ABSTRACT
This chapter deals with an outlook on how soil-based agriculture for growing food crops in urban areas can be strengthened. Credible assessments of the importance and extent of urban agriculture (UA) are challenging as numerous and disparate definitions of UA exist. UA has many benefits and, in particular, contributes to urban food security in high-income countries by providing fruits and vegetables. Co-benefits of UA include, for example, reduced food transportation distance, carbon (C) sequestration, potentially reduced urban heat island effect, improved aesthetics, community building, employment opportunities, improved local land prices, shortened supply chains, provision of habitat for wildlife, waste recycling, and, in particular, improved physical and mental health supporting numerous health benefits. Urban soil properties differentiate the type and value of food produced by UA. However, the quality of urban soils can be improved for crop production, which is among the urban ecosystem goods and services.
