Urban agriculture is a rapidly growing trend that has the potential to revolutionize our cities and make them more livable. From reducing air pollution and improving food security to increasing community participation and well-being, urban farming can be a powerful tool for improving the quality of life in cities. In London, for example, the introduction of the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) has been a major step forward in improving air quality. However, it is important to note that, in addition to these initiatives, it is also crucial to have air quality monitoring networks to collect data to assess whether any new approach generates effective change.
Urban farming can be an effective way to combat air pollution in cities. By promoting sustainable land use and management practices, urban agriculture can contribute to the resilience and sustainability of cities. Water-related elements, such as rain gardens, biological ponds, and green roofs, are also important components of urban farming. Urban gardens that incorporate plants that provide food for local residents help reduce transportation, reducing air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions.
In addition, urban agriculture can help improve air quality by providing a space for plants to grow. The data collected from the instrumentation serve as the basis for the heat and mass transfer model of this unique “tunnel-type greenhouse”. If, for example, there are doubts about how plants grow in a certain place, instrumentation helps us find out why. In March of last year, a series of instruments, including wireless sensors and webcams that monitor temperature, humidity, CO2, air speed and light, were installed in a section of the tunnel that is currently used for cultivation. It is estimated that in 1996, 8,500 tons of agricultural products were produced through urban farming in Havana, mainly in “popular gardens”.
For the time being, there is little incentive to move from conventional agriculture to urban greening, which produces crops in much larger quantities and for much less. Urban agriculture is growing rapidly in Japan and Southeast Asia, where facilities, called plant factories, are located in specific new buildings. Urban farming brings a new dimension to urban greening; it increases the sustainability of cities by encouraging food self-sufficiency and creates frameworks for organizing and encouraging community spirit. The Breathe London network has been crucial in measuring the success of ULEZ in London, as noted by the mayor of London and president of C40 Cities, Sadiq Khan, in a recent press release. By promoting sustainable land use and management practices through urban farming initiatives such as plant factories and green roofs, cities like London can improve their air quality while also providing food security for their citizens. Urban farming is an innovative solution that can help reduce air pollution levels in cities like London.
It provides an opportunity to create green spaces that can absorb pollutants from the atmosphere while also providing food security for local residents. Furthermore, urban farming initiatives can help create a sense of community among local residents by providing them with an opportunity to participate in activities related to urban agriculture. In conclusion, urban farming is an effective way to improve air quality in cities like London. Furthermore, urban farming initiatives can help create a sense of community among local residents by providing them with an opportunity to participate in activities related to urban agriculture.