For example, around 90 per cent of fresh vegetable consumption in Ghana’s capital comes from production within the city. In Hanoi, Vietnam, 80 per cent of fresh vegetables and 40 per cent of eggs are produced by urban and peri-urban agriculture [1]. See also numerous articles about urban agriculture in developing countries [2].

We both agree on the utility of short circuits, and I think that we should consider it as one of the most sustainable way to consume food. And home-produced could be a part of it, since it could lead people to reconsider their food habits and get interested in how food is produced.

[1] http://www.futuredirections.org.au/publications/food-and-water-crises/1406-feeding-the-cities-is-urban-agriculture-the-future-of-food-security.html

[2] - The greening of the “barrios”: Urban agriculture for food security in Cuba, Miguel A. Altieri (http://link.springer.com/article/10.1023/A:1007545304561)

- Alternative food security strategy: A household analysis of urban agriculture in Kampala, DG Maxwell - World Development, 1995 – Elsevier (http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/0305750X9500073L)

- And many others…

Thank you for your participation ! We would be glad to have further details about your post.

We all agree that growing its own food is time and space consuming. The fact is that most people no longer know how to grow vegetables and we have lost a great part of the basic knowledge of food production. People needs advice to grow food in an efficient way (i.e. without wasting too much time and land). The single way to raise interest for gardening among urban areas is to develop community gardens where people can work together and share their knowledge. By the way, here is the second great advantage of urban agriculture : this is a good way to socialize and to recreate the link that vanished few decades ago between people and farming. The issue of land availability is another important thing in which politicians need to get involved through Food Policy Councils. Moreover it is important to note that in several developing countries (Vietnam, Ghana, India, Cuba,…), urban agriculture and short food circuits provide a large part of the population with fresh food.

What are your feelings about that ?