Urban Agriculture in Times of Crises: A Review

Abstract

Urban agriculture has been utilized as a temporary and long-term solution concerning food security issues across
various regions and cities throughout the 20th and 21st centuries. Urban agriculture has enabled urban dwellers to
cultivate food within available urban spaces, and by doing that, it has enhanced their access to fresh local food. This
article reviews four different scenarios—global conflict, economic decline, political instability, and post-conflict
times—and explores various ways in which urban agriculture has been adopted in each of them. In order to gather
data, a literature review was conducted, and relevant research articles, books, and theses were reviewed. In summary,
this research demonstrates that during times of crises, such as global conflicts, economic decline, political instability,
and post-conflict times, urban agriculture empowered urban dwellers to cultivate food. By doing so, it positively
contributed to urban food resilience and sustainable urban development by enhancing urban dwellers’s access to
affordable local food.