With half of the world’s population now living in cities, a number that is projected to reach two thirds in the coming decades, people are becoming increasingly disconnected from their food both geographically and conceptually. Food travels greater distances, leading to increased waste and supply chain vulnerability.
History tells us that during times of stress people turn to urban agriculture. Therefore, it is no surprise that the COVID-19 pandemic has seen a resurgence of urban agriculture for its contributions towards food security, health and wellbeing. Moreover, urban agriculture has been identified as a key strategy for adapting to climate change. Recent analysis identified it as a $4 billion growth opportunity for Australia.
So is urban agriculture just a nice idea, or a plausible reality?
Today, Cosmos journalist Dr Deborah Devis talks to three experts from the University of Adelaide: Isobel Hume, a PhD Candidate, Dr Matthias Salomon, an Urban Soil Health researcher, and Tim Cavagnaro, a professor in Soil Ecology in the School of Agriculture, Food and Wine, to get some insights.
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