Growing Sustainable Food Systems in Growing City

The University of the District of Columbia (UDC) proposed a idea of creating sustainable urban food system aim to solve a city challenged with high levels of poverty, obesity, and population growth. From cultivation, preparation, and distribution to food waste management, this project will provides food security for city residents but does not compromise Earth's systems or the ability of our species to survive.

UDC created a rooftop farm in the campus, which is the largest rooftop farm in the city to plant the vegetable and flowers. Beyond the campus, the Firebird Farm is working for the sustainable agri-experiments. Here UDC is experimenting with a wide selection of crops and techniques to sustainably provide food for a growing city. UDC is not just focused on growing crops on the campus and farm, they also build the “Urban Food Hub” include farms, hydroponics systems, and food preparation facilities in the city,  aim to providing new skills, jobs, and healthy sustainable food to the people who need them the most.

With more people becoming urbanites, if cities can cultivate, prepare, and distribute more of their own food this will be a major step in making agricultural systems more sustainable, including reducing food-related greenhouse gas emissions and closing nutrient cycles. Moreover, if cities can localize their economies rather than depending on just one or two industries, they will be more resilient—a valuable trait in the less stable future that's at our doorstep.