An integrated quantitative framework for exploring sustainable scenarios in urban agriculture planning

Abstract

Urban agriculture, encompassing ground farming, rooftop gardens, and greenhouses at building or community scales, offers solutions to various urban challenges. While existing research often focuses on resource use (food production and water and energy demands) of urban agriculture, its impact extends beyond physical resources. Additionally, the varied strategies for planning edible cities imply potential trade-offs among urban priorities. This study addresses this gap by proposing an integrated framework that incorporates land use classification, the generation of urban agricultural design scenarios, and the quantitative assessment of environmental impacts. This framework allows for a comprehensive understanding of benefits and trade-offs associated with different urban agriculture plans at the city scale. Taipei, Taiwan, serves as a case study to demonstrate the framework's feasibility. The analysis reveals that 9.4% of Taipei's area holds potential for urban agriculture, with half of this area comprised of small-scale ground plots scattered throughout existing urban green spaces. Sixteen potential urban agriculture scenarios were identified, considering factors like farming scale, farming style, cultivation method, and plant species. The quantitative assessment highlights trade-offs: planting food crops enhances food supply, while ornamental plants significantly mitigate the urban heat island effect. The proposed integrated framework can be applied to any city with adjusted factors. Through this integrated framework, alternative urban agricultural plans can be evaluated, facilitating informed decision-making towards a more sustainable urban future.