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Urban Horticulture for Food Secure Cities through and beyond COVID-19

Author

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  • Muhammad Mumtaz Khan

    (Department Plant Sciences, College of Agriculture and Marine Science, Sultan Qaboos University, P.O. Box 34, Al-khod 123, Oman)

  • Muhammad Tahir Akram

    (Institute of Horticultural Sciences, University of Agriculture Faisalabad, Faisalabad 38000, Pakistan)

  • Rhonda Janke

    (Department Plant Sciences, College of Agriculture and Marine Science, Sultan Qaboos University, P.O. Box 34, Al-khod 123, Oman)

  • Rashad Waseem Khan Qadri

    (Institute of Horticultural Sciences, University of Agriculture Faisalabad, Faisalabad 38000, Pakistan)

  • Abdullah Mohammed Al-Sadi

    (Department Plant Sciences, College of Agriculture and Marine Science, Sultan Qaboos University, P.O. Box 34, Al-khod 123, Oman)

  • Aitazaz A. Farooque

    (Department of Engineering School of Sustainable Design Engineering, University of Prince Edward Island, Charlottetown, PE C1A4P3, Canada)

Abstract

Sufficient production, consistent food supply, and environmental protection in urban +settings are major global concerns for future sustainable cities. Currently, sustainable food supply is under intense pressure due to exponential population growth, expanding urban dwellings, climate change, and limited natural resources. The recent novel coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic crisis has impacted sustainable fresh food supply, and has disrupted the food supply chain and prices significantly. Under these circumstances, urban horticulture and crop cultivation have emerged as potential ways to expand to new locations through urban green infrastructure. Therefore, the objective of this study is to review the salient features of contemporary urban horticulture, in addition to illustrating traditional and innovative developments occurring in urban environments. Current urban cropping systems, such as home gardening, community gardens, edible landscape, and indoor planting systems, can be enhanced with new techniques, such as vertical gardening, hydroponics, aeroponics, aquaponics, and rooftop gardening. These modern techniques are ecofriendly, energy- saving, and promise food security through steady supplies of fresh fruits and vegetables to urban neighborhoods. There is a need, in this modern era, to integrate information technology tools in urban horticulture, which could help in maintaining consistent food supply during (and after) a pandemic, as well as make agriculture more sustainable.

Suggested Citation

  • Muhammad Mumtaz Khan & Muhammad Tahir Akram & Rhonda Janke & Rashad Waseem Khan Qadri & Abdullah Mohammed Al-Sadi & Aitazaz A. Farooque, 2020. "Urban Horticulture for Food Secure Cities through and beyond COVID-19," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(22), pages 1-21, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:12:y:2020:i:22:p:9592-:d:446706
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