Khati Malo, Dharmendra Singh Lagoriya, Rakesh Kumar, Anil Bhushan, Sandeep Chopra, R.K Samnotra and Sumiya Afreen
Abstract
Urban farming is increasingly recognized as a sustainable solution to address food insecurity, malnutrition and environmental degradation particularly in rapidly urbanizing regions. By 2050, with nearly 80% of the global population expected to reside in cities, ensuring food and nutritional security presents a critical challenge especially in densely populated countries like India, where cultivable land remains stagnant and vegetable intake falls short of recommended levels. Urban agriculture offers localized, resource-efficient strategies to bridge this gap through both traditional systems (e.g., kitchen gardens, rooftop and community gardens) and modern approaches (e.g., hydroponics, aeroponics, vertical farming). Government initiatives like Poshan Vatikas highlight growing institutional support for integrating food production which are being implemented across various cities and towns in India. These systems not only improve access to fresh produce and reduce food miles but also promote environmental sustainability and community engagement. Despite, facing challenges such as infrastructure limitations, policy gaps and lack of technical expertise, urban farming is gaining popularity due to its numerous benefits and offers a way to address insecurity, promote sustainable practices and revitalize urban areas. This review explores various urban farming models, their role in building resilient and inclusive urban food systems and the importance of combining traditional practices with technological innovations and supportive governance.