Since 2007, the International Resource Panel has provided impactful scientific assessments on the status, dynamics and implications of natural resource use in cities and in food systems. This Think Piece developed together with UNEP, evaluates to what extent, and in which conditions, urban agriculture can help cities move towards sustainable urban food systems and a circular economy. The Think Piece provides an analysis of different types and forms of urban agriculture to help understand their natural resource use implications benefits and trade-offs across multiple sustainability goals, acknowledging local and regional specificities. The Think Piece is accompanied by a policy guidance document that presents a road map for designing “fit-for-purpose” urban agriculture policies, taking into account the interaction between urban and rural systems.
