The global food system causes massive environmental impacts, and faces the challenge of feeding an even larger, more urbanized population in the coming decades. Urban agriculture (UA) is a type of alternative agriculture, which may have environmental and social benefits, and comes in a large diversity of forms. These environmental benefits and impacts can be modeled with life cycle assessment (LCA). Application of LCA to UA is relatively recent, and has not undergone the same methodological reflections and adaptations that LCA of other sectors has.

In her thesis project, Erica Dorr pursued the following goals :

1. investigating what LCA tells us about the environmental performance of UA, and
2. investigating how best to apply LCA to UA.

She performed a review and meta-analysis of UA LCAs, and reviewed literature on the development of LCA for agriculture in general. She did LCAs of nine urban farms and gardens in Paris, France and the Bay Area, California, USA, and (with the FEW-meter project) analyzed resource use and food production at 72 UA case studies. She finally summarized and generated knowledge on the environmental performance of UA, and created a methodological framework to improve consistency and completeness in UA LCAs.

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Peri-urban farms with short food supply chains are currently enjoying strong growth and represent the leading type of urban agriculture for the supply of fresh produce in towns and cities. This type of farm includes horticultural areas and many new small-scale projects based on alternative systems such as bio-intensive market gardening and permaculture (CC by 2.0 - Sustainable sanitation).Urban community gardens and urban mini-farms are two other forms of urban agriculture that are currently being developed. Community gardens combine social, educational and food-related goals and are projects that attract a participation from the greatest number of urban dwellers (Les Vignoles gymnasium, Fanny Provent).Urban micro-farms can be multi-purpose or focus primarily on production (Hotel Pullman Eiffel Tower, Paris).Less common in French towns, greenhouses, indoor agriculture and low-tech and high-tech systems entail greater investment costs (Agripolis farm, Paola Mugnier).These production systems are not very attractive for urban dwellers and, as regards greenhouses, raise issues related to the landscape (an integrated greenhouse on one of the buildings of the former Anderlecht abattoirs, Paola Mugnier).

Paola Mugnier and Fanny Provent also describe multifaceted and multi-purpose production systems. Their practical guide « Urban agriculture: how to implement it on rooftops and terraces? » (from which photos #2 to #5 are taken), as well as the Exp’au urban agriculture consulting company and agriculturalization indicators, feature among the approaches rolled out, based on researcher knowledge, to assist and equip developers when selecting project content, in addition to project implementation and management. Another important aspect for developers is the issue of urban contaminations. The REFUGE methodology has been designed to conduct an assessment of health risks based on a historical survey of the site and ground investigations. This type of assessment reveals a lack of risk or identifies when a site is in a grey area, as is often the case, which may be used by rolling out a health control plan or through farming methods that do not use the ground soil.

The prospects for the development of urban agriculture are set to be extensive and varied. Many flat roofs represent untapped high-potential land resources. A number of new requirements are emerging in relation to the analysis of soil bearing capacity, an improved integration of greenhouses in buildings, optimised management of flows and uses and lastly the incorporation of urban agriculture in circular economy scenarios.

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• The floor will be opened to practitioners : The Paris municipality with a review of the Parisculteur programme by Leon Garaix (responsible for the urban agriculture mission), Pascal Hardy, founder of the start-up AgriPolis, VINCI Construction France through project experience feedback by Pascal Michaud.
• The first publication of lab recherche environnement, the practical guide « Agriculture urbaine en toiture-terrasse » will be presented by both of its authors: Fanny Provent (AgroParisTech) and Paola Mugnier (Urbalia).
• The latest research projects carried out by AgroParisTech in the framework of lab recherche environnement programme will be presented by Christine Aubry, specialist in urban agriculture and Erica Dorr, doctoral student in the environmental assessment of urban farms through feedback from Paris and California.
• A talk by Rob Hopkins, funder of the Transition Movement, will close the conference.

This event is organised by lab recherche environnement as part of Leonard’s Building Beyond festival.

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Winner of the C40 Women4Climate award for her commitment to nature in the city, Paola Mugnier participates in the ecological and climatic transition of cities and regions. She is also sensitive to social and societal issues. She currently supports city stakeholders, from developers to local authorities, in order to foster biodiversity and urban agriculture.

Agricultural engineer specialising in urban agriculture, Fanny Provent is now coordinator of the Urban Agriculture, Ecosystem Services and Food for Cities Chair of AgroParisTech. Agile and active in this field, she promotes and facilitates the return of nature to the city, in all its forms. She’s convinced of the importance of the environmental challenges now facing us.

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