Media release

From: Flinders University

Urban agriculture should be treated as a serious farming method to help meet the global ambitions of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals for 2030, according to Flinders University researchers.

Well-managed food production both on city fringes and built-up areas is a vital part of building healthy communities – while also enhancing environmental and social resilience in an increasingly urban world, they say in a review of urban agriculture published in the journal Urban Forestry & Urban Greening.

“While not overstating the benefits, urban agriculture clearly has a role to play in achieving food security, urban sustainability, and fostering environmental stewardship,” says PhD candidate Hannah Thwaites, lead author of the study.

“We argue that more widespread and sustainable urban agriculture can help to address key issues of hunger, urbanisation, and finite resources to positively support people and the planet."

The Flinders and University of Adelaide research found that growing food within urban areas from backyard scale and beyond can directly help to meet the 2030 completion of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, in particular Zero Hunger (SDG2), Sustainable Cities and Communities (SDG11) and Responsible Consumption and Production (SDG12).

Applied effectively, urban agriculture also can help multiple targets sitting under a further nine of the 17 SDGs – Zero Poverty (SDG 1), Good Health and Wellbeing (SDG3), Quality Education (SDG 4), Gender Equality (SDG5), Clean Water and Sanitation (SDG6), Decent Work and Economic Growth (SDG8), Reduced Inequalities (SDG10), Climate Action (SDG13) and Life on Land (SDG15).

Urban food production can occur in, around, under and on top of infrastructure – on private and public land – for consumption, distribution and sale.

The diversity of urban agricultural forms – from residential, community and allotment gardens, to rooftop farms, school gardens, and various scales of commercial farms – appear to add to its impact, and certainly its accessibility.

Along with providing healthy, affordable fresh food and opportunities for social connectedness and skills development, the environmental benefits include improved resource use and carbon footprint.

“Urban agriculture reconnects people with their food supply, builds resilient communities, improves community engagement, and the positive environmental outcomes includes mitigating against the effects of climate change,” adds Professor of Soil Ecology Tim Cavagnaro, a coauthor of the study.

To avoid an advocacy bias, the authors point out potential risks of urban farming, such as heavy metal contamination, along with mitigative strategies such as using raised garden beds and root barriers.

“Ultimately, contextualised and nuanced approaches are critical for achieving sustainable development aims and urban agriculture’s multidimensionality and diversity lends itself to tailored solutions,” Ms Thwaites says, adding her research is now investigating what helps or hinders engagement in this farming practice to ensure its benefits can be experienced by everyone.

“I'm encouraged by the abundance of food garden ventures around Adelaide, including those that help showcase how community resilience can be fostered from the home garden.”

The review article, by Flinders University and The University of Adelaide School of Agriculture, Food and Wine researchers, has been published in Urban Forestry & Urban Greening - ‘The case for urban agriculture: Opportunities for sustainable development’ (2025) by Hannah J Thwaites, Isobel V Hume (University of Adelaide) and Timothy R Cavagnaro. DOI: 10.1016/j.ufug.2025.128861.