Organic urban agriculture: understand why it's a good idea

Organic urban agriculture reduces waste, contributes to socio-biodiversity and the use of nutrients and flavor

urban agriculture

Urban agriculture is agriculture practiced in or around an urban area. Organic urban agriculture, in turn, is that practiced in the same region, but with the benefit of not using pesticides, antibiotics, veterinary drugs, Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) or transgenics in its production.

  • What are the differences between genetically modified and transgenic organisms

Organic urban agriculture has proven to be the best alternative for supplying food to cities, mainly because it reduces the distance between food production and the final consumer. But also because it is a healthier alternative to conventional agricultural products.

Understand urban agriculture

Agriculture, in general, is the basis of many things, not only food, but also the production of raw materials that will be used to make fabrics, papers, cleaning products, cosmetics, fuels, feed for the production of meat and many other products consumed on a daily basis.

There are several ways of doing agriculture, some more impactful, such as agriculture, others less, such as agroecological agriculture.

In any case, it is difficult to imagine that by eating, such a routine and apparently harmless act, we are causing social and environmental impacts. Therefore, those who are urban or peri-urban need to be aware that starting to practice and encourage urban (organic) agriculture as a basis for food is not just a matter of investment in health, it is a socio-environmental demand.

As you may already know, most products, including food from home, travel long distances to reach the supermarket.

This distance between the place of production and consumption brings with it a series of losses, and this is due to the configuration of cities, which normally separated the "rural" part, destined to the production of inputs and food (primary and secondary sector) , of the urban part, destined to the production of services and trade in goods (the tertiary sector).

Impacts of the urban vs. rural model

This form of development that separates the place of food production from the place of consumption (urban vs. rural) has a series of disadvantages:

Waste and increase in the price of the final product

on the food route in nature to the supermarket shelf, and from there to our homes, fuel, labor and space for allocation are spent.

Due to transport incidents and/or due to the time it takes to mature in storage, a part of the products ends up spoiling and being unfeasible for consumption. This generates food waste and increases the demand for fertilizers, pesticides and fuels used in the production, transport and harvesting of new production to replace what was wasted in losses. All of this, together, increases the final price of food.

Increased pollution and environmental impact

With the need to increase production to replace losses, pollution from the burning of fuels used in harvesting, processing machinery and transport increases; the pollution of soil, air and water tables by pesticides and fertilizers discharged and deforestation. In the case of those who consume meat, the impacts generated are even greater.

Increased need for processing

As it is difficult to keep food intact in nature, the need arises for ways of processing that increase the shelf life of these products during transport and storage.

The problem is that these processing techniques are often harmful to health, as is the case with products that add fat, salt, preservatives, colorings, flavorings, among other substances and processes that reduce the quality of food in terms of health. and flavor.

damage to health

In conventional agriculture and livestock, the technique of organic production is hardly used - the methods used are based on the use of pesticides, mainly pesticides based on organochlorines, which are harmful to human and environmental health. Those who consume meat and other animal-derived products, such as milk and cheese, end up ingesting more pesticides than vegans because of the bioaccumulation effect in the fatty tissue of animals, in addition to ingesting hormones and antibiotics.

Benefits of organic urban agriculture

Urban agriculture, on the other hand, is a complementary practice to agricultural activities carried out in rural areas, with the differential of being integrated into urban economic and ecological systems. It is practiced throughout Brazil, mainly by people who have agricultural activity as a basis for their livelihood.

  • What is organic agriculture?
urban agriculture

Edited and resized image by Iva Rajović, is available on Unsplash

Urban agriculture has as its main characteristic the approximation of the place of consumption to the place of production and, when practiced organically, it provides a series of benefits:

Reduces waste

By bringing consumers closer to the food source, agriculture in urban areas makes it possible to reduce the waste caused by transport and storage.

For those who have a vegetable garden nearby, for example, it is possible to harvest the food practically at the time of preparation, which avoids long-distance transport and storage, allowing you to eat fresh food with zero waste, as even the husks can return to the vegetable garden and be used as a compost.

Avoiding the need for storage before consumption, it is possible to eat fresh products that have gone through the complete maturation process!

Improves the use of nutrients and flavor

Having control over the form of production, you avoid the application of organochlorines and other pesticides by opting for organic agriculture, healthier and cheaper.

The form of organic agriculture that respects the natural time of food maturation gives rise to products with higher nutritional levels and tastier.

Reduces consumption of processed products

Who doesn't prefer to prepare a fresh lemon and mint iced tea straight from the garden instead of consuming one from a box that is ready-made, but may contain preservatives, pesticides, dyes, is more expensive and still generates disposal at the end (the box)? With fresh foods available, these are likely to be preferred over processed foods, particularly for poorer people.

Producers can choose to capture rainwater

In conventional agriculture, it is difficult as consumers to choose how the forms of production will take place. But in a garden in or closer to home, our power to decide on the forms of production is greater. And you can decide to harvest rainwater to water your urban garden.

  • Rainwater harvesting: know advantages and precautions

Use of herbs in herbal medicine

The treatment of diseases or symptoms through plants, also called herbal medicine, has scientifically proven feasibility. This is as long as the right plants are used in the right concentration and form. That is why it is necessary to inform yourself.

With access to this type of resource, it is much easier to go to the vegetable garden when necessary, especially for the poorest people who have difficult access to conventional medicines.

Properly disposes of plant-derived waste

Often those who already compost food waste and other plant residues do not know what to do with the product generated (humus and biofertilizer). If that's your case, this is all the more reason to start practicing urban agriculture and use your compost for soil fertilization. If composting is not yet your case, take the opportunity to acquire this habit and reduce your ecological footprint.

  • Humus: what it is and what are its functions for the soil
  • What is compost and how to make it

Health

The health benefits that the practice of urban agriculture can bring to everyone and especially to those people who live in stressful regions of the most urbanized areas are not restricted to the direct ingestion of healthy and contaminant-free foods. The very action of cultivating an urban garden can be a form of occupational therapy and help improve mental health.

Revitalize idle spaces and strengthen social relationships

A very common problem in the urban region is idle space. Squares, land, flowerbeds, balconies and yards, often destroyed and uninhabited, can be used as cultivation areas. Well-kept places attract people and they help to preserve them.

Starting the practice of urban agriculture with a vegetable garden in the backyard is wonderful, but it is even better to expand the activity to larger public spaces, where the neighborhood can help to care for and enjoy the benefits. Sharing a growing space also means making new friends and/or spending pleasant time with children, grandparents and grandchildren, that is, it is a way to strengthen social bonds.

Contributes to microclimate and biodiversity

Urbanized areas usually suffer from scarcity of vegetation in the landscape. The practice of urban agriculture can be a way of contributing both to the landscape and to the regulation of the microclimate, acting as a noise barrier and helping to maintain biodiversity, serving as an urban genetic reserve.

Contributes to the economy and food security

Urban agriculture can generate employment opportunities, alternative income, supply for small markets, valorization of local cultures and community and gender empowerment. In addition, this activity can contribute to promoting food and nutritional security for the urban population who use it as a livelihood strategy, especially for low-income farmers and marginalized groups such as the elderly, unemployed youth and migrants.

everyone can practice

It is common to think that it is only possible to start growing food in huge spaces and with great availability of soil. But thinking like that is a mistake. Even those who live in an apartment can start their crops from the window at home.

Encouraging urban agriculture is contributing to social and environmental sustainability. Practice this idea! Start by taking a look at the article "Organic Gardens Course #1: Learn the Basics and Know How to Plan Your Own".



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