Articles
Urban horticulture needs new and adapted knowledge for the targeted development of cities for the future
Article number
1429_36
Pages
293 – 298
Language
English
Abstract
To develop climate resilience and a sustainable and prosperous future for humankind, cities urgently need to undergo multiple and comprehensive transformations.
The biocities of the future should be realized through nature-based solutions (NbS). Urban horticulture must play a significant role in this demanding transformation.
One of the many challenges is to find and create spaces for biodiversity, and the needed urban activities related to food production.
Another is to find labour and maintain competency on horticultural systems.
In the European context, food production is at present only rarely the main aim for urban horticulture.
Many studies show the multiple benefits of urban green areas and farming, such as affecting the life quality of the citizens, social integration, increasing biodiversity, maintaining air and soil quality, along with mitigating storm water flooding and severe droughts.
However, there are obstacles to the continued development of urban horticulture that require more knowledge and planning.
The water related problems are good examples of the many paradoxes challenging the development.
We need to increase efforts to avoid damage from storm water, as well as conserve and recycle water and nutrients when it is abundant, such as after storms or by using greywater to preserve it for drought periods.
Dissemination of knowledge on urban horticulture is crucial for the long-term development in this area.
The knowledge and transdisciplinary collaboration we need for biocities is different from the current methods used in horticultural productions and activities, since scales and aims are so different from the present commercial horticulture.
In this paper, we present our opinion on sustainable urban horticulture development as one of the tools in transforming cities to sustainable and resilient habitats for human well-being, increasing biodiversity and implementation of NbS.
The biocities of the future should be realized through nature-based solutions (NbS). Urban horticulture must play a significant role in this demanding transformation.
One of the many challenges is to find and create spaces for biodiversity, and the needed urban activities related to food production.
Another is to find labour and maintain competency on horticultural systems.
In the European context, food production is at present only rarely the main aim for urban horticulture.
Many studies show the multiple benefits of urban green areas and farming, such as affecting the life quality of the citizens, social integration, increasing biodiversity, maintaining air and soil quality, along with mitigating storm water flooding and severe droughts.
However, there are obstacles to the continued development of urban horticulture that require more knowledge and planning.
The water related problems are good examples of the many paradoxes challenging the development.
We need to increase efforts to avoid damage from storm water, as well as conserve and recycle water and nutrients when it is abundant, such as after storms or by using greywater to preserve it for drought periods.
Dissemination of knowledge on urban horticulture is crucial for the long-term development in this area.
The knowledge and transdisciplinary collaboration we need for biocities is different from the current methods used in horticultural productions and activities, since scales and aims are so different from the present commercial horticulture.
In this paper, we present our opinion on sustainable urban horticulture development as one of the tools in transforming cities to sustainable and resilient habitats for human well-being, increasing biodiversity and implementation of NbS.
Authors
E. Sandell, A. Sæbø
Keywords
biodiversity, green cities, nature based solutions, sustainable urban development
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