EATING THE CITY

Thank you for a great article on hydroponic agriculture in the February issue. It’s great to learn of some of the success stories in our cities.

I am a masters student in architecture at the University of Johannesburg, and my 2017 final project was titled ‘The Edible City’. Its research and output were aimed along the same lines as was your article, with two differences.

Firstly, one of the main issues that urban agriculture aims to address – especially in South African cities – is food security. This was mentioned in From the Editor, but not expounded fully in the article. Being food secure means having access to sufficient quantities of food that is nutritious, diverse, geographically and culturally suitable, and also being able to properly utilise the food for consumption. This means that poverty is definitely not the only cause of food insecurity. Your article didn’t really focus on the opportunity for urban agriculture to assist or relieve urban food insecurity, which is a pity, but understandable, seeing that it is a slightly contentious topic. It was great to see the entrepreneurial spirit with which the projects you mentioned are tackled, though!

Secondly, I proposed using aquaponic instead of hydroponics. In aquaponic systems fish waste provides nutrients to the plants and the plants, in turn, clean the water for the fish. This system is even more efficient than hydroponics because it doesn’t require addition of nutrients to feed plants.

One of the major pitfalls of urban agriculture is the management and integration of such projects after they are built. My project comprised a whole network of functions including large-scale production, vermicomposting (composting by earthworms), waste recycling, an organic coffee shop and restaurant, as well as offices and teaching spaces where entrepreneurial and business skills can be learnt. This strategy allowed my project not only to grow food, but to create job opportunities, teach and transfer skills, and to build community through a systems- wide intervention that influences multiple spheres.

I believe urban agriculture can and must help our cities become more sustainable, more efficient, and more equitable in their distribution of resources. There are many resources available online to assist those inspired by your insightful article.

Thank you for providing a constantly interesting magazine.