Urban agriculture 'affected by soil quality'

The main threats to urban agriculture in the US have been identified by a recent study. Researchers at the University of Illinois have identified the main issues that urban agriculture will face as the practice begins to grow, including soil pollution, air pollution, soil remediation and water pollution. All of these problems cannot only affect the amount of food that can be grown in an urban environment, but can also affect its quality. 

Sarah Taylor Lovell, assistant professor of landscape agroecology, and Sam Wortman, assistant professor of urban food production - both from the University of Illinois - wrote the report that highlights the issues faced by urban agriculture. The research was based within the area of Chicago, although it is possible that other urban environments can be affected by similar issues. 

It was found that throughout Chicago there were a number of vacant lots that could prove beneficial to the burgeoning urban agriculture movement, which already takes up a lot of space throughout the city. According to Ms Lovell, as well as environmental factors, such as altered microclimates, urban agriculture could also be affected by the lack of funding due to the the fact that there is little industry within the sector.

According to the research, the worst threat is soil contamination. Polluted soil could drastically affect the growth of food items in an urban environment and is a result of air pollution caused by traffic and industry. The contaminants build-up in soil over time, but other pollutants - such as lead - are left over from previous decades and can cause issues with food production.

The researchers are performing further studies into the problem after identifying that soil remediation can be expensive and intensive, which may put many possible investors off of putting money into the sector. Mr Wortman is now looking at other forms of soil management that can help to create more suitable land for the growth of food. Other ways of growing food in an urban environment, such as raised beds, hydroponics and cover crops, are being investigated.