Small Scale Soil-Less Urban Agriculture in Europe

This Monograph focuses on the new approaches that urban agriculture offers to grow food in cities. The author paints a dynamic picture of soil-less and indoor techniques that are currently emerging. A growing number of small scale community-led and entrepreneurial initiatives are using such techniques for diverse objectives: to increase resource efficiency; to strengthen food security; to educate and inform or to exploit new market opportunities. The described studies demonstrate how technologies that are typically used in high-tech food production can also be harnessed in small projects to generate social and economic benefits at a local level.

The author puts a focus on three aspects: to outline the context within which small scale soil-less urban agriculture is developing in Europe; to give an overview of the state-of-the-art of projects focusing on this area through case study analysis and to elaborate on emerging questions. Such questions include: is the use of soil-less urban agriculture changing the relationship with, and perception of, what is natural and sustainable for urban farmers and small enterprises working in this sector? What is the perceived potential of these soil-less and indoor forms of urban agriculture to meet environmental, social and economic goals?

By answering these and other questions, the volume is a valuable resource for researchers in agriculture and sustainability, as well as urban farmers.

Silvio Caputo is a UK-based architect and academic investigating urban resilience, urban green infrastructure and sustainable food planning. He is interested in the dynamics through which urban food growing modifies the urban landscape and the functionality of urban spaces, influences patterns of land use, utilises urban waste as an input and technology, and catalyses social innovation. He has published articles in high-impact journals, and co-edited and co-authored books.