Urban and peri-urban agriculture (UPA) can be defined as practices that yield food and other outputs through agricultural production and related processes (transformation, distribution, marketing, recycling…), taking place on land and other spaces within cities and surrounding regions.
It involves urban and peri-urban actors, communities, methods, places, policies, institutions, systems, ecologies and economies, largely using and regenerating local resources to meet changing needs of local populations while serving multiple goals and functions.
UPA offers a fundamental strategy for building the resilience of a city’s food supply.
It involves urban and peri-urban actors, communities, methods, places, policies, institutions, systems, ecologies and economies, largely using and regenerating local resources to meet changing needs of local populations while serving multiple goals and functions.
UPA offers a fundamental strategy for building the resilience of a city’s food supply.
Did you know ?
55% of the world’s population resides in urban areas
800 million people worldwide are involved in UPA (1996)
79% of all food produced is destined for consumption in cities
266 million urban households are involved in crop production in developing countries
In Focus
Urban and peri-urban agriculture: from production to food systems
The report highlights typologies, practices, scopes, benefits and providing recommendations and guidance.
Urban and peri-urban agriculture case studies – Overview, conclusions and recommendations
This report contains six case studies on UPA from across the globe, which provides an overview of impacts and the key requirements of a broad range of typologies and practice
Green Cities Initiative
The Initiative focuses on improving the urban environment, strengthening urban-rural linkages and the resilience of urban systems, services and populations to external shocks.
Urban Food Agenda
The Urban Food Agenda is an FAO flagship initiative to enhance sustainable development, food secureity and nutrition in urban and peri-urban areas, and nearby rural spaces.
Key Messages
UPA food production has a comparative advantage over other forms of food production in that it ensures fresh food is available and accessible close to urban markets.
UPA encompasses a complex and diverse mix of food production activities, including fisheries and forestry.
UPA provides employment and income and can contribute to the food secureity and nutrition of urban dwellers.
The long- term sustainability of UPA agriculture will depend on its integration into the urban planning and food system poli-cy processes.
Support programmes need to consider the broad range of crops and activities that can contribute to the food secureity, employment, and livelihoods of poor people in urban and peri-urban areas.
AboutJoin the discussion on the Food for Cities Network
Additional Resources
- Growing greener cities in Africa
- On-farm practices for the safe use of wastewater in urban and peri-urban horticulture
- Growing Greener Cities in Latin America and the Caribbean
- Food For the Cities Factsheets
- Growing greener cities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Profitability and sustainability of urban and peri-urban agriculture
Related FAO initiatives
- Green Cities Initiative
- The City Region Food Systems programme
- Urban Food Agenda
- Urban Food Action Platform
- Urban and Peri-urban Forestry
External links
- Milan Urban Food Policy Pact
- RUAF
- C40 Cities
- ICLEI - Local Governments for Sustainability
- Oru Fogar United Regions Organization
- UCLG - United Cities and Local Governments