ABSTRACT
Most cities maintain waste streams that do not sufficiently return nutrients to the natural cycle. Simultaneously, many ecosystems are threatened by pollution through agricultural runoff and over-fertilization. Urban agriculture offers a more holistic approach to nutrient resource management in cities, based on closedloop systems that follow the principles of natural nutrient cycles, which are the basis for all life on Earth. This chapter provides the knowledge necessary to reestablish these recirculating systems by aligning the nutrient needs of plants with efficient growing systems and recycling strategies, such as composting, anaerobic digestion, and alternative waste management. It also illustrates their potential for integration in building systems and their beneficial impact on building performance. Chapter 1 concludes with two catalogs that provide an overview of soilbased and hydroponic growing systems and their application to urban farming.
