The Role of Horticulture in Urban Food Security

Abstract

Urban areas face unique challenges in ensuring food security due to population density, limited space, and environmental constraints. Horticulture, as a subset of agriculture focused on fruits, vegetables, and ornamental plants, plays a crucial role in addressing these challenges. This abstract explores the multifaceted contributions of horticulture to urban food security. Firstly, horticulture promotes local food production within urban environments, reducing reliance on distant agricultural regions and decreasing carbon footprints associated with transportation. Urban farms and community gardens utilize underutilized spaces such as rooftops, vacant lots, and vertical structures to grow fresh produce, thereby increasing accessibility to nutritious foods.