ABSTRACT
Many reports posit that urban production of fresh fruits, vegetables, and some animal products, at locations close to consumers, can improve local food security, especially in underserved communities. The United Nations Development Programme estimated that about 800 million urban dwellers are engaged in United Arab globally, producing 15–20 percent of the world’s food. Data from urban areas around the world indicate that a significant portion of the local vegetable and animal intake can be met locally. Assessments of the productivity potential of urban farms have been conducted in many United States cities. Agroecology has for decades been applied to improve small farm agriculture in the developing world. The same well-established agroecological principles applied in rural areas for the design and management of diversified farms where external inputs are replaced by natural processes can be applied to urban farms.
