Theme 1: Urban Farming ​

The objective of Theme 1 is to increase the self-sufficiency of cities in perishable food through development and introduction of modern urban production systems that efficiently valorize urban resources and add value to living environments.

Urbanization is a global phenomenon, and it is expected that by the year 2050 the proportion of the world’s population living in cities will rise from currently 57 % to 68 %. In the UAE 86 % of the population live in urban areas. Urban residents are usually rather disconnected from rural agricultural activities, which may have contributed to a steady decline in the public awareness of the value of food and agriculture, especially in developed countries. This trend finds its expression in a high percentage of food that is wasted, and a poor public interest in agricultural education.

Integrating agricultural plant and fish production into urban living environments might not only reconnect residents with agriculture, but also satisfy their need for an access to nature. In addition, urban farming of perishable food like fish, fruits and vegetables can reduce expenditures for packaging, storage and transportation and facilitate the recycling of urban waste materials into food production systems.

Subthemes​​