[EGIL urns eacTn ano weut-eeinc PERSPECTIVE taple te moving from th country acts in eer being conse oes Uitanagacuiset encoded inbe he etre at eat for some components of ay Gelert diet bi ces a arom pes agar lan and ican Sastumed al food produced in tran areas af et Growing fod in ben environments scms ean tractive propoutc, pr because of te nhernt uae wae Eefihacal ce gente can beiaresed an ry wat! (rate tre fom bth, hovers tad iehen appancet ocr ru Siland nue ich sewage fluent canbe eledAswellara fatale re of rowateld len icaa reduce the carbon fot rinl fod ransportand can make cies greenest poorer rues urbe fating producer an incon and can dveay diet Community bud projec can pote srl itritog Snd outdoor acti for doable dave ot health bene. Ate Aeeigned wih uben farming in nnd — euch at ere faa (Growing plant up the ies flings, or ‘Sample an pacers fel betwee on ttpet or wibin Hock ofbulldinge coe shape our fture ces, Reofop snd indoor fanning woul ter inceucteland se dvalatleforagricalare Butter urbe rng can be expanded omalagge sae ney use hat erent tre plluion, Curent and pas tndutal te dame burning offre ul and oe plethora of chemicals elesed into dames Uc yrane aucune all pole the silt ce ‘iba sewage and ge water ery detergents tnd excreted drugs concerniog becouse thang ofthete ue hormonally ave — a Wallac a luge tof industry. derived con {Elnaste Badin o contaminant om Stapended sol dusty arated has elevated eves fio. fences slr cues hydrocarbons and partes om ca Echt Airpllionkaown fo redue van cop pelt She contequncsof ingesting bodttiscovered in these pola eaotwallendesioe ‘ihansollpaltons ot norm across cy some ease sever cnblaae, where ees re dee adore cute isrfarmng usin genera tana vegeta prodaced inet tev cota more ndenble stunts han atl peo hice Whetes the nceteed pollutant burden cette eh riskis a matter of debate’. However, to ensure that commercially pro- died ood res eban fargo pee mcnrag Seinplae ach potetallocton shuld beaeeened oreo! ntsandetch ety prods grown sn baal becaas ofthe dierencer inthe teams a contamina Fo xa Pleven extents survey fut and veeblesin hon ising Felon of southwest Pgland showed tat sol dur contaminated IN EXISTING CITIES, WHERE URBAN FARMING ISAN AFTERTHOUGHT, SOME LATERAL THINKING IS REQUIRED. City farming needs monitoring Pollution poses a significant challenge to food production in urban environments, says Andrew A. Meharg. leafy vegetables and tuber cops contaminated by direct sil contact ‘were important sources of toxic metals in commercial horticutsral produce" Monitoring ofthiskindis intensive, bat the consequences bf unsafe produce entering the food chain impel us to implement Uscse measures for crops grown in cies Pollution in urban farming flows in both directions. Just asthe city can contaminate agricultural produce, farming itself can intzo dace unvranted chemicals into the environment. Water supplies can be polluted by inorganic fertilizers and manures, which lead to excessive build-up of algae and aquatic plants in nutrient-rich ‘waters, aswell x by Pesticides, Noxious smells, excessive noise and the stirring up of soil dust into the atmosphere while working the land areal by-products. And having farmland in close proxim- ity tothe public is problematic, particularly fr infants who may ingest the eo ‘One way to allow intensive agricultural activity in urban centres, bat to avaid potentially contaminated soi, is hydroponics — growing plante without soil, in water. How. ever, as many cities struggle to supply water for domestic and industrial use, large-scale hydroponic farms would bea further burden ona precious resource. Although in principle hydroponic water could be recycled, this is not always feasible, owing tothe water's high nutrient and ued, pesticide content. In hot limes, bringing water for ageiultute into the centre of cities ean lead to creases in pests such as malaria-carrying mosquitoes" may be possible to build new cities that avoid the current contamination issues Bul in existing cities, where urban farming 4s an afterthought, some lateral think ing is vequited to give urban agriculture & future. Growing non-food crops such a2 textile fibre plants, biomass crops and tim- ber would make uée of urban and suburban waste land, green the city, reeycle waste water and biosolids, produce exops that currently take up rural land that is ideal for food production, Whether farming in cities i cost-effective or not, the non-economic returns such as beter living spaces that facilitate social interaction through community-based ity must be considered I urban waste resources can be recycled into energy, building materials and clothes through farming, everyone will benefit, ultimately making our cities healthier environments. ‘Andrew A. Meharg isa plant and soil scientist at Queens University Belfast, UK e-mail aa meharge@qubacuk Thome Sa enew fr acd Sot 30, 43-56 (015). 1,8, Ada-aciord 8 & Rigo, 1LR Enon. Heath 8, $6 (2008. ofl Eran Se echo 47, 6364-6172 (2013) ‘rane A eft deta Top 88, 125-134 (200%, © 20%6 Meio Palshare Liste lit reser