City farms as an alternative for unwise urbanisation

Abstract

Probably the majority of the residents would admit that the quality of life in the city mostly depends on the accessibility of green areas. However, as proved by the experience of many cities in North America, Europe and Asia, urban farming, which conduct agricultural production, may play crucial part. Most often it is about growing fruits and vegetables, sometimes also energy crops. Urban farming can take the form of green rooftops, vertical gardens or conventional farms woven into the city's structure. It seems that the development of this type of economic activity (often taking very interesting forms of social movements) can contribute to the retardation of adverse climate change, environmental quality or the epidemic of lifestyle diseases related to diet. Certainly, solutions like this will make valuable products available for a broad group of local consumers.