• By using appropriate fungus types, almast all kind of compostable
organic materials can be easily used up for food production.
• Great risk is that the concentration of pollution is increased in fungus.

36. Thank you for your attention!